North Bay Farmers' Market co-founder to retire as vendor
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.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.