“(People can) eat freshly-grown vegetables and get locally sourced items that they can buy for their homes,” says Ability Employment Corporation (AEC) chairwoman Danielle Quinton.
“I think it’s a win-win for everybody.”
The local farmers’ market, to be established next to the Clarenville Inn, received funding from the federal and provincial governments — a combined $300,000.
The funding was announced at the Clarenville Inn along with other contributions to infrastructure in the region. Bonavista-Burin-Trinity MP Judy Foote, on behalf of the Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Navdeep Bains, and Terra Nova MHA Colin Holloway made the announcement.
ACOA will contribute $200,071 to the Farm and Market through the Innovative Communities Fund, and the province added $100,543, through the Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development.
“(People can) eat freshly-grown vegetables and get locally sourced items that they can buy for their homes,” says Ability Employment Corporation (AEC) chairwoman Danielle Quinton.
“I think it’s a win-win for everybody.”
The local farmers’ market, to be established next to the Clarenville Inn, received funding from the federal and provincial governments — a combined $300,000.
The funding was announced at the Clarenville Inn along with other contributions to infrastructure in the region. Bonavista-Burin-Trinity MP Judy Foote, on behalf of the Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Navdeep Bains, and Terra Nova MHA Colin Holloway made the announcement.
ACOA will contribute $200,071 to the Farm and Market through the Innovative Communities Fund, and the province added $100,543, through the Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development.
Kathryn Small vice-chairwoman of Farm and Market, on behalf of chairman Keith Pardy, hosted the event.
Farm and Market is a non-profit social enterprise, which is partnered with the AEC and the Clarenville Inn.
The market will work with local farmers to establish an area for local specialty crops to be sold to residents, visitors and restaurants and for craftspeople to sell their wares.
Krista Chatman is not only a local farmer at the Three Mile Ridge farm, she’s also a board member of Farm and Market and the organization’s market manager.
She says this market is a great opportunity for local talent to be able to represent themselves.
“There is not a facility in the Bonavista Peninsula where you can go and sell your wares,” Chatman told TC Media.
“They can come here and create new businesses by selling all of their products.”
Small and Quinton say a big part of the initiative is about food security.
“This is also an opportunity for not only partnering and being a vendor, that sort of thing, but being part of a partnership with a private person and all the public sector people,” said Small.
The market presents an exciting addition for local people in the community, not only availing of fresh produce but getting outdoors, says Chatman.
“It’s a really good place for people to come and socially interact—get people off the computer and off their phones—and get out and enjoy outdoors, somewhere they can go and enjoy their Saturday, pick up all of their fresh local produce (each week).
“It’s a fantastic place.”
There will be a vendor information session on Monday, Feb. 20, from 1-3 p.m. at the Clarenville Inn for local farmers to find out how to be a vendor and all the details of Farm and Market Clarenville.
Twitter: @jejparsons
Farm and Market Clarenville
The market will feature:
• A commercial tent of 3,500 square feet for 25-30 inside booths and 10-15 outside booths;
• Electricity access for food trucks;
• A commercial greenhouse for starter plants and community education programs;
• A performance and gathering stage for outdoor events;
• Raised growing beds for specialty crops;
• An authentic, Elliston-style root cellar;
• And off-street parking.
