SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Farmers market experts met with Yellowknifers last weekend to teach them the tools and tricks needed to ensure their own market will have staying power.
France Benoit waters her plants, including tomatoes, arugula and quinoa, that she is growing inside until it gets warm enough to transfer them into her greenhouse. Benoit is among 30 vendors signed up to sell at the new Yellowknife farmers market, which is set to start in June. - Miranda Scotland/NNSL photo |
Fresh produce is the key ingredient needed to make any market successful, stressed Catherine Clark and Robert Chorney of Farmers' Markets Ontario.
"Sometimes markets are too heavy on the arts and crafts," continued Clark. "Or they have too many baked goods and they may have one farmer that tries to sustain the market. The shoppers don't come. They want more than what one producer can actually provide."
Vendors, Chorney said, should also avoid selling items such as used vehicles, cheap toys or made-in-Taiwan ceramics. Those items belong at a flea market not a farmers market, he said.
Chorney and Clark have about 20 years of expertise in the business and have helped set up 100 farmers markets across Canada and part of the United States.
More than 30 residents attended their information session at the Yellowknife Inn on Saturday, which was put on by the Territorial Farmers Association to assist with the creation of a Yellowknife farmers market.
Amy Lizotte, a driving force behind the new market that is set to start in June, said she was incredibly pleased with the amount of interest.
"I can see the idea is really resonating with a lot of residents and I think it's going to be really successful," she said, adding about 30 residents have signed up to be vendors. "I think we're going to start small and it will take years to develop and really grow into its full potential. But we've got a lot of people dedicated to see this through."
Among the attendees were Rick and Wendy Sperling. The couple has been growing loads of vegetables in their backyard for years and sharing them with friends and neighbours. They have been asked many times why they don't sell their produce and, now that they have an avenue, they're ready to sell produce. The Sperlings also plan to sell homemade sausage, bread and crafts.
"I always thought (a farmers market) was a good idea to do here but you don't know how many people are available to do that," Wendy said. "Apparently there's lots of people."
The most important point the couple will take away from Chorney's presentation, she added, is how to display product. He suggested piling the product high and keeping the display colourful.
She said she also liked his idea of doing a Christmas market in the winter.
Going forward, Chorney and Clark's detailed advice will be hugely beneficial, said Lizotte.
"It just helps us with not having to learn from our mistakes," said Lizotte. "We can make the right choices from the beginning."
Chorney suggested reaching out to businesses for financial and in-kind donations to help cover the cost of signs, banners and stalls, among other essentials.
He further stressed the importance of not only selling great product but creating a fun, inviting atmosphere. Hold events or contests, he said, encourage buskers to perform at the bazaar and just generally make sure everyone has a good time. Signage is key, he added.
"You have to be really creative and find ways to bump up traffic to your farmers market," Chorney said. "You've got to be looking for opportunities."
