The Rural Voice, 1992-07, Page 25Most of the customers come from
within walking distance of the market
but in the summer the market is
included in bus tours of the area. The
market is open Saturdays from 7 a.m.
to noon year round with a smaller
market Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to
noon during the summer.
TIVERTON AND DISTRICT
FARMERS' MARKET
Now in its second year, the
Tiverton and District Farmers Market
has grown considerably since its
beginning. There are now an average
of 30 vendors at the market located in
the old Tiverton arena on McKay St.
just off Hwy. 21.
About half the vendors sell
produce and baked goods while the
other half sells hand -made crafts.
Many sell a little of both: one vendor,
for instance selling eggs and shoes.
Ruth Hirtenfeld says the Tiverton
market is very vendor oriented with
the vendors being very aware they
must put on a good show for the
customers. The market tries to
provide entertainment each week and
there's a resident clown who goes
around to entertain the children.
There's a woman who provides a
$3.50 breakfast that takes two plates
to hold all the food.
The market operates Saturdays 8
a.m. to 1 p.m. from May 9 to
September 26. Contact is Ruth
Hirtenfeld, 396-8888.
STRATFORD FARMERS'
MARKET
The farmers' market in Stratford
dates back to the last century when it
was held near the City Hall in the
centre of town (still called Market
Square). After a couple of other
moves, the market took up residence
at the Stratford Fairgrounds in 1967
and has thrived there ever since.
Brian Gropp, who manages the
fairgrounds complex, says the year-
round market is a Saturday morning
visiting rite for the 75 per cent of the
customers who come from Stratford
and can get to the market by the city
bus or drive to the site in the west end
of the city. The rest of the customers
are tourists or people from the
surrounding area. The market is
produce oriented with about 70 per
cent of the vendors growing or
processing the products they sell,
ranging from market garden
operations to local butchers to Perth
County cheeses. Freshness is the big
attraction, Gropp says. He feels
there's little competition with local
supermarkets.
The market features about 75
vendors in the summer, 50 in the
winter. The market operates from 7
a.m. to noon. Contact Brian Gropp,
271-5130.
MEAFORD FARMER'S
MARKET
The Meaford Farmers' Market is a
new version of an old tradition. The
market started June 13 with its first
market, but continues an old tradition
in Market Square beside Meaford
Town Hall. When the hall was first
opened a farmers' market was held in
the basement, spilling out into the
square beyond.
The new market runs from 8 a.m.
to 1 p.m. each Saturday (if things go
well a second day is contemplated).
It's hoped to run the market to the
end of October.
Twenty four vendors are
registered for the first year of the
market but in the early days, before
produce came on stream, there was a
smaller number selling home baked
goods, maple syrup, cheese, eggs and
other produce.
For more information contact Tom
Hancock, 538-5510.
WIARTON AND DISTRICT
FARMERS' MARKET
One of the many brand new
farmers' markets is the Wiarton
market which is due to get off the
ground on Berford St. in the area
between the town hall and the United
Church on June 27. The market will
operate Saturdays from 8 a.m. to
noon until Thanksgiving.
There will be 12-18 vendors when
the market starts offering locally
produced goods. There's a clause in
the constitution that only produce
grown in Grey and Bruce Counties
can be offered for sale.
For information contact Bill
Walker at 534-1400 or Carol Smith,.
534-0856.
KEADY LIVESTOCK MARKET
Sale day at Keady Livestock
Market is a chance to sell much more
than just cattle and hogs. The parking
lot and a nearby field are also
available for farmers and jobbers to
sell their wares on a first -come -first-
served basis. A spokesperson said
that about 75 per cent of those selling
goods are selling the produce of their
own farms but there are also people
selling everything from tools to tires
to tapes. The market runs year round
and varies from 10 vendors in the
winter to 50 in the summer. Vendors
start showing up about 8 a.m. and
generally stay until 1 p.m.
For more information contact sale
manager Garry Kuhl at 934-2339 or
drop in on Tuesday mornings.
GODERICH AND DISTRICT
FARMERS' MARKET
Farmers are back selling their
wares in Goderich's square where a
market was set up in the early days of
the town.
Goderich expanded its farmers'
market this year in the square beside
the Huron County Court House on
June 4. Don Hasson says the market
started small because it sells only
produce, no crafts or flea market
products, but it's expected about 22
vendors will be taking part when the
season hits peak. Besides vegetables,
baked goods, maple syrup, meat and
poultry, the market also offers a
vendor of freshly -caught, Lake Huron
fish. The market runs from 8 a.m. to
1 p.m. each Saturday until October.
The square was originally deeded
to the town of Goderich as a market
and when, in 1854, the town wanted
to allow construction of the Court
House, several angry citizens
successfully took the town to court. It
took two years and 4,000 pounds in
expenses, before the square was
finally turned over for a court house.
For information contact Don
Hasson, 524-2881.
NORTH HURON FLEA AND
FARMERS' MARKET
Few markets can get off to a better
start than this privately -owned market
operated by Hans and Heike Mayer
who also own The Bavarian Deli -
Packers. When they decided to open
their market in a vacant building in
the north end of Wingham May 9,
they were rewarded with a first-day
crowd of 4000. Thcy have room for
59 vendors and have had about 40
each week in the early life of the new
market. Mayer had learned about
being a vendor himself by operating a
booth at the London Flea Market to
sell his meats.
Booths selling fresh produce,
baked goods, meat and cheese, even
exotic animals have been attracting
large crowds. Vendors also sell
everything from clothing to tools.
The market is open 8 a.m. to 3
JULY 1992 21