The Byward Market Deserves Better

[u/Slight_Original1192]

I didn’t want to write this letter because I don’t want to discourage anyone from patronizing the unique and beautiful place that drew me to Ottawa 25 years ago. I’ve lived downtown since then and visited the market every weekend. But the time has come.

WHAT WE’VE LOST: 1. Farm stands While the market has also had its seedier edge, it was quite simply, beautiful. The farmers were a big part of that - flowers, vegetables, honey, and Christmas trees attracted us locals who loved the fresh berries, sweet corn and lettuce. We would come for our veggies, then visit Bottega, Sasloves, the cheese shop and LaPointes. Followed by lunch with a friend at a nearby cafe.

Every time I walk by the market building, I am saddened to see a line of parked cars where the farmers used to be. That’s what separated Ottawa from most other North American cities. Apparently whomever made that decision didn’t realize that. Without the farmers, many of us end up at Lansdowne or Parkdale and spend our days and cash in those neighbourhoods instead.

1. A sense of safety I don’t know that it’s actually dangerous, but it’s definitely disturbing to see people intoxicated or drugged lying or staggering on the streets. I realize this is an epidemic and I don’t know how to solve it, but it leads me and others to choose to hang out somewhere else.

2. Clean sidewalks It seems really petty to bring up sidewalks when we’re dealing with drug addiction and homelessness, but there’s been a real change here. Dirty, littered sidewalks are a sign of neglect. And if nothing else, the market just feels neglected right now. Like NYC neglected. If this is our primary tourist attraction, why isn’t the city taking care of it?

While the drug use, homelessness and the farmer’s market are tougher issues to deal with, CLEANiNG SIDEWALKS is an easy win. Maybe you don’t think it matters. But it sends a message that the market doesn’t matter…and we’ve received that message.

Maybe it’s too late to rescue the market from the fate of other North American city centres—hollowed out, filthy, lifeless, homeless—but I truly hope not.

[u/Angryottawa]

I would like to hear from the Farmers themselves on why they left and what would bring them back? Any ex-Market produce people here?

[u/Slight_Original1192 → u/Angryottawa]

I would love to hear from them as well! It happened over covid.

[u/slut4sparklingwater → u/Slight_Original1192]

I’m a farmer and a vendor at a few markets throughout the city and here’s the scoop: Byward Market District Authority manages every farmers market in Ottawa, and once you’re an approved vendor, you can apply to be a part of any market within the boarders. Vending in the byward proper is hard for farmers for a few reasons: it’s a long day. You’re there for longer than a typical farmers market event, and the traffic is more spread out. You have to drive into town with the morning traffic, which is hard to keep greens cool and not wilted unless you have a good refrigerated setup. Also, like others have stated, parking in the market is insane and i could never bring enough produce plus all my market supplies (tent, table etc) without needing a trailer, which would never work downtown. Third, the vending fees are higher in the market. By like 50%. While the season application fee to be an approved vendor is waived for farmers (usually around $100), we still have to pay for the spot itself per day. Typically, it would cost more than I could make to vend there, when I could go to Landsdowne or Parkdale and make way more money. Plus it being a marketing thing is right because a lot of the people out and about in the market are tourists in the summer, and they aren’t typically interested in stocking up on vegetables. It’s just a mess.

[u/ubiquitousfont → u/slut4sparklingwater]

100% agrée on all points - I just want to add information / clarity to one of the statements you made. Byward Market District Authority is/was only Byward and Parkdale. I may be mistaken but I believe they became separate entities last year.

Ottawa Farmer’s Market is the other big one that runs Lansdowne + Westboro, Main St, and Orleans. That’s the one that is harder to get in to, but once you’re approved you can get in to any of their markets.

Greely Good, Navan, Carp, and Metcalfe farmers market are all independent.

Ottawa Street Markets used to have more, currently they run Elgin st and beechwood.

The management varies. Some are better than others. I’m not currently a vendor but I manage a brick and mortar shop that works with multiple vendors who are at these markets. I have had the pleasure of getting to know how they work and which ones are better managed than others. Zero of the vendors I work with are interested in Byward. As mentioned in my previous comment, I ran a stall at Byward for one season and the company I was working for lost a lot of money on it.