Organizers of Minto’s Palmerston Farmers Market reported 2017 was a good year for the market.
“It was a very successful year,” market committee chair Luke Hartung told Minto council on Dec. 19.
“Fiscally we had a really good year, so much so we were actually able to give back to the community. We donated $1,000 to the Palmerston Food Bank.”
Hartung noted the market committee “had some really successful fundraising initiatives” during 2017.
These included operating two trivia nights, a corn roast at the Palmerston Fair and a strawberry social at the market, which brought in a combined total of around $2,400.
The Palmerston Agricultural Society also made a $1,000 donation to the market from proceeds of the society’s annual pre-seeding barbecue event. Vendor fees brought in just under $930.
After deducing expenses, of $6,248 from revenues of $6,728, the market ended the year in the black with a profit of about $480.
The County of Wellington’s Market Bucks program added to the market’s success in 2017, said Hartung. Nearly $2,200 in Market Bucks, which are provided to county social assistance recipients and sold to interested organizations and individuals, flowed through the Palmerston Market during the past season.
“That’s been successful. We’ve seen a lot of new faces with people out using those to purchase goods at the market,” said Hartung.
He noted nearly all but one of the last year’s vendors are expected to return in 2018, but new vendors are always welcome.
“We have a small market. We have a very committed market for all that are there, but more vendors would also be appreciated too,” he said.
Councillor Judy Dirksen commended market organizers and volunteers.
“They do a lot of work. They have a lot of great ideas,” she said.
Deputy mayor Ron Faulkner said, “It’s a pleasure to go there because the vendors are always helpful and informative.”
Mayor George Bridge noted the market, which runs Saturday mornings at the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum, compliments that operation nicely.
“It really adds to the whole Palmerston railway museum concept … and of course, agriculture was so big in Palmerston when that railway was there.”
