JASPER – The Jasper Farmers’ Market will be set up in a new location this year as it begins its 15th season next week on Wednesday (June 11).
Because the McCready Centre was lost in the 2024 wildfire, the Jasper Farmers’ Market will instead be located at Robson Park in front of the Jasper Library and Cultural Centre.
“We haven’t run the market in this new location yet, so it’s probably a little too soon to say for sure, but we’re feeling this is a really good fit for the market,” said Kelli Sroka, who has managed the market for seven years.
Sroka described the location as central to town, had grass for its yoga program and was close to the library’s public bathrooms.
In addition to losing its location in the fire, the farmers’ market lost all its gear, including tents and tables, as well as bags that were for sale. It was also only able to host around six markets last year before the evacuation.
Overall, Sroka felt the wildfire was almost more of a challenge for the market than COVID with all the health protocols.
“I’ve been working all winter long to try to find a new location and jumped through so many hoops to confirm the location and get everything ready in time,” she said. “It’s definitely been challenging, but we’re really happy with this [location].”
She added how the success of the pop-up market last September showed how important the farmers’ market was for Jasper, which exists in a food desert due to high grocery prices and a lack of agriculture.
There will be 15 markets this year with around 15 to 20 vendors per market. Sroka noted although they lost a few vendors this year due to the fire, they had received new applications, and people were beginning to return to town.
“So, I think we’ll see slight changes this year, but we’re really happy with the way things are shaping up,” she said.
Sroka explained as an Alberta approved farmers’ market, they can host vendors that use home-based kitchens. The Jasper Farmers’ Market is also run by the Jasper Local Food Society, which prioritizes vendors that provide fresh and local organic food.
This year’s vendors include a fruit truck, a Mexican food truck, people selling baked goods and two vendors selling mushrooms.
The farmers’ market will also be offering Yoga in the Park for free, with the support of the Jasper Community Team Society. There will be a morning class from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and a lunchtime class from 12:05 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.
The farmer’s market will be held on Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. from next Wednesday (June 11) to Sept. 17.
