Saskatoon Farmers' Market scouting 'all across' town for new home as impasse with city continues

The operator of the Saskatoon Farmers' Market says it's now actively searching for a new permanent home — possibly even one outside the city's downtown area.

Adithya Ramachandran, the president and board chair for the Saskatoon Farmers' Market Cooperative, said the decision comes amidst an impasse between the co-op and the city.

The city owns the market building at the corner of 19th Street W. and Avenue B S., leases it to the co-op and wants more activity in the building for at least five days a week. 

"That is not something the Saskatoon Farmers' Market can provide because we are an authentic farmers market," Ramachandran said. "Everyone at the market makes it, bakes it, gathers it or grows it. Farmers markets like us or all over Canada operate one or two days a week."

The co-op currently operates three days a week at the building, though a small number of vendors are open on other days.

The co-op's future at the site has been uncertain for some time now. 

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Last year, the city invited competitive proposals for the building's next lease, although the city ultimately cancelled that process last February in light of needed roof repairs at the building. 

"Awarding the lease to a tenant, only to close the building for a lengthy period, would be unfair," Lynne Lacrois, the city's general manager of community services, said on Wednesday. 

The co-op was among the two companies that submitted proposals before the RFP was cancelled, Ramchandran said.

But the co-op's ideas for further animating the current space — including partnerships with groups like Saskatoon Open Door Society — have not met with the city's approval, according to Ramachandran — to the point where the co-op has asked the city to simply spell out what it wants. 

The city has declined to do that, saying it doesn't want to affect any future RFP process, Ramachandran said.

"At this time, the city is focused on the RFP for repairs and getting the work completed. Next steps after that have not yet been determined. We should know more this fall," said Lacrois. 

Dale MacKay, the first Top Chef Canada winner and the co-owner of the Grassroots Restaurant Group, which runs Ayden Kitchen and Sticks and Stones, confirmed Wednesday he put in the second proposal under the cancelled RFP process.

"It's a great location," MacKay said of the current market building. 

Co-op to stay until end of 2019

The city previously confirmed it had extended the co-op's lease to the end of 2019. The city will then take about three months to repair the building's roof.

The co-op will remain in the building until Dec. 31, 2019, Lacrois added.

Ramachandran confirmed the co-op does not plan to submit any further proposals to stay in the building — but still opened the door for a potential resolution.  

"What I would hope is that the city and the farmers' market can reach a mutually agreeable solution," Ramachandran said. "To that end, I have been meeting with [six] councillors," including Hilary Gough, whose ward encompasses the current market building. 

Ramachandran said he has floated to councillors the idea of a "facilitated" move to a new location with financial and logistical help from the city. 

10 sites explored so far

In the meantime, Ramachandran said the co-op is actively exploring sites for a new farmers' market location.

Although the co-op's preference is to remain downtown, the group is looking "all across the city," Ramachandran said. 

He declined to cite specific locations scouted so far, but said 10 sites have been visited. 

"We have a backup plan to operate as a street market in the summer downtown," Ramachandran said. "We have talked to the downtown business district about that and in the winter to operate short-term out of buildings or halls somewhere. We're still they're looking at different options. Nothing has been finalized."

Market activity in decline

Ramachandran said traffic at the farmers' market has declined since 2015.

Since that time period, a major new condo development right next door, the Banks, has been built and gradually populated. 

The city has signalled plans to eventually redevelop a large parking lot immediately south of the farmers market building. Ramachandran said that is a factor in the co-op's search for a new home.

The city declined to comment on the co-op's plans, but Lacrois said the city "has been clear about the criteria for animation of the space during the previous RFP process."

The co-op, whose membership fluctuates between 100 and 120 vendors, has operated at 414 Avenue B S. since 2007.