Farmer’s Market returns to Exhibition

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on May 10, 2022.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Jonathan Gemora and Adel Posada help serve customers at the first Farmer's Market of the year.

The Farmer’s Market kicked off its 2022 season at Exhibition Park on Saturday.
“Our Farmer’s Market is one of our longest and most important signature events,” said
Mevisha Maistry, Exhibition Park’s director of communications, marketing and event development.
“So, it’s very much about bringing the community together and telling our local food story here in Lethbridge where we’re fortunate to be located in the heart of the agri-food corridor. So, it’s very much about the farm-to-fork concept and inviting the community to support local and support their neighbours who are growing produce in their backyards.”
Maistry said Lethbridge’s food story is one of the best kept secrets.
“And it’s shocking to see how much produce and processing actually happens here in the heart of Canada’s premier food corridor,” she said.
Because of the essential services component, they were able to stay open during the pandemic, she says.
“Our Farmer’s Market was hugely busy last year,” she said.
“We actually welcomed over 50,000 guests throughout the whole season last year and this year we’re looking to welcome even more.”
With the event being Lethbridge’s only Alberta-approved farmer’s market, they follow the 80/20 rule.
“So 80 per cent of our vendors are producers who grow, bake or produce their own products,” she said. “So a lot of them you’ll see in the coming weeks are producers who make homemade goods or fresh vegetables.”
The Farmer’s Market starts the season with around 40 vendors and sees the peak of their season in June until September.
“We get our long-standing vendors who we welcome back every year and they’re always guest favourites and then each year we look to expand and we look for new vendors who are going to be a great fit for the show,” said Maistry.
A new culinary program will be launched during the 2022 season with new food offerings.
The Farmer’s Market will run every Saturday until Oct. 22 from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.

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