2026 promises a new beginning for the St. Marys Farmers’ Market 

By Alex Hunt

As another year came to a close, the St. Marys Farmers’ Market board members shared their 2025 highlights and hopes for the new year with the St. Marys Independent.

The last day of the 2025 market was held at the Pyramid Recreation Centre on Dec. 20. Locals gathered to purchase from their regular vendors for the last time before the new year.

“We’ve had a lot of fun with our recent events and hope to see even more in the future,” said Sean Brode, market board member. “We’re also beginning to renew some of our past partnerships, including with the Lions and other local service groups.”

Brode said he’s had an immense love for the market since he started as a board member five years ago. He said the market had a great 2025 year, highlighting the Apple Pie Day, which saw good support from the community.

Board member and Breadtopia vendor Simon Fraser said the stable weather brought lots of customers to Milt Dunnell Field over the spring and summer months. Fraser joined as a vendor in 2012 and specializes in making sourdough, croissants, granola and cinnamon rolls. He joined the board a year later to become directly involved with executive decision making.

“The Soup Day was a great success with our customers, and all the ingredients were sourced right here from our vendors,” said Fraser. “Some of our longtime vendors are still with us, but we’ve also welcomed many new ones. We’re always working to recruit and increase vendor variety, and that’s one of our main goals for the new year.”

“We had hot food available at almost every market, which was fantastic,” added Melody Arnhold, market board member and Forest Hill Orchard vendor. “I’m usually up early, so it was nice to be able to grab a hot meal from our vendors. It really added to the atmosphere and made the mornings more enjoyable.”

Market board member Ann Slater hopes to bring in more young farmer vendors, noting current vendors are starting to age out of the game.

“We had some great events in 2025 that brought a lot of excitement to the market. We really appreciate our customers who come out rain or shine to support us,” said Slater. “We have a few pop-ups planned early in the new year, but we’re especially looking forward to being back outside in the spring.”