Big changes are underway to bring Ontario’s oldest outdoor market into the 21st century.

A staff report to the City of Kingston’s Arts, Recreation and Community Policy Committee recommends providing more choice to shoppers visiting the Kingston Public Market in Springer Market Square on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Among the new food programming options planned for this season:

• Offer food with beer and wine tastings
• Take-out food to promote local restaurants and support farm-to-table initiatives
• Chef demonstrations every Saturday morning in July and August using local ingredients

Staff say bringing alcohol into the outdoor market experience is something the public wants.

“These value-added products are made locally and are incredibly popular with customers. The intention is to offer these (alcoholic) products with wine pairings,” according to a report by Peter Huigenbos, City Commissioner for Business, Environment and Projects.

Many of these initiatives were first identified a few years ago, but could not be offered earlier due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to more locally sourced food and beverage options for consumers, the report also recommends that the city reduce vendor booth rental fees by 50% this season in exchange for
donating to various local food/meal organizers and waiving all rental fees at the other popular farmers market at the Kingston Memorial Centre.

The committee is due to discuss the changes at its April 28 meeting, but it will be up to the board to approve the recommendations.

The proposed improvements are part of the council’s strategic priority to increase availability and access to local food at the Kingston Public Market.

Another key recommendation, which is unlikely to be in place until the 2023 market season, is to review the entire operation of the Kingston Public Market to ensure its future viability and to attract and retain local farmers.

To this end, it is recommended that the City issue a call for tenders to find an operator to develop a different market model that will focus on local foods and local farmers, with less reliance on resellers. of food.

“Producers and farmers cannot compete on price and product availability with resellers who buy their food directly from local distribution companies,” the report says.

The introduction of new management to operate the Market Square space – such as a new or existing association with a dedicated Market Manager – is based on extensive feedback from the public, Tourism Kingston, Business Improvement Area of downtown Kingston, other stakeholders and the vendors themselves.

“This role would oversee day-to-day operations and help vendors improve those operations,” says Huigenbos.

Even though the outdoor market that operates behind City Hall is often referred to as the Farmers Market, it technically does not meet that definition. However, these operational changes would be a step towards obtaining this designation, according to the staff report.

City officials say the farmers’ market designation exempts markets from certain actions and inspections by local health units, making it easier to offer special events related to food and beverage offerings and food programs. regular such as sampling.

The Kingston Public Market has provided food and community gathering space since 1801, and typically sells produce, prepared foods, garden plants, flowers and handicrafts in warm weather.

In winter, the historic market square turns into an artificial ice rink.

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GNM chats with Jessica Colvin of the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce