Farmers’ Markets Ontario is creating a new organization, to be known as Farmers’ Markets Canada (FMC), which will look at national issues impacting farmers’ markets across Canada.

The Federal government has provided $365,000 through the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program to kickstart the organization, which will be an umbrella group for about 500 farmers’ markets across Canada, up from 400 about five years ago, said Farmers’ Markets Ontario executive director Robert Chorney, of Brighton. There are about 145 farmers’ markets in Ontario, he said. "In Ontario, market sales are growing 5 per cent a year. It’s a growth industry."

He said the national organization will be involved in networking, training, bulk purchasing and government lobbying. It’s first plan, however, is to hire consultants to interview more than 4,000 farmers market consumers, as well as farmers market leaders and managers. Likely before the end of the year, "we’ll know the shopping characteristics, economic impact and our demographics."

Recommendations will be developed from the study and the results shared with provincial partners will be shared at a national conference in St. Catharines Feb. 16 and 17. 

"We envision a future where every Canadian has easy access to a farmers’ market," said Chorney, Chair of the FMC Board of Directors. "We know the demand is there."

Sales from Ontario farmers’ markets now exceed $700 million annually, with an economic impact of $2 billion, Chorney said. "We have over one million regular shoppers."