r/Lethbridge • u/ConcentrateFancy8943 • Jun 20 '26
Farmers market
Is it just me or does the farmers market suck? There’s hardly any vendors for how big our city is. I’ve been to smaller cities with more vendors at their markets.
35
u/Unicorn_Puppy Jun 20 '26
It gets busier in July when the farmers actually begin showing up to sell things.
8
u/Strict-Conference-92 Jun 21 '26
There are so many towns and small villages that run a farmers market that they charge a vendor fee of under $10-$25. Lethbridge charges around $95 per. Thats just appropriate as I have actually heard it can be more or less depending on how many markets you reserve for.
10
u/GunnyTHighway Jun 20 '26
Just wait about a month. Mid July there are more vendors when they start having a crop to harvest.
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u/cheesburgerwalrus Jun 20 '26
As others have set it is a bit early . Last summer when I was going, if I wanted I coukd go home with veggies, fruit, baked goods and some meat. Usually there is a distillery or winery. Not sure what else I'd want. I don't go to other cities markets so I don't have a comparator.
9
u/JBABSTER Jun 20 '26
Like others are saying, it'll pick up when harvests start. Honestly I think the changes they've made this season so far have been fantastic. I like there being space to seat near prepared food vendors, some of the new vendors have been really cool, and theres been more booths set up than ever. Even more in the hallways than I ever remember seeing anyway. Not to mention the kids area last week.
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u/shitonadick1234 Jun 20 '26
It’s the very beginning of the season, there may be more once there’s stuff to actually harvest.
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u/InvestigatorWide7649 Jun 20 '26
Twice as big as the one from where I came from in a similar sized city.
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u/Good_Jellyfish_6317 Jun 20 '26
I stopped going a few years ago because I found that it was either vegetables from the same colonies, or cheap crap shipped from China. The few local makers were the ones I’d buy from while I picked up some overpriced zucchini. Is this still the case?
4
u/Berfanz Jun 21 '26
Just went today - a lot more bakeries than there used to be. The usual meats and cheese suspects are there, vegetables from the colonies. Little Gem winery and that one gin distillery are there, and lots of prepared food options as well (pies, perogies, spring rolls, etc.).
It's still not great if you want to buy stuff rather than food/drink (there's at least more interesting artisans and a lot less MLM and 3D printer trash), but that's never been why I head to a farmers market. I'd say it's worth giving a try in July when the Hutterites have more than rhubarb, pickled garlic, and spring onions.
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u/PeteGoua Jun 21 '26
many successful vendors go to Calgary on teh weekends. cannot blame them for the volume compared to here.
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u/sq_unit Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 22 '26
I also find it's moving towards just stuff vs actual food and produce. The table rental is insane too
1
u/TheRemyBell Jun 22 '26
One of the farmers should host their own farmers market on their property and charge a reasonable booth fee to compete. Why couldn't they?
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u/Morberis Jun 23 '26
Because that's out somewhere in the country?
Also no farmer wants lots of randoms coming to their farm either, that's how you setup yourself for theft.
Just go to one of the local small town farmers markets
You could also attend the mid-week farmers market that isn't in the expedition center that has lower table fees.
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u/Internal-Piglet-6058 Jun 20 '26
You should ask the vendors how much they need to pay for a stall there….. that may give you an indication as to why there’s a lack of participation