Timmins-area farm hosts first farmer's market right on the farm

A Timmins-area farm invited other area farmers and vendors to sell their products at its first on-the-farm market Saturday.

The owners of Rubber Boot Farm thought the March Break weekend a good time to give the event a try and collaborate with their peers during an otherwise difficult season for sales.

Marcel Forget of Rubber Boot Farm told CTV News seasonal markets are a major source of revenue for local farmers and craftspeople – but those options are scarce options during the winter.

Forget said with few farmers in the area, competition is far from anyone’s mind.

“We should be supporting each other and this is a great demonstration of that, where a couple of farms get together and sell their products,” he said.

“It’s not like I’m cutting his grass or he’s cutting my grass – pun intended – but, it’s just a great way to support each other.”

Being the last weekend of March Break, Forget said he was pleased with the turnout on Saturday just after a major winter storm Friday.

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It was the farm’s first time hosting a market like this, Forget said the hope is that having a handful of vendors selling their products on a farm would be a way to draw people out and give them a first-hand look at his livestock.

“Remind them that food doesn’t come from the grocery store, it comes from the farm,” he said.

“(It is) a nice experience to get hands-on – see the behind-the-scenes.”

Forget said he took inspiration from northern farms that have held similar markets and he is hoping to make this market a new tradition. 

For more information on Rubber Boot Farm, visit their Facebook page.