November 23, 2011
Town backs farmers'
market
by Vance Gutzman
Deep River council is turning over seed money to help a farmers' market
take root in town.
Council authorized $3,000 in funding last week to the group
spearheading the development of a bi-weekly farmers' market that would
run each year during the May to October growing season.
The funding, which will come out of the municipality's economic
development budget, came after a presentation last week by Janice
Fransisco and Andrew Bergeron, two of the people who are heading up the
farmers' market proposal.
"As a volunteer group, there's only so much we can do," Fransisco told
council.
"Without some support from you, we will not be able to move forward as
quickly as we'd like."
Fransisco, (whom Mayor David Thompson publicly acknowledged at the
outset of the presentation as his spouse) was joined by Andrew Bergeron
(via Skype) for last week's presentation.
It was Bergeron who first floated the idea of a farmers' market to town
council back in August, and Fransisco said a lot of work has been done
on the proposal since then.
In addition to the $3,000 in start-up funding the group was requesting,
Fransisco said the group, which already has 50 members on its Facebook
page, could also use some in-kind help from the municipality as well.
"We'd like to set up the market right here on town property," Fransisco
told council, referring to the land by the town hall.
In addition to ironing out an agreement with the municipality to
operate on town lands, the group is also seeking the town's guidance on
what permits it would require to satisfy municipal bylaws.
The group also wants council to identify a liaison person it can work
with as the project progresses.
The municipality can also assist in the group's endeavour by aiding
with promotional work, Fransisco said in her presentation, noting that
could include providing signage to direct visitors off the highway and
promoting the farmers' market on the town's website.
The mayor himself could help out with promoting the farmer's market at
the county level, she added, by making sure it's included in next
year's "Taste of the Valley" events.
"Taste of the Valley" runs each year throughout a number of
municipalities in Renfrew County, providing them with showcases for
local food, crafts and other products.
Fransisco and Bergeron's presentation received a good reception from
members of town council.
"One of the things that's appealing is how it's from the grassroots,"
Deputy Mayor Daniel Banks said of the group's initiative.
"Those are the types of things we can really be proud of."
Councillor Terry Myers concurred.
"The best projects are driven by the community," he said, while making
light of the relationship between Fransisco and the mayor.
"If this is date night, you two need to get out more," Myers said.
With the $3,000 in seed money now in hand, the proponents of the
farmer's market say they will operate next year on a "proof of concept"
basis, with a goal to working towards a long-terms sustainable business
model.
"This is new to us," Fransisco said.
"We'd like to set it up so at the end of the season we can talk about
what worked and what we can do differently."
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