Farmers’ market needs to live up to potential: Mayor

Saskatoon’s Farmers’ Market (SFM) hasn’t been living up to its potential, according to the mayor.

The farmers market has been entrenched in Saskatoon’s history, having popped up at vending locations and parking lots around the city since 1975.

Ten years ago, the market found itself a permanent home and set up shop in a brand new building along the river.

After an assessment, Mayor Charlie Clark concluded the building lacked “animation.”

He said the market was intended to run year-round and more days a week than its current three.

“Having places in the cities that support farmers is really critical. We also have a building there that you know that the city has paid to renovate and to rejuvenate and to make it a vibrant area,” Clark said.

The mayor is onside with a city committee that is recommending council consider putting the space out to tender to see who else might be interested in using it to its full potential.

“The goal is to absolutely have a farmers’ market as a fundamental part of what happens on the site but we also need to see more proposals to animate that building.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the SFM said it has every intention of talking to council about how it might be able to stay where it is.

At the same time, it will see what other locations might be out there that allow operations to continue as they are.

The farmers’ market issue will be dealt with when city council holds its regular meeting on Monday.