Sharbot Lake Farmers’ Market to open on June 11

Jeff Green | May 26, 2011

After receiving the go-ahead from Central Frontenac Council, a 10-vendor farmers’ market is scheduled to run on Saturday mornings in the parking lot next to the Lions’ picnic shelter at the Sharbot Lake Beach. The market will run on Saturday mornings until Thanksgiving weekend, with the exception of July 16, when the beach area is booked for a large Algonquin gathering.

In approving the use of the space for a market, the township had a number of concerns, ranging from crowding at the site, parking, etc. One unresolved issue is the cost to the township of covering their liability and the township is still waiting for information on that score from their insurance company.

Mayor Janet Gutowski expressed support for the proposal. “I think we should go forward and embrace the opportunity to encourage local vendors,” she said, “Let's re-address this in the fall.”

The approval is for 2011 as a trial period. Vendors will have to sign a waiver form to take full responsibility for the products they sell.

Pat Furlong, who runs a mixed farm with her husband Laurie Brownlee in Elphin, is the president of the fledgling market. She said that a set of rules is being developed for vendors, and the main focus of the market will be locally grown and/or processed food.

The market is an offshoot of the Hand On Harvest Initiative, which has produced a brochure for the past four years listing local producers. This year’s brochure will be available in a couple of weeks.

Details about what will be available at the Sharbot Lake market, which joins successful markets in Verona and McDonalds Corners, will be available in the coming weeks.