Entrepreneur says Saskatoon Farmers' Market impedes new vendors

Kelly Crozier, owner of Kickers Food Inc., started selling his varieties of flavoured dry ribs at the Saskatoon Farmers' Market in January.

He said he spent time and effort promoting his business at the market location and was uneasy when the end of the quarter came in September, because he was not sure if he would still have a vending location.

I was told I don't really have the seniority so I may or may not have a space,- Kelly Crozier, owner of Kickers Food Inc. 

"Essentially I had gone and asked about the invoicing for the next quarter and I was told I don't really have the seniority so I may or may not have a space," Crozier said. "When I was told that I had to make some other plans really quickly and move on."

Crozier said he had hundreds of kilograms of product ready to sell at the market and the uncertainty caused him to look for other vending opportunities. He said he is now selling his dry ribs in 22 Sobeys' stores.

"Luckily I was in a situation already where I could step away from it, but there are many there who aren't," Crozier said. "For some people they're banking on that space to make money for themselves."

Crozier told CBC News he had many positive experiences at the market and learned a lot from other vendors. However, he said he thinks the management needs a change in approach.

"It's really challenging when you're starting a new business to plan for those things and try to attract people to you if you're not even 100 per cent sure you'll be there," Crozier said.

Debby Claude has worked as Operations Manager for the market since 1997.

She said new vendors are made aware of the seniority-based system and the crunch for space that can arise when it starts to get cold and senior vendors move their product inside, sometimes displacing newer members.

There's always a space- Debby Claude

"We're always up front with them, every time," Claude said. "In fact, it is in their information that this is a tight time and all our vendors are squishing and they're making their stalls smaller ... but it always seems to work out that we can get them in."

Claude told CBC News there has never been a case where a vendor has been completely pushed out. She explained that while they may have to wait for a coveted selling spot on Saturdays, they are always afforded room to sell on the market's other days of business; Wednesday and Sunday.

"There's always a space," Claude said.

Claude said ultimately the market did offer Crozier a space for the winter quarter, but he was not interested.

Regina Farmers' Market

The Regina Farmers' Market has a different selection process for vendors than that of the Saskatoon Farmers' Market.

It requires applicants sit down in an interview with a selection committee, where the potential vendors are expected to offer a tasting or sample of their products and be prepared to review their business plan.