Hi all,
We have been working on a proposal to pilot a farmers' market here at York. Just wondering if any of your schools have a market, or if you have tried one in the past, and if so, if you have any experiences you can share with me (important considerations, best practices, lessons learned, what worked, what didn't etc).
Feel free to email me directly or give me a call if that would be easier.
Thx,
Andrew
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TIM LANG - UofT Scarborough (2013.10.22)
We have one. Organizing it is very time intensive. Best place to start is forming a steering committee, including some of the cornerstone vendors you intend to have. If you want to talk more, give me a call.
Tim
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LAUREN BINETT - UofT St. George (2013.10.22)
Hi All, here is some advice from U of T St. George’s Food Guru (below).
Lauren
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Hi Lauren,
I would advise that they sign up with Farmers Markets Ontario - http://www.farmersmarketsontario.com/index.cfm - this is a group of vendors and market managers across Ontario. Markets can be very tricky, and it is a great help to speak with other market managers (some volunteers, some full time paid) who are experts at running markets. Also, it would be helpful to have policies and guidelines carved out before inviting vendors, and getting everything approved by the city first. Also, having a staff member working only on the market is helpful. It is a lot of work, time, energy, and financial investment, and it must be managed like any other work project.
Good luck to them! Have they talked to UTSC yet? The Scarborough market is doing well, and they seem to have a good system in place.
-Sarah Khan
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KATE WHALEN - McMaster (2013.10.22)
Hi Andrew,
McMaster has a Farm Market. It was started in the summer of 2010 through a collaboration between Hospitality Services, the McMaster Students Union and Office of Sustainability. Year one was a pilot and in year two the MSU secured a paid student position (Farm Stand Director). The Director works with the farmers and runs day-to-day operations. Sustainability and Hospitality support when/where needed. I don't do much at all anymore, but Hospitality helps out with the business side of things as well as food/supply storage. The three parties have a MOU that has been helpful, especially during annual transition with the student representatives.
Biggest challenge was signing the contract with our Hospitality Services. Support from the MSU President at the time, Mary Koziol, was integral. It probably wouldn't have happened without her backing.
More info can be found in our Annual Report:
2012 Report. Page 23:
http://www.mcmaster.ca/sustainability/documents/Annual%20Report%202010.pdf
2011 Report. Page 15:
http://www.mcmaster.ca/sustainability/documents/Annual%20Report%202011.pdf
Let me know if you have any more questions.
Best,
Kate
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CLAIRE BENETTE - Wilfred Laurier (2013.10.22)
Hi All - Laurier also has a Farm Market that is operated through the students union, specifically, the Food Bank so it is now considered a student service. The Sustainability Office got the market going again after a year or two lull - we worked with the students union for administrative support and got volunteers through advertising, a year or two later it became a student service which operates every Wednesday in our student centre. This year, we are looking into selling produce from our CSA garden plot on campus, which is operated through our community partner, Young City Growers.
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JONATHAN RAUSSEO - uOttawa (2013.10.22)
Hey what are the odds, we have a farmer's market going on today.
Our student union organizes them and we lend communications support.
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STEPHANIE FOSTER - George Brown (2013.10.22)
Hi Andrew, See below for some info about GBC's market. For more info please contact Ashley Booth, Professor, Academic Upgrading, who initiated this program, copied on this email.
George Brown College hosts a "Good Food Market (GFM)" at St. James Campus every Thursday afternoon from 1:30-3:30. The market has been growing in size since its inception in June of 2012. Based out of the School of Work and College Preparation, the GFM is now teaming up with Student Affairs and Open Doors Thursdays to welcome visitors in the main lobby of 200 King. The market strives to improve access to healthy, fresh produce, foster a sense of community, and boost student retention.
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ALAN GRIFFITHS - Mohawk (2013.10.22)
Andrew:
We’ve had great success with all sustainable/local food projects (Community Gardens, Farmers Market, Food Share and Good Food Box COOP) this past year. Feel free to connect with me directly to discuss.
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PAUL CARUSO - Guelph (2013.10.22)
Hi All,
We have our own 1 hectare Organic Farm for teaching on Campus that is run through the department of plant agriculture by faculty a student class and volunteers.
They run a fall market on campus using students from the class and volunteers that sells produce from the Organic Farm
They've got a blog
http://gcuof.wordpress.com/
and more info here
https://www.uoguelph.ca/gcuof/
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LLYNWEN OSBORNE - Queens (2013.10.22)
Hi Andrew,
Queen’s has had a Farmer’s Market for about several years now. It was developed by our food services group on campus, Sodexo and is a popular weekly attraction on campus: http://dining.queensu.ca/sustainable-u/the-farmers-market/
If you’re interested in more information about the trials of tribulations of this venture please contact Joli Manson, General Manager of Hospitality Services.
Joli.manson@sodexo.com or call 613-533-6423.
Cheers,
Llyn