Vendor applications open for all three markets
The Stanhope farmers market is on the move for 2023 – heading to Abbey Gardens from its spot on North Shore Road in Algonquin Highlands.
Haliburton County Farmers Market Association manager, Lauren Phillips, shared the news Jan. 1 as the association announced applications are open for this year’s market season.
Phillips said board member Ron Lofthouse, of Lofthouse Beeswax Company, was instrumental in the shift that has resulted in the new partnership with Abbey Gardens for the Friday markets. Along with the new venue comes expanded dates to align with markets in Haliburton and Minden; May 19-Oct 6.
The market used to be at the corner of Hwy. 35 and 118 before moving to North Shore Road but struggled to gain traction, Phillips said. However, she thanked Algonquin Highlands council and its parks department for hosting the event outside the Stanhope Firefighters Community Hall for the past number of years.
“We’re really excited about this new partnership,” Phillips said.
She added it’s a natural location in many ways. For example, Haliburton Highlands Brewing has been a vendor at Stanhope and will now be across the road from the markets. Into the Blue wood-fired pizza is also on the grounds of Abbey Gardens. They also go to the Tuesday farmers market in Haliburton.
“So, there’s a lot of overlap in a good way,” Phillips said.
She added the vendors will set up outside along Abbey Road and not be using the big white gardens’ tent.
Abbey Gardens Ashley McAllister said they have a lot of new ideas and development happening at this year, “and we’re excited to be a part of helping the farmers market grow at the same time.”
She added their Food Hub was founded with a passion to support local food and economic development, so they already have existing relationships with a lot of the vendors.
“It’s a very natural fit to host the market at Abbey Gardens, and our own garden team will be working with the market vendors to plan our 2023 garden intentionally to ensure what we harvest on Fridays is complementary to the market offerings, so we’ll have a wide variety to offer visitors,” she said.
The Haliburton markets are held Tuesdays in Head Lake Park and the Minden markets on Saturday downtown.
As for vendor applications, the market manager said the deadline to apply is Jan. 31.
Applications are online at hcfma.ca by clicking the link, on Facebook, or by emailing incrediblehcfma@gmail.com. Guest vendor spots will remain available after Jan. 31 as will ‘community ag table’ spots, Phillips said.
For more on the markets, see hcfma.ca or facebook.com/ HaliburtonCountyFarmersMarket.
