Comment 47663

By A Worried Customer (anonymous) | Posted September 14, 2010 at 02:37:36

Many of you people are missing the point! I have been shopping at the Hamilton Market for over 20 years, 4 days a week(even during snowstorms). The "Real" farmers who made the market what it is today, weren't forced or booted out, but rather opted out by choice and by their own admission. So why try to prioritize and urge new farmers at the new Hamilton Market at this point in time? Thus, pushing aside non farmer vendors!! The farmers kids didn't want to be farmers anymore, they wanted to work in the office, be firemen, dentist, policemen, etc. As evident in farms being sold to developers all around us, these kids don't want to be farmers.

So the next generation of market vendors came in. There are a few good ones and they are none farmers, but also sell many local products all year long. These people filled the retired farmers void, beautifully!! I have built a relationship along the years with many vendors (including farmers) at the Hamilton Market, one in particular I don't want to mention any names. But, I will say a fruit and vegetable vendor (he also sells mostly local produce during the seasons and throughout the year). And his mother has an ethnic (Latino and Oriental foods) store... Did I give them away? Probably all of you reading this have past or shopped at their stalls one time or another. They have become a Hamilton Market destination for my family, friends and extended family for over 20 years. And judging by the many customers, probably in the hundreds - we are all very happy they are at the market. Many of us will be lost if they were not there!!

They, along with other vendors have held the farmers market together during the downtown cores dark days. I personally, along with family go to the Market to buy fruit and veggies from him, and after at his Mother's for some Latino groceries. I agree that there are many vendors that shouldn't be at the market. But if you get rid of the good vendors and the superb service my non-farmer vendor provides my family, I will no longer shop at the market. You politicians and decision makers, who don't even shop at the market let alone understand how many countless hours these people put in to make a buck. You all should be ashamed of yourselves!! These same politician promote farmer friendly Market for "real" farmers, but on the other hand they keep on allowing farmers land to be sold off to developers. Pretty soon there will be no farmers to sell at the Hamilton Market!!

As a Hamilton Market customer, I've noticed even the "real" farmers are not selling 100 percent local products. To me that's ok because you can only consume so many potatoes, beats, carrots, apples, etc. If you know what I mean. I would rather shop at the Market instead of the chain stores. I don't have a problem with my local produce nor farmers. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it! These politicians woke up one day with a pretty little concept! "Let's turn the Hamilton Market into a farmer friendly market and give priority to 2 to 3 existing farmers at the market and invite new ones along the way, pushing aside existing vendors.

The only attraction for many years to the downtown core was the market and the vendors that kept it alive. The politicians don't see that, because the only time they come to the Market is during election time. I believe I have not seen not one of them there shopping. The city allowed these vendors to be there, to make livelihoods for themselves and their families...why should the city decide who stays and who doesn't! There is clearly something wrong, somebody missed something along the way,... These vendors deserve better. The city and whoever is in charge of the market should be held accountable. How can you make a new market and then after tell the vendors we cannot accommodate everybody.

What I had feared from the very beginning is now becoming very shockingly true. The new market is for the politicians and city to bask in and at the same time getting all the credit, not realizing that their dream and concept of a new market has been a nightmare and possibly livelihood ending reality for these many vendors.

I think my New Years resolution will be to stop shopping at the Hamilton Market and start at No Frills or Food Basics. Hey, they promote local farmers, too!

Yours truly,
Very disappointed at the new market decision makers

Permalink | Context

Events Calendar

There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?

Recent Articles

Article Archives

Blog Archives

Site Tools

Feeds