The Prince George Farmers' Market announced on Saturday that it will be amalgamating its operations at its Sixth Avenue location starting next weekend.
But some vendors may not be making the move from the market's original location at Wilson Square, outside the Prince George courthouse, according to president Randy Stasiuk.
In June the members voted 52 to nine to close the Wilson Square location, he said, but some vendors are not happy about the move.
"This has been an issue for two-three years, and this will hopefully be the end of it. If [they] chose not to join, [they] choose not to join," Stasiuk said. "Some people want to stay at the Wilson Square location. [But] it splits the customer base. When people start recognizing it as one market, and a year-round market, it will continue to grow."
Stasiuk said some of the vendors set up at Wilson Square on Saturday were not part of the Prince George Farmers' Market, but licensed as independent street vendors. With the permission of the provincial government, which owns the courthouse site, they could continue to operate there once the market leaves, he said.
One market vendor concerned about the move is 4 Paws Pure owner Gwen Burgart.
Burgart said she will be considering her options now that the market will be at the Sixth Avenue location only.
Burgart said she is concerned the Sixth Avenue location will be "a step backward for the market."
"First of all the building is tiny. It's not giving equal opportunity to every member of the market," Burgart said. "When they decided what spaces vendors will get, they went on seniority."
Outdoor vendors must set up in the Ramada hotel's overflow parking lot or along a closed street, she said.
"I found it dirty, I found it uneven. If it was pouring rain... all my stuff would have been soaked because the water would be flowing right through it, because it's a street," she said. "In the parking lot... there were quite literally tents set up next to parked cars. If there is a convention at the Ramada, or some other busy time, we're not going to have spaces to set up."
A regular customer who depends on a wheelchair told her they wouldn't come to the market at the Sixth Avenue location, because it is not accessible enough, she said.
The move to the Sixth Avenue building was a hasty decision made to keep the market going year-round after the market lost the lease to its indoor space across from Wilson Square, she said.
There isn't enough space and seating for the market at it's current size, she said, let alone room to grow.
"I guess I have some decisions to make," Burgart said. "I've taken the steps to open my own shop. I might have to make that my priority."
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE
Stasiuk said the board of the Prince George Farmers' Market is focusing on moving forward as one unified market at Sixth Avenue.
"The whole concept has been to make the a social gathering... a family event," Stasiuk said. "What makes an event? The key is entertainment and food."
Blues Underground Network president, and farmers' market board member, Earl Krushelnicki said the Blues Underground donated $500 to pay rising, young local performers to perform at the farmer's market stage built this year.
"We're a blues society, but as long as we're supporting young musicians were happy," he said. "It gives them a lot of exposure. And it gives some [performers] who aren't used to performing on stage a chance to perform. This is one of the places that someone under 19 can come and perform."
Most local music venues are licensed to serve alcohol, he said, which limits performing opportunities for minors.
Stasiuk said the farmers' market is looking for more partnerships with events like the Downtown Market Fair, which took place on the lawn of city hall on Saturday.
The event, organized by the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society and funded by the Prince George Community Foundation, provided small business owners who wouldn't normally fit with the farmers' market a chance to display their wares, he said.
"Bringing people downtown is the key. I would like to see events like this every weekend in July and August," Stasiuk said. "It brings the city to life."
The Prince George Farmers' Market runs every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1074 Sixth Ave.
