Ottawa showing appetite for new south end farmers' market

The City of Ottawa is laying the table for another farmers' market, this time catering to residents of Riverside South and Barrhaven. 

Ottawa's planning committee has asked staff to look into re-zoning the Riverview park-and-ride lot on Earl Armstrong Road near River Road to allow an outdoor market to operate on weekends

The market, which could open as early as next spring, would become the fourth operated by the Ottawa Farmers' Market Association.

Some of the association's 135 members already set up their stalls at Lansdowne Park on Sundays, and at a smaller market in Westboro on Saturdays. A third market began at Ray Friel Centre Orléans earlier this year.

Too few stalls at Lansdowne

But the vendors are running out of room, councillors on the committee heard Tuesday.

"We can't grow at Lansdowne, so the only way we can grow is at other locations," market association vice-president Don Henderson told councillors.

The Lansdowne Park redevelopment resulted in fewer stalls than the association was counting on, Henderson said: the original plan called for 162 spots, but Aberdeen Square has room for just 88.

"Originally it was planned to be a larger market so we could accommodate more of our members and, in fact, grow our membership," said Henderson.

South end underserved

The idea for the Riverside South market came about after the area's councillor, Michael Qaqish, approached the association.

Henderson said the south end is underserved.

As for future locations, Henderson said the farmers will consider requests from other parts of the city, and has already been approached by a community association in Stittsville.

"It's trying to create that balance that doesn't hurt existing markets, but serves the community and serves our members," said Henderson.