Rockwood Farmers Market approved to use Rockmosa Park for another year

ROCKWOOD – The Rockwood Farmers Market will continue to use Rockmosa Park for another year. 

On Monday, Guelph/Eramosa council approved entering into an agreement to use the space at the park.

This will be the Rockwood Farmers Market’s eighth year of operation and second year at Rockmosa Park. 

The market was previously in front of St. Johns Anglican Church in downtown Rockwood.

“Despite a global pandemic the Rockwood Farmers Market had a very successful first year at Rockmosa Park,” reads the report by Robin Milne, director of parks and recreation for Guelph/Eramosa.

The original intent was for the market to sign a two-year lease but councillor Bruce Dickieson wasn’t okay with a continued subsidized rate.

The new contract charged $75 per market day, which Dickieson noted is the same as the special rate the township charged to help the market adjust to a new location.

Milne told council the cost to the township to employ a summer student to assist the market costs just over $100 for the evening. 

“It’s not their first year … by the time we put in a student to help clean-up, we’re going to lose $25 a day,” Dickieson said. “I don’t think we should be subsidizing.”

Councillor Mark Bouwmeester called the farmers market a good service for the community but said the township should look into full cost recovery in the future. 

He suggested sticking with the $75 rate for this year but to tweak the rate next year to give the market more notice to adjust. 

Mayor Chris White agreed this was more fair as the coming year will still be difficult due to COVID.

“We’re still in COVID, they’re providing local shopping for people and everybody says ‘you want people to be going local,’” White said.

Council approved a one-year agreement with the farmers market with the expectation the cost will be revisited for 2022.