• Welcome
  

ST. NORBERT MARKET

• Benefits 1
  
  
• Benefits 2
  
  
• Benefits 3
  
  
• Ten Reasons
  

• References
  

Benefits of Farmers Markets: More than Just Fruits and Veggies :

Farmers markets offer more than fruits and vegetables to the consumers. The St Norbert Farmers Market, for example, showcases fresh and cooked meat products, flowers, herbs, crafts, artwork, jewellery, baking, preserves/jellies, clothing, music/entertainment, and non-profit information kiosks. The combination of these products and services make farmers markets a vibrant place to visit and purchase quality goods. They also provide other community benefits such as small scale economics, entrepreneurship, and social interaction.

Farmers markets keep small farmers in business and act as a supplemental income for the farmers. Large wholesale produce operations make it more difficult for small-scale farmers to stay in business, thus farmers choose to sell directly to their customers. (Hough 1995, p.214; Satzewich 1998 in Fairholm 1998).

As the St Norbert Farmers Market is not restricted to produce, it allows vendors to test their products (art, music, baking, etc.) on the market without large capital investments. This allows the vendors to assess the popularity of their product, and get feedback from the consumers (Fairholm 1998).

For vendors and consumers alike, the St. Norbert Farmers Markets offers a place for social connection. Interactions take place between people who would not normally meet on a day-to-day basis. Farmers markets can become a weekly event, where people from the community gather to listen to music and socialize with one another. According to Fairholm, ?the sense of connection is further enhanced by the knowledge that the local economy is benefiting? (1998).

Overall, the St Norbert Farmers Market provides a number of benefits to the community and the environment. From the environmental benefits of urban agriculture and organic farming to the economic and social benefits for vendors and community members, farmers markets encompass the principles of sustainable development. As a result, farmers markets should be encouraged and promoted within any urban area.
The next page provides ten reasons to buy local food.