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THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
Farmers’ market makes permanent move Greener space draws positive local response By Phillip Woolgar THE HERALD
reporter@merrittherald.com
After what was expected to be a temporary change of venue to accommodate the Great Canadian Bike Rally, organizers of the Nicola Valley Farmers’ Market have decided to make a permanent switch to the parking lot beside the Baillie House. “Vendors love the location due to the highway exposure, the shade offered by the trees and the ability to grow and expand our number of vendors,” said NVFM President Lucas Handley about the Merritt Avenue and Voght Street location. “After sampling the location during the weekend of the Great Canadian Bike Rally, the Farmers’ Market was flooded with support from locals to work on obtaining the spot as the market’s permanent home.” Handley said he was inundated with positive feedback about the new location via Facebook comments, signatures and verbal remarks. All commenters encouraged organizers to relocate permanently. Millie Mitchell, who has been a vendor at the market for the past six years, said the new location is more “farm-like.” “It’s got trees and green grass and it’s really nice,” she said. “It will also benefit the Baillie House. We have a big sign being printed right now that says, ‘Shop Baillie House.’” The new location is also just
‘Vendors love the location due to the highway exposure, the shade offered by the trees and the ability to grow...’ — FARMERS’ MARKET PRESIDENT LUCAS HANDLEY off a major route. Within a week after the switch, the organization obtained permission from the City of Merritt to permanently relocate. The new location costs the market $50 per week, but the organization plans to ask city council to eliminate those costs. “In the meantime, the market has decided that it is in our best interest to make the move while there is still so much buzz about it in town, so we are will-
ing to pay the fee until we can be heard by council,” Handley added. “It’s not easy to leave when there has been such good hospitality to us, but the time is right to grow.” At the new location, market organizers are looking to add a hot dog stand. The sales will serve as a monthly fundraiser to raise $500 for a new annual agricultural scholarship. If no future graduates are aiming for an agricultural education, the money will be given to someone in baking or crafting. Organizers are also planning a dinner fundraiser to help with the scholarship fund, an annual corn eating contest and a pumpkin decorating contest. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday until Oct. 6. The market’s former location was at the City Furniture parking lot on Coutlee Avenue.
The Nicola Valley Farmers’ Market is making a permanent move to the parking lot behind the Baillie House on Voght Street and Merritt Avenue. Photos submitted
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