6 days ago
Maritimers look to farmers markets for groceries amid trade war, high prices
Between the U.S. trade war and high prices on the shelves at grocery stores, Maritimers are doing whatever then can to save money on food and support local.
One way they are doing so is by shopping at local farmers the weather hasn't been picture perfect so far this spring, the Sussex Farmers Market in Sussex, N.B., is noticing an uptick in its first couple of weeks.
'People like homemade, they like organic, and we have that here,' says Sussex Market manager Patty Manning. 'For the most part people will buy here before they'll go elsewhere, and then when tourist season comes, we get the tourists from all over and they seem to like the market.'
An overwhelming majority of communities around the Maritimes offer weekly farmers markets to allow local farmers and producers to sell product directly to customers.
'It's good food, it's all naturally fed, and it's just the best food you can get,' says market goer Brian Derrah. 'The people are awesome, the farmers are awesome, it's just a good place to go.'
Between looking to support local products as a trade war persists with the U.S. due to tariffs and grocery prices seeming higher then ever, it's not always easy to know where to shop.
Sylvia Melvin with Sylvia's Country Kitchen had a wide assortment of fresh baked breads and bagels on sale Friday. She said customers tell her that her prices are much better than what you see at the store.
'If a customer can get a better price and a better-quality product, the bread you get in the store lasts almost two weeks,' Melvin says. 'They're putting a lot of preservatives in their bread, mine doesn't have that.'
While the prices normally tend to be cheaper at these types of markets, both vendors and shoppers admit it may cost an extra dollar or two for a fresh baked loaf of bread. But in this instance, no one is complaining about paying a little extra.
'Honestly, I think the value is in the quality of it,' says Johanna Buck. 'You know it's homemade and you're supporting someone directly.'
It's Jennifer Plante's first year at the Sussex market as a vendor with Plante Farm. She believes it is important for residents to have access to locally grown foods produced by local farms and small businesses.
'Especially in a small town, you know that your neighbor is making it, and it's produced locally with local ingredients,' says Plante. 'A lot of effort and work goes into it, and I think people appreciate that.'
Once fresh produce becomes available later this summer, officials expect even more residents to make the market the first stop on their weekly grocery run.
The Sussex Farmers Market is open every Friday along Main Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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