North Bay Farmers' Market co-founder to retire as vendor

NORTH BAY -

After about 20 years, the co-founder of the North Bay Farmers' Market is ready to retire as a vendor.

Ron Warman, known as the 'Rhubarb King' was instrumental in turning the farmers' market into what it is today.

"The customers have been giving me a hard time telling me I can't retire," chuckled Warman. "They've been congratulating me. But it's time. You have to know when to hang it up."

The farmers' market was originally under control of the Downtown Improvement Area (DIA). When it ended, Warman and a couple other vendors envisioned and started running a vendor-based market.

"The public wants to support local. That's huge," he said. "I think our timing was excellent. When the public supports local, they come out in the thousands."

The new market began to pick up steam. The public was thrilled with the idea of supporting local farmers and artisans.

"We took the market from an arrears situation to a profit," said Jaimie Board, who worked with Warman to revamp the market. "I'm really proud of him and now he has a few years of relaxation and he deserves it."

Warman and the team crafted the guidelines that makes the farmers' market what it is today.

"He's the 'Rhubarb King'. I've never seen someone sell so much rhubarb," said the farmers' market's current chairman Mitch Deschatelets. "He's one of the pioneers. He helped make the constitution and that's what makes the great atmosphere we have here."

From working on farms as a teenager, Warman dreamed of owning his own farm. While it was not financially feasible, he bought an old homestead on Alsace Rd. in Powassan building a greenhouse and gardens naming it 'Alsace Gardens' after the road and the Alsace-Lorraine region between France and Germany.

"I've made a lot of friendships," Warman said. "Same with the vendors. It's been like a big family and a successful market runs like a big family."

Warman plans to officially close down as a vendor later this year when all of his product is sold.

But, he plans to continue to supply vendors with his rhubarb to keep a presence in the market through his produce.