Winkler and Morden again both offering food currency program
Farmers market season arrives in both Morden and Winkler in the last week of June, and organizers were ready to go again.
The Winkler market kicks off June 25 and goes each Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. near the curling rink, and the Morden market then gets underway June 27 and runs every Thursday until October 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. downtown on Eighth St.
“There’s a good number of vendors who have applied and plan to be there. The main vendors are definitely coming back,” said Matt Friesen, a lead organizer for the Winkler market.
“We should be able to average 20 vendors a week for the season. We’ve been close to that for the last couple of years,” he said. “We’re trying to take on a few new vendors. There’s been a few new produce vendors as well as bakers who have applied, so it should be pretty good for variety of food.”
The Winkler and Morden markets will also both be participating in the food currency voucher program.
Direct Farm Manitoba launched the Manitoba Community Food Currency Program in 2020 as a community-building initiative that aimed to empower Manitobans facing food insecurity by providing food currency that can be used to purchase locally produced fruit, vegetables, meat and processed foods at farmers markets.
Community-based social service organizations identify families disproportionately affected by inflation and in need of healthy food. In Winkler, the market works with Central Station and the Winkler Food Cupboard, while Many Hands co-ordinates the program in Morden.
“We’re working with Central Station again right now to get that organized and operating as smooth and possible after having one year under our belt,” said Friesen, who sees it as a good partnership for them.
“I think with a little bit of tweaking of some of the details … we want to get more people coming to the market, perhaps people who may not have been as familiar with the market before,” he suggested.
“We’ve had more people applying and with the food currency program, we realized we need to have more vendors there and more product available to make sure that everyone gets what they are looking for,” he said.
For more information on the Winkler market, e-mail winklerfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
In Morden, the food currency program will start on the second market day July 4. The market had funding for 80 spots, but other fundraising including support from the Morden thrift store and Anglican Church means they can add 20 more and offer the service to 100.
“This program is a game changer for low income families,” said Mariyam Tsygankova, executive director of the Many Hands Resource Centre, which organizes the Morden market. “It’s all about making healthy, delicious food accessible to everyone in our community.”
There were 18 vendors lined up as of last week but there was still a few spaces possibly available, she noted.
“We’ve still got a few spots open, so I want to encourage people. If you’ve got something cool to share … something homemade or some cool crafts. We’re also looking for buskers and food trucks to join us.
“We’ve got some familiar faces and some new faces,” said Tsygankova, adding about one third are newer vendors.
She also noted the opening market day will again have a barbecue fundraiser in support of the food bank at Many Hands Resource Centre.
“That was a hit last year and I think will become a tradition,” she said. “I think it’s a delicious way to support a good cause.”
