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c omsfanmiqmmi iiimi72oo6 j jfsgst jfifr the consumers desire for freshness and a neighbourly experience have renewed r the popularity- of farmers markets byjoanransberry- h i staff write uestion what thrives in this high- tech fastpaced and impersonal l world answer the oldfashioned farmers market farmers markets are experiencing a rebirth provincewidetheyre popping up everywhere including york region this spring markham welcomed its very first farmers- market while newmarket applaud ed the return of its maytooctober farmers market v- the farniersmarket was a mainstay in newmarket from thel800s through to 1940 when grocery stores came into vogue changing the way people sold and bought food said market spokesperson marilyn church f with 25 vendors the keyword atthe newrharket farmers- market is fresh fruits and vegetables sold at main and timothy streets every saturday from 8 am to 1 pm come straight from the local farm fields church said ours is a producer- basedmarketshe v r said adding that a typ- ical saturday at the newmarket market c attracts about 60dvisi- i tors i in the lastlo years v the number of farmers markets operating across ontario has s more than doubled to iscffullzscale markets generating 4877 mil- lion in sales and an additional 15 billion in spinoff benefits for the economy ft and farmers market ontario executive robert chorney said more than 800000 shoppers visited ontarios farmers markets last year c watching a parking lot ora street turn into a fullscale trading post overnight is a- staff photossteve somerville- garlicsniffers vendor jordan mckav of willowtree farms sniffs garlic cloves with customer thain haggerty atthe newmarket farmers market fctf i h ashley bahnerman rabbit for- sale at farmers market sight to behold using a from the field to the table sales pitch farmers turn into ven dors and haul truck loads of justpicked veg etables and fruit to the market in keeping with ontario tradition the august sweet corn and beef steak tomatoes are leading the food parade meanwhile a fine selection of home- baked goods jams jel- lies pickles dairy prod ucts meats fish eggs and cheese as well as organic produce including herbs are available at the market flowers plants leather goods crafts wood products maple products candy tea and coffee and even alternative medicine are also for sale at trie t markets l food quality is excellent the prices are reasonable and the atmosphere at the mar- ket is friendly people smell touch and sam- pie the produce while stopping to chat with a neighbour is all part of r the experience the social aspect is critical to the makeup of the farmers market people meet mingle and smile its a feelgood downhome place to be a few minutesat the farmers market and people forget about traffic jams work- place stress cranky sales clerks and the con stant demand to rush rush rush people welcome the chance to buy food thats not been soaked in questionable chemicals- when people buy at ontario farmers market they know theyre getting quality in fact in ontario produce is viewed as the best in the world 4 cuddles with a 4he newmarket its a great meeting place neighbours chat with neighbours buy their goods enjoy abacononabun and stop to hear and see the entertainment its no wonder people flock to farmers markets said egi natoli spokesman for the markhamfarmers market shoppers love them farmers depend on them and as a whole the community bene fits said natoli a golf pro and a member of the local rotary club with the help of fellow rotarians and the v support of the community the market opened in may today markhams saturday market which runs from 8 am to 2 pm a going concern farmers markets are community-dri- ven producerbased and theyre what shop pers want chomey said the markham farmers market is indeed a success story with 30 vendors markhams outdoor market has brought vitality to the area including robinson street trie residents especially the seniors love it natoli said l markhams business community is also reporting an increase in sales temarket draws people to the areal and when people y pome they spend money thesocial aspect ofthe market place cant be underestimated stressed natoli its a great meeting place neighbours chat with neighbours buy their goods enjoy a bacbnomabun and stop to hear and see the entertainment he said v entertainment is a special feature at trie markham farmers market the artists including musiciansrare a hit weve had jazz folk and recently we even had an opera singer natoli said f farmersmarkets were born out ofthe consumersdesife for freshness and pro- l- ducers desire for a direct market chorney v said l 7 a survey shows 93 per cent of people v attending farmersmarkets come for the freshness 55 per cent ofthe shoppers are female while three quarters come back for a repeat visit chorney said theres no shortage of vegetables and fruit in this part of ontario in fact ourfruit and yegetable industry is v very diverse york region has the major con centration of vegetables production in the greater toronto area due mostly to the holland marsh which produces 95 per cent of ontarios celery 66 per cent of ontarios onions 80 per cent of ontarios carrots and 90 per cent of ontarios asian vegetables c a great deal of hollandmarsh produce finds its may to the areas farmers market its grown here bought here and enjoyed here k iic f l i ti j olive- williams and granddaughter kayleigh williams inspect vegetables the markham farmers market frtrodlesson strokes swdigs eventsgn owtenf street aw airmeirs market eveiry satiurdav800 amr- 200 pm ul v irnrif if tzz y aug26giant community garage sale v sept 9triuch2cm art on theroadcorrtestf sqpt16ssflggy chui bkke0ff v all summer fisfflons aexciiiaewfauaxrhbj rt lots ofitee at the rear v a fall fashions arriving daily