50 years in the books for Regina Farmers’ Market

This past week marked the golden anniversary for the Regina Farmers’ Market.

They are celebrating 50 years in operation in Regina and held their celebration event on Wednesday in Victoria Park to mark the occasion. Each vendor on hand that day had pictures at their booth showing their earliest days at the Farmers’ Market. There was also music and entertainment, and lots of people taking in the occasion on a hot and sunny late-May afternoon.

Holly Laird, Executive Director of the Regina Farmers‘ Market Cooperative, notes they have come a long way since their early humble beginnings.

“We started with 22 farmers in 1975. They set up (at what) was then the Exhibition Grounds, now called the REAL District, for their first inaugural season. And through the years we’ve had a number of different locations, both downtown and most recently at the Confederation Park. So that’s sort of where we started and where we’ve been.”

The Farmers’ Market has moved around a number of locations both in REAL District and in the downtown, but the core mission remains the same.

“We’re a cooperative, so we’re made up of local farmers, producers, makers, bakers. We’re farmer driven and we’re volunteer run by our vendor base. Everything at the market, like I said, is made, baked, grown or designed in Saskatchewan, so very focused on local products. And the Farmers Market itself exists to support those vendors, have a place for them to come into town and sell their wares when they’re in season.”