As Haliburton County hits the dog days of summer, it’s been a mixed farmers market season, says Janine Papadopoulos, the Haliburton County Farmers Market Association (HCFMA) manager.
She said the return to Head Lake Park – albeit with a new fee to utilize the space – has been good. The HCFMA is absorbing the charge levied by Dysart et al township on behalf of its vendors.
“Dysart has changed their whole use-of-park policy, and now there is a fee for anybody who uses the park, except for not-for-profit organizations. So, we weren’t the only ones, but we were the first to instigate that,” she said.
Papadopoulos added, with a concern about wear and tear on the park, particularly when it is wet, “we have moved our vendors in locations that, if the ground is really, really wet, we’ve got them all situated in places that aren’t as wet. So, that’s why we’re not all in a row. We’re kind of spread out, and it’s worked out great.”
She added, “we’re totally thankful that we’re back in Head Lake Park as opposed to Rotary Park. One of our vendors sent me her numbers for the first five markets and she was up over 100 per cent of what she did the first five markets over in Rotary Park. So, the location is really important to our vendors.”
Asked to compare the market performance to when they were last in Head Lake Park, Papadopoulos said number of visitors, and revenue, is down.
She said it may have to do with the changed hours, going from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as opposed to noon to 4 p.m., but thinks it is also a reflection of the high cost-of-living.
Minden, meanwhile, which features a farmers and artisans market on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is “a great, going concern,” Papadopoulos said.
“Everybody loves the Minden market because there’s the advantage of having an artisan market run by the cultural centre. It means we can open up for more food-type vendors.” To be a farmers market, they need to be 51 per cent agricultural and 49 per cent other. Having the artisan market allows for more flexibility.
“Plus, it’s Saturdays. People come in to go shopping, and then they go back to their cottages,” the market manager said.
Meanwhile, the HCFMA has shuttered the Abbey Gardens market, which began there last year on Fridays. Papadopoulos said they simply were not getting the customers to warrant vendors attending. “It was costing them more money to be there than money they brought in.”
She added they could say it is because Haliburton Highlands Brewing is no longer at Abbey Gardens. “But the real reason is, we just didn’t have enough customers to support a third market.”
She said she will be surveying market vendors about what they want for 2025.
“Where do we want to go? What do we want to do? And let it be their decision. Now, economically, it doesn’t make sense to have three markets in Haliburton County.
“People aren’t spending as much and things are expensive. You buy your strawberries, that’s $8. To support local is great, but you have to also be able to afford to support local.
“I want input from our vendors so that we can create a market that serves them, and also serves our public.”
Papadopoulos added, “I’m just thankful we have two thriving markets for Tuesday and Saturday, thankful we’re back in Head Lake Park. People are loving that we’re back there. Our vendors are loving that we’re back there. Minden, we’ve got some great new vendors there that people are loving. It’s all good.”
