Pictou County farmers' market heartened by support after break-in

The manager of a Pictou County farmers' market says she's heartened by community support after it was targeted by thieves last week.

Kristi Russell discovered last week while setting up for a fundraising event that products and cash donations worth more than $1,000 were missing from the New Glasgow Farmers Market.

"When you realize somebody has taken something that you've worked very hard for, it's very discouraging," said Russell. "The impact is more than just the market."

After an investigation, police determined the break-in took place sometime between May 7 and May 9.

The stolen products included seafood, bagged coffee, frozen pizzas, mocktail beverages, chocolate bars, syrups and travel mugs. None of the missing products belonged to market vendors.

Support was 'heartwarming'

The non-profit organization posted a notice on Facebook to express its dismay about the theft, but the outpouring of support it generated came as a surprise to Russell.

"We certainly did not expect the kind of response that we got," Russell said.

Among the first responses was an offer of a $1,000 donation from Feed Nova Scotia, the umbrella organization for food banks across the province, to compensate the market for its loss.

But there was more.

Another $100 came by way of donations from some of the market's regular customers. Many people offered encouragement while affirming the importance of farmers' markets in communities.

"It was very quick to see the support and it was so heartwarming," Russell said.

Ash Avery, executive director of Feed Nova Scotia, said the organization felt compelled to respond to the situation.

"Often justice in these kinds of situations is quite hard to come by," she said. "We see this as a form of justice."

Underlying issues

Avery also emphasized the role of farmers' markets in providing access to food and supporting farmers, taking note of the country's ongoing trade war with the U.S.

"In … the political climate that we have been in, we know that supporting local is so important now more than ever."

Russell said 150 vendors and farmers use the New Glasgow market annually. The farmers' market said in its Facebook post that it's working with police as they investigate.