Farmers market open for business

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This article was published 12/06/2017 (3099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The East St. Paul Farmers Market opened on June 10 with a dedication of two plaques commemorating the Kruszelnicki family.

Joseph and Anna Kruszelnicki moved to 302 Hoddinott Road in 1945. They built a house and set up a market garden. Their son, Harry, kept up the family business, and lived in the family home until he died in 2011. The RM of East St. Paul bought the old house from Harry’s sister, Lillian Petrasko,  demolished it, and built the Farmers Market on the site.

“We’re hoping this provides a sense of longevity, and we hope the RM does them justice,” Shelley Hart, mayor of East St. Paul, told a crowd of about 100 who had gathered for the grand opening.

Commemorative plaques detailing the family’s connection to the area, with photos memorializing the family’s former home and Harry Kruszelnicki, are mounted to two boulders from the Birds Hill gravel pit.

Allan Petrasko, Lillian Petrasko’s son who now lives in East Selkirk, addressed the crowd on behalf of the family. He said he has fond memories of visiting his “baba and gido” and his uncle Harry every Sunday when he was a kid.

“This is very nice what they’ve done here,” Petrasko said. “It really means a lot to my mom.”

This year the market, which opened last year in conjunction with East St. Paul’s centennial celebrations, extended its operations into June, and will stay open to at least Oct. 1. The municipal council felt it was important to maintain the region’s historic connection to market gardening, while offering residents an opportunity to ‘buy local.’

“For this area, the history here with market gardening, really makes it unique,” said market manager Joanne Zarichney.

This year the market will feature 30 different vendors.

“We’re hoping to have a full complement of vendors,” she said. “We’re looking for people with homemade, home-baked, homegrown products.”

John and Thelma Neumann of Neumann’s Market (2659 Henderson Hwy.), and their son Ty, are among the vendors.

“Our regulars come by, they’re always looking for something different,” Thelma Neumann said, adding that once veggies start growing, they’ll be stocked with cucumbers, carrots, peas, cabbage, Sweet Kelsae onions, and more each week.

“They’re all fresh,” she said. “All Manitoba-grown.”

Vendors selling homemade woodwork, jewelry, and children’s clothing were also on site, along with a couple of food trucks, and a buskers’ stage.

Alex Stefanko and Griffin Billson, two local boys, were playing a mix of original music and cover songs on opening day.

“It’s an awesome opportunity,” said Stefanko, who will be graduating this month from Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute.

“It’s great to get out there and have a good time,” said Billson, who will be graduating from Miles Macdonell Collegiate.

“Hopefully the weather will stay good each weekend and people will come out and have some fun,” Zarichney said.

The East St. Paul Farmers Market is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Oct. 1. For more information, visit www.eaststpaul.com

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