Market Mania

Traditionally known for excellent Farmers Markets, many Southeastern New Brunswick communities, including The Greater Moncton Area, are experiencing greater interest in this "grass-roots" venue with the result that Farmers Markets are popping up all over the place! Without getting involved in the politics of it all - this column being simply a showcase for vendors and their wares in markets throughout the region - The Greater Moncton Area now boasts three market locations to tempt eager customers. The original Moncton Farmers Market, long established in the downtown core, fractured a few years ago into two distinct entities - The Moncton Market Marché, which remained in the original location, and The Farmers Market Co-op, temporarily located in the Barker Street location. On June 18, 2005, this market relocated to the brand new Dieppe Farmers Market site with up to 10 000 people in attendance. A faction of The Farmers Market Co-op has remained in Moncton at the new John Street location in the former Headstart Building. Now with three market locations in The Greater Moncton Area, Saturday mornings can be devoted to market hopping among avid market goers!

Not to be outdone, many smaller New Brunswick centres such as Woodstock and Sackville now have two markets each with the brand new Tantramar Farmers Market, just three weeks old, now open in the Sackville Civic Centre on Sunday mornings. No doubt, added interest and the burgeoning population in The Greater Moncton and Dieppe Areas can support these markets within their own immediate communities as well as those in areas further afield.

It is my intention to feature as many vendors as possible in each market on a rotational basis, as well as do general reports on farmers markets in other towns and cities as I visit them, bringing the goods and services offered by the many fine vendors to a public forum. Complete directories of each of the area’s farmers markets are in the works and will feature phone numbers, addresses, and email information so that special orders and inquiries can be made during the week between market days.

With the summer months upon us, now is the best time to take advantage of the excellent seasonal booths offered at each market featuring fresh fruit, vegetables, and meats; fresh flowers, bedding plants; gardening accents; rustic furniture; bird houses; lawn ornaments; and a host of delights too numerous to mention. Make it a point to visit each of our wonderful market locations this summer - it’s a great place to meet friends, share a coffee, try new and exotic fare, indulge in wonderful crafts, and treat a friend or yourself to the may wonderful gifts these markets offer - see you there!