GREEN MAP
Culture and Design
- Future of the Market and the Park
Future of the Market and the Park:
While there have been some concerns expressed by the public about the safety of coming to Central Park, according to organizers, the program has had no major issues. The Market is helping the park shed its earlier reputation as a high-crime, bleak area. Organizers hope that more Winnipeggers will to see the park and the neighbourhood differently.Short Term Goals
One objective is to increase the consistency of food availability. An organizer noted that the Market wants to have uninterrupted supply so they can sell food regularly, thus allowing people to rely on the Market for their weekly purchases. In terms of hot food sales, the Market is looking to install electrical infrastructure to maintain high standards in food service.
While the feasibility is not yet known, the Market will soon be looking into reclaiming a couple of local parking lots that they could transform into community gardens for market food production.
Doing More: Achieving Greater Environmental Sustainability at Central Market
Central Market already attempts to source food locally, although environmental concerns are not at the top of the agenda along with its social and cultural assets. There is no doubt is indeed a gem in the area with multiple benefits.
Since the Market is these things and is also a seller of food, it has the opportunity to look into environmental sustainability, particularly in its sourcing. Many newcomers from Africa and other countries have practiced sustainable agriculture in their countries of origin. While the Market supplies fresh food, the majority of it is sourced from a distributor with no particular focus around sustainable or organic growing methods. People in the community aren’t currently getting the chance to use their urban agricultural skills in their community. A program could potentially be developed around urban agriculture in the park, which has space that goes unused by other activities.
While organizers are looking to be part of the Farmer’s Market Association of Manitoba - which would dramatically increase their commitment to locally grown produce - there is little mention of organics. One way the Market could secure more customers is by going that route. Anecdotally, Winnipeggers living centrally have indicated the need for a nearby market with locally grown, organic food. For something fully-stocked you currently have to drive to St. Norbert. Some people have pointed out that if Central Market offers food similar to shopping at the grocery store, it is not the drawing card they need to consider shopping there. But if it were able to say to customers that its produce is local and organic, it would attract these groups. With the number of environmentally conscious residents of Winnipeg on the rise, there are advantages to tapping into this market.
I would like to commend Central Market for its recent partnership activities, especially those involving the gardening program at Sister MacNamara school, and the ideas around reclaiming some local surface lots for dedicated gardening. It is initiatives like this, together with a move to demonstrable sustainability (insisting on rather than preferring organic food and local sourcing), that can increase business, and make the Market a leader-by-example and a healthy educational force in the area. With its ample media coverage it would have a good opportunity to get the word out. I’d love to hear about it.