Organisers of Grand Cayman’s new farmer’s market say the attraction will have a distinctly Caymanian taste.
Anthony Pandohie, left, and Bobby Thompson at the Farmers Market meeting Monday night. |
Marketplace at the Grounds will kick off 11 August at the Stacey Walter Agricultural Pavilion, Lower Valley.
At a meeting of potential vendors Monday evening, Market Coordinator Brian Crichlow said the market will provide an exciting outlet for farmers, fishermen, food producers, processors, bakers, craftspeople, musicians and artisans of all types to sell their distinctly Caymanian wares.
Meat producers will not be involved in the market initially, but Mr. Crichlow said he hopes the market will develop to a point where it is feasible to install permanent refrigeration facilities at the site.
Over 50 potential vendors attended the meeting. They agreed there was sufficient enthusiasm for the market to run it on a weekly basis.
Organisers hope the market will give vendors access to the lucrative tourist market, while at the same time, giving visitors a unique opportunity to experience the best in local foods, arts, crafts and souvenirs.
They will also adopt an eco friendly outlook by shunning the use of plastic bags. Vendors will instead be given eco-friendly, reusable green bags that can be provided free to customers.
Mr. Crichlow said the market will be part of a larger agri-tourism project that will encompass the whole 27-acre showground site. Within three years, Government plans to develop the site to include a Museum of Agriculture, an Agricultural Hall of Fame, a processing facility, farming demonstrations, a children’s area that includes a maze and petting zoo and an area for concerts and exhibitions.
‘This is something that is going to be unique to Cayman, and possibly, to the whole Caribbean,’ Mr. Crichlow said.
He told attendees the market will be open to regular and casual vendors.
Regular vendors will need to confirm their attendance by each Wednesday while casual vendors will be able to register for the Saturday market between Wednesday and Friday.
Mr. Crichlow presented a suggested list of weekly vendor fees. Under it, mixed use farmers, prepared food vendors, and nurseries will pay $100; seafood vendors will pay $50; processed food vendors, bakers and nurseries will pay $35; food producers, dairy and egg vendors and crafts and clothes vendors will pay $25; and day traders will pay $20.
Some at the meeting said the fees were too expensive and would discourage people from selling their goods.
But Mr. Crichlow said the fees were necessary to cover advertising and promotion costs, venue maintenance, garbage fees, utilities, administrative expenses and security costs.
Most vendors wouldn’t mind the charge, he added, because, they would be selling direct to the public at the market, bypassing the middle-man.
Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts said no fees would be charged for the first few markets, to see how it works. He said the Ministry of District Administration, Planning, Agriculture and Housing would cover these costs and would also pay for an advertising campaign, to ensure good crowds initially.
Some at the meeting said the market should also run on Friday’s, in part to cater for Seventh Day Adventists, who observe the Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
Mr. Tibbetts said it was impossible to cater to everyone, but added that, if the market was successful, there was no end to expansion possibilities.
‘If you guys can get it going seven days a week, that fine, but let’s just get it going first,’ he said.
Mr. Crichlow suggested the market run from 7.30am to 1pm. Though it is important that all vendors are ready to sell by 7.30am, he said it wouldn’t matter if vendors choose to sell beyond 1pm.
One farmer at the meeting complained to Mr. Tibbetts about supermarkets not buying enough local produce.
Mr. Tibbetts suggested the market could compete with supermarkets.
‘I am as confident as I am 300 pounds that we will build the amount of customers we have (at the market) and they (the supermarkets) will notice it,’ Mr. Tibbetts said.
Another meeting about the market will be held at 7pm, 16 July, at the Stacey Walter Agricultural Pavilion, Lower Valley.
For more information on the Marketplace at the Grounds, call Brian Crichlow at the Agriculture Department on 947-3090.
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