St. Norbert Farmers' Market ramps up for 2015 summer season

Locally sown and grown goods are coming back as St. Norbert Farmers' Market prepares to set up shop for the 28th year in a row.

The market is open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting May 16 and running until Oct. 31.

Marilyn Firth, St. Norbert Farmers' Market executive director, said the goods and services the market provides brings Winnipeg and its surrounding communities to life.

"I think overall it's a very positive thing," said Firth. "It brings business to some of the other businesses in the community."

The market has grown substantially from its modest beginnings in 1988. Back then, Firth said the market was just eight vendors clustered together on a grassy site.

"St.Norbert's Farmers' Market is committed to being to what we call a 'make it, bake it and grow it' market. That means that everything produced here is made, baked, or grown in Manitoba by the vendor who sells it."

The market prohibits vendors from selling products they haven't themselves baked, made or grown.

"You have to bring it yourself and sell it yourself and that's been true since the very beginning," said Firth.

The market is getting a few eco-upgrades this year, including new permanent washrooms, more bike racks and improvements to ditch drainage in the surrounding area with about 40 trees planted nearby to help suck up excess standing water.

Patrons can also use the online market, which launched last fall, to make pre-orders before picking packages up on site.

There will be a number of special events and "how-to" workshops too, Firth said, including the annual Canada Day celebrations, weekly musical acts, meditation groups and more.

Firth said the market's canopy is being stretched over the bare steel tent frames this week.