The Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce has written a letter to Nelson City Council urging it to reverse its decision to move the Wednesday market from Baker Street to Cottonwood Falls Park.
"Creston has long served as a breadbasket for Nelson and surrounding areas," wrote chamber executive director Jessica Piccinin. "The City of Nelson's recent decision to relocate the Wednesday market from Baker Street to the Cottonwood Falls location — announced with extremely short notice — is deeply concerning and, frankly, insulting to the farming community."
She wrote that farmers plan their seasons months in advance and market schedules are carefully mapped out. The downtown market, she said, is much more lucrative than a mid-week Cottonwood market because it attracts more casual pedestrian traffic.
"This abrupt change has already resulted in a minimum 30 per cent drop in sales for many of our farmers. Such a move undermines the very mission of a farmers market — to support farmers and enhance local food resilience."
Piccinin's letter did not say how many Creston farmers participate in the Nelson markets, but she said they contribute significantly to the region's local economy. She wrote that some Creston farmers also supply Nelson grocery stores, and some suppliers may focus their efforts elsewhere and "re-direct their wholesale supply chains, putting Nelson’s local food access at further risk."
The letter goes on to state that the provincial Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program – a cost break at markets for low-income people and seniors – will be less accessible because of a move to what Piccinin describes as a less accessible location.
In a letter to market vendors on June 24, the City of Nelson stated that the mid-week market will remain at Cottonwood Falls Park at least until late July. The letter stated that the city is looking into creating a shuttle service during the lunch hour to transport customers to Cottonwood Falls Park and that it is considering adding a bus stop closer to the market area.
