Farmers’ Market going strong all year long

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/03/2017 (3365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The weather is warming, the snow is melting and the Canada geese are returning. Stacks of garden seeds are beginning to appear in the stores and local nurseries are gearing up for another busy season ahead.

In St. Norbert, behind the scenes far and wide, farmers, crafters, bakers and gardeners are already planning for opening day of the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market.  

The farmers’ market began on July 16, 1988, when just eight vendors nestled themselves onto a grassy patch along Pembina Highway. There weren’t any benches, restrooms or canvas canopies for protection from sun and rain, just honest, good people sharing their bounty.

Look what it’s turned into today. It’s grown into the largest market of its kind in the province with 130 full-time and 50 casual vendors. So what you see one week may be somewhat different the next week — and that’s a good thing because it keeps the people coming back.

People from all over the city converge on St. Norbert every Saturday between Victoria Day and Halloween looking for the best, the freshest and the most unique.

When you buy at St. Norbert’s market you can be guaranteed everything is Manitoba made, baked and grown. A word of caution — be prepared to leave with more than you intended to buy.

The St. Norbert Farmers’ Market is a bustling, friendly place to visit on a summer Saturday and now it’s moved indoors for the winter at the Eagles Club (3459 Pembina Hwy.).

Even though the venue is confined, the atmosphere of friendly salespeople and happy shoppers can’t be ignored. Now that winter is almost over there are still two opportunities to visit the indoor version of the farmers’ market, on either Sat., March 25 or Sat., April 8 between 10 a.m. and 1p.m. Parking is conveniently located right on the premises.

Plans are in the works for the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market to build a venue of its own on the market property for next winter.  

There’s probably nobody anywhere in Winnipeg who hasn’t heard of the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market, but if you’ve never experienced it isn’t it about time you did?

Now that it’s a year-round thing there are no excuses to not come to the market and end your visit with a tour of St. Norbert to see what else our great little community has to offer.

Garwood Robb is a community correspondent for St. Norbert. Questions? Story ideas? Email him at grobb1@shaw.ca