Sherbrooke Record e-Edition

Clear your weekend schedule: farmers’ markets are back

By Cassie Macdonell Local Journalism Initiative

The Eastern Townships is slowly dethawing, which means farmers’ markets have returned for the good weather. Townshippers flock to these markets to buy local produce and spend time with the community. To get a sense of what the markets will look like in the Eastern Townships this year,

Sutton Market, Lennoxville Farmers’ Market, North Hatley’s Farmers’ Market, and Brome Lake Farmers’ Market provided a sneak peek on what to expect.

Sutton Market

Markets have been a staple in the Eastern Townships for a long time, such as the case in Sutton. Dana Cooper, coordinator of the Sutton Market, said the market in Sutton is one of the oldest in Quebec, turning 52 years old this year.

Cooper explained the market is still going strong, and offers a mix of artists, artisans, food, and agriculture. “We’d like to keep that alive. We feel like it offers our community a bit of everything,” she said.

A little bit of everything indeed, as Cooper listed off a long line of products and services that can be found at the market. Food-wise, she mentioned that the market sells products such as maple syrup, honey, mushrooms, sprouts, coffee, and Vietnamese cashews. The market also sells produce from local farmers. “Our pillars are our

local organic farmers. They are definitely a huge draw,” said Cooper.

Aside from food, the Sutton Market sells items such as wool, linens, cedar furniture, jewelry, paintings, vintage and crystal glassware, second-hand books, and even chair massages. Live music will play in the background while shoppers browse. “It’s a little bit of everything,” she laughed. “We’ve got a little vintage camper van who comes selling second-hand clothing and accessories,” she added.

Copper also explained that the Sutton Market will educate people about its purpose. “(We try) to educate the population about why we say ‘buy local’ and why it’s good for our economy and community.”

Cooper finished with a nod to the Sutton community. “I love the job. I’ve been in this community for 15 years, and I’m all about supporting our local growers, keeping the whole scene vibrant, and getting out to socialize and get people involved.”

The market takes place every Saturday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the months of June, July, August, and on September 3 on Curley Street in Sutton. For the month of May and after Labor Day, the market will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lennoxville Farmers’ Market

The Lennoxville Farmers’ Market is back, and this year has a new Board of Directors. Camille Lussier, one of five of the Lennoxville Farmers’ Market Board of Directors, explained what the market means to the community. “The community can come to shop, (get) their groceries, buy local, enjoy fresh vegetables, and encourage local artists. (People can) find everything they need,” said Lussier.

She reported that the Lennoxville Farmers’ Market will have three vegetable growers, a winery, a bakery, a pizza-bite stand, honey, and cut flowers. “The Lennoxville Farmers Market is mainly a food market, but we have some artists as well,” she added. Being located at Square Queen, which boasts a small stage, the group has also planned for some local musicians and performances.

June 4 will mark the day of the first market, which will have a plant sale theme. “We will have a couple of different plants so people can plant them in their own garden or do a floral arrangement,” said Lussier. The following Saturday, the market will be part of Lennoxville’s annual Friendship Day event.

Lussier is excited for these Saturdays, and hopes the market becomes an event that the community will anticipate every week. “We are five dynamic young people, and we want to bring the market upward. We want to make it a popular occasion every Saturday morning, so everyone comes, enjoys, has food, has lunch, does their groceries, and has a good time,” she said happily. Lussier is a vegetable grower from Cookshire, so she looked forward to being part of the Lennoxville community. “We have the market at heart,” she added.

Extending from June 4 to Oct. 15, the Lennoxville Famers’ Market will be a weekly Saturday occurrence at Square Queen, 152 Queen Street, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

North Hatley’s Farmers’ Market

North Hatley’s Farmers’ Market is putting an emphasis on local culinary experiences this year.

Sofia van Zuiden, who is helping organize the market, gave more insight about what the weekly market will entail. “This year we decided to focus mainly on food, and food related products, kitchen things. There are less artisans, and there are more merchants. This could be a weekly grocery shop if you wanted it to be,” van Zuiden explained. She added that attendees should expect to browse 20 to 25 vendors.

At the market, shoppers can expect to find breads, pastries, prepared food, cheese, meat, smoked fish, spices, and more. Music and artists will accompany the shopping experience.

The North Hatley Farmers’ Market will be at Parc de la rivière every

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., from June 18 to Oct. 15.

Brome Lake Farmers’ Market

The Lac-brome Farmers’ Market will have around 20 producers, with products ranging from organic produce to bakery breads. “Pretty much all the producers are from the region of Brome-missisquoi,” said Amélie Dion, representing the Brome Lake Farmers’ Market.

Meat is on the menu, as Dion spoke of many different options that will be available at the market. “We have lamb, veal, chicken, rabbit, pretty much every kind of meat. Raw pieces, and also prepared food like sausages and charcuterie,” she listed. Honey, wine, fruits, ciders, flowers, vegetables, smoked fish, maple water beverages, and mushrooms will also be sold.

Ready-to-eat foods, which are foods prepared so they can be consumed asis, will be sold. Although there will occasionally be live music and activities at the market, Dion explained that the organizers want to put the spotlight on the vendors. “For us, the main focus is on the sales of the producers. It’s like a workplace where they can have all the attention of their clients. But we’ll punctually have special activities like bands, but not necessary every week.” For example,

Renaissance Lac Brome, a conservation association, will be educating marketgoers about the importanc of preserving water quality in Lac-brome.

Visit the Brome Lake Farmers’ Market every Saturday from June 4 to Oct. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the parking lot of Theatre Lac-brome.

THE RECORD

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2022-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

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