Farmers' Markets Good For The Economy

Provincial farmers' markets are good for the province's economy, suggests a survey of customers and sellers.

The survey, conducted at 11 farmers' markets, shows that between 10,000 and 15,000 customers are served weekly in the summer and between 4,000 and 6,000 per week in winter. The markets have annual sales estimated at more than $15.6 million. The Halifax Farmers' Market generates about 75 per cent of this total.

The study was conducted for the Farmers' Markets of Nova Scotia Cooperative Limited and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Fisheries by the Saint Francis Xavier Enterprise University Development Centre. It measured the impact farmers' markets have on the economy including the number of customers served, businesses involved in the industry, and jobs created, as well as the value of sales.

"Producer-operated farmers' markets are a wonderful way to deliver locally grown food to consumers," said Fred Kilcup, executive director of the Farmers' Markets of Nova Scotia Cooperative Limited. "We believe the personal connection between producer and consumer is important to the markets success."

"Farmers markets provide Nova Scotia growers and processors an opportunity to sell their products directly to consumers," said Claire Hanlon Smith, planning and development officer with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. "We also see new markets emerging in other communities around the province."

The Farmers' Markets of Nova Scotia Cooperative Limited, founded in 2004, is a co-operative of 10 community markets in Hubbards, Wolfville, Lunenburg, Halifax, Dartmouth, Truro, Tatamagouche, Antigonish, Amherst, and Sydney. The group helps local producers, communities and government build networks in local communities and find distinctive ways to market their products.

The study is available on the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/marketing/research/abstract.shtml .