10 Years of Success ~ June 1993 to June 2003

While many are still nestled in their warm beds, the day begins for the men and women who participate in the weekly Farmers’ Market. Come rain or shine they are there. Everyone knows their part and goes about their roles. In no time the tables are set up, and the produce is out.

Local markets offer vendors a chance to test the waters without a large cash outlay and tweak their products with the input from their customers. Some have gone on to take successful products to a broader market.

The Georgetown Farmers’ Market is a producer-based market, which means that the vendors and crafters make or produce 70 to 100 percent of their products. These crafters and vendors are local people for the most part. In this way the market supports agriculture and educates the public on who is growing their food. Most of the vendors have participated in the market for the ten years it has operated. Bert Andrews of Andrews’ Scenic Acres, Bob Allison of Allison’s Farm Market, and Georgetown Farmers’ Market co-chairs Dawn Falls and Terry LaFond are founding members. The Georgetown Farmers’ Market is a community interest group run by a non-profit board of volunteers and the only paid position is the market manager’s.

There are over one million people who shop at farmers’ markets in Ontario, with fresh local produce being the main attraction. The Georgetown Farmers’ Market provides a great venue for local stores, restaurants, hotels, artisans, and musicians to showcase their products and services. In Georgetown’s core there is substantial interaction between the market and the stores, a working alliance with the BIA co-coordinator on advertising as well as sharing vendors and musicians for events such as the Village Festival and the Harvest Festival.

The Georgetown Farmers’ Market was created in part with the local BIA ten years ago to encourage people to come downtown. The response has been fantastic and new business is flourishing, tourism has been re-kindled, and the market goes from strength to strength.

The "Market " has garnered its fair share of awards as well. It has won two awards in two different years for the Santa Claus Parade and the prestigious Civic Pride Award from the Chamber of Commerce in 2001. As active participants in the Year of the Volunteer with the Town of Halton Hills, the Market team (CW Horticulture, Scotch Block Winery, The Ultimate Bean and the market musicians) set up the Civic Center with flowers, and prepared food while the musicians performed. Located on the northwest corner of Maple and Main Streets is the Market Garden, identified by a metal work sign created by local artist Doris Treleaven. In the garden you will find vines, perennial herbs, corn, and strawberries to name just a few of the varieties.

The Georgetown Farmers’ Market is a community market and we like to support our local youths. In celebration of our tenth anniversary we have decided to sponsor two soccer teams, a team of ten-year-old boys and a team of ten-year-old girls.

The Market is not limited to just produce. You will find shelves, tables, reproduction furniture, Adirondack chairs, local photographs and the Market Cookbook (featuring a cover photo by local photographer Steve Frost), craft tables for kids, chocolate, and discovery toys.

You may have noticed that the Market is a social event. The social aspect draws everyone from grandparents, to mom and dad with the kids. It is a place for families to have family time together. In less than fifteen minutes friendships can be forged for life. So what are you waiting for? Relax, dress down and be yourself at the Georgetown Farmers’ Market. Open every Saturday morning from June 14th to Thanksgiving. Located from Main Street South to James Street. It just doesn’t get any better on a Saturday morning.