The weekly Barrie Farmers' Market will get its own building as part of a Public Market in the works for downtown.
Lynda Van Casteren, Chairperson of the Barrie Farmers' Market Board, sees the new building as an opportunity.
"The Barrie Farmers' Market is excited to see how this downtown public market plan will progress," she said. "The Farmers' Market wants to be able to grow. It's already a destination but it could become so much moreso. Potentially there's lots of space in that separate building."
The Barrie Farmers' Market dates back to Apr. 24, 1846.
There are 65 vendors right now and it runs throughout the year, every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, moving into the city hall rotunda during winter months.
The proposed Farmers' Market will be a brand new structure built beside the Transit Terminal, which will be renovated for a year-round Public Market.
Van Casteren is owner and general manager of Nicholyn Farms and has been with the market since it moved to the city hall courtyard 27 years ago.
The farmer's market is looking forward to offering input, she said and topping their wish list would be to have enough space for vendors with room to expand.
Parking for customers and vendors is also key along with washrooms, accessibility and much more.
"The idea of having a kitchen there so that we can do demos, have guests chefs. All of those are important aspects to a successful farmers market," said Van Casteren.
Part of the motion endorsed by councillors Monday night would allow the Farmers' Market to set up on Mulcaster Street in the spring, summer and fall - an idea that proved very popular when done on a temporary basis last year.
"The Barrie Farmers' Market is excited to be part of a vibrant downtown and looks forward to seeing how this project progresses and having lots of space to grow," said Van Casteren.
"Shop local."
