Colette Déry
At long last, spring has returned to Old Ottawa East (OOE), and with it a sense of excitement for this season of hope and growth. After surviving not only the full reconstruction of Main Street (and temporary relocation of the Market), but also a difficult couple of pandemic years as well, the Main Farmers’ Market is preparing to both welcome back its loyal customers for a 16th season and introduce a whole new clientele to the experience of locally grown and produced food.
If the last two years of the Market were focused on adapting to pandemic measures, this year’s edition will be more forward-looking; as the 2022 season approaches, the Main Farmers’ Market is planning for a closer return to normalcy, even as it continues to keep safety measures in place so that vendors as well as Market shoppers feel comfortable.
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From May 14 to October 29, between 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturdays, the Market will offer shoppers fresh local produce, plants and food products. As it has been for the past several years, the Market will be located in the regular parking lot on Main Street next to Singing Pebble Books.
OOE is an established neighbourhood in our City, but it still has room to welcome new residents into the community. Once completed, the new housing development of Greystone Village will contain 900 dwellings, and its stately Grande Allée will become the Market’s new home in 2023. The Market Board and vendors are very excited to introduce newcomers to OOE to the Market, and confident that, by the time the Market moves to its new location, all of our new arrivals will have become loyal customers.
Until then, as life now appears to be slowly returning to normal, the Main Farmers’ Market is planning to welcome 30 new and returning vendors to participate in its 2022 season.
Some of the vendors coming back to the Market include: Almanac Urban Mill & Bakery, Capital Greens Urban Farm, Culture Kombucha, Barkley Apple Orchard, Emballage Bee Sustainable, Betty’s Pickles and Preserves, Agricola Cooperative Farm, Kokoro Bakeshop, and Hall’s Apple Market.
Both the producers and visitors to the Market appreciate the opportunity to meet and talk about all things fresh and local, and this chance to exchange ideas and advice is just one of the reasons the Market is such a special destination. Eager gardeners will particularly enjoy the Main Farmers’ Market in May, as a number of seed growers will be selling seedlings for those who are keen to start their plants.
So celebrate the longer, warmer days with local goodness. When your friends and neighbours ask you where to find starter plants, delicious baked goods or fresh veggies for your table, tell them to “meet me at the Main Farmers’ Market!”
