Global Market making mark downtown

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/07/2012 (5063 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s Global Market hosted more than a dozen vendors on Saturday morning. The seasonal market, which is Brandon’s first permanent outdoor market venue, had it’s grand opening on July 5 and now hosts farmers markets every Friday and Saturday throughout the summer.

Many of the vendors at the market used to be a part of the farmers market at the Riverbank Discovery Centre. Nora, who was tending the Aagaard Farms vendor booth, is among the people who moved over.

“We used to organize (the Riverbank Discovery Centre Farmers Market) but we were tired of being organizers, so we loved the idea of the Brandon Global Market. We moved over and joined this market and many of our friends (other vendors) came with us,” Nora said.

Nora said she is happy they made the move over and every week more customers that frequented their booth at its previous location are finding their new spot. Brian Gemma, who was running the Gemma’s Garden vending booth, also used to sell at the Riverbank Discovery Centre’s Farmers Market.

He said he isn’t worried the new Global Market at Rosser Avenue and 12th Street will affect the farmers market in the Town Centre parkade, because customers were already split between two farmers markets. Gemma is also a member of the Farmers Market Co-op that sells in the Town Centre parkade. He said there are advantages to each locations.

“In the Town Centre the weather never gets you, but you can’t enjoy the summer because your under all that steel. Here we are under canopies, but the customers won’t come if it’s a crappy day,” Gemma said.

The Global Market is in a much more visible location, operates two days a week instead of one, has longer hours on Saturday and also provides free live music on Saturday evenings. Erin Gobeil sat in her booth’s shade behind her homemade jewellery display and manipulated small pieces of silver into various forms. This is her first summer running a vendor booth at a market.

“I love it — I think it’s a great idea for downtown Brandon. It’s nice to see people out and it’s nice to be here with other people that create,” Gobeil said. “You can come and go as you want. You can pick your tables throughout the summer for a full day or half day. It’s nice how you can pick and choose when you want to sell here.”

Sara Dunsmore rode here bike to the market and bought some tomatoes and potatos. She is new to Brandon but has supported farmers markets for years. “I like the fresh produce. I find it tastes better than the stuff from the grocery stores,” Dunsmore said.

Crystal Donley picked up some earrings, soap and some produce from the market.

“I come here to support local people and to see what they’re up to. There are all kinds of interesting crafts, handmade soaps and baking here,” Donley said.

In terms of produce, there were baby potatoes, raspberries, beans, lettuce, onions, chard, cabbage, broccoli, herbs, peas and cucumbers for sale at the market.

» rbooker@brandonsun.com