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What are other practical considerations to ensure the market continues to thrive well into the future?
Feed
7
kvanbeek
2 years ago
Realize that food is a Human Right
The City needs to stop expecting the market to be a profitable enterprise. Food, water and shelter are BASIC HUMAN NECESSITIES. Access to healthful food must be a human right, and these services should remain at the heart of the city. The City should be offering educational opportunities showing folks how to identify and prepare healthful foods and stop commoditizing the things that every human needs to live a happy, healthy life.
ebang90
2 years ago
Make more connections to City and non-profit initiatives related to food, community gardens, and sustainability
There seems to be a lot of programming around food in Hamilton. Maybe these groups could have pop-up or dedicated spaces at the market to hold this programming? There are a lot of kids that come to the market with their parents. Sometimes I wonder if they could have something to do/more to see while they're there. This could be that opportunity to have a food-related initiative that also engages families.
MR
2 years ago
Support needed for vendors!- SAD! and my own GRATITUDE for healthy food x 20yr +.e.g. Gord's-that spinach !Ont butter +eggs! Cheeses etc!
Bridge
2 years ago
Capacity building and working with local communities
In order to maintain sustain food production, there needs to be more people willing to grow food. Build relationships with local groups to develop skills like urban farming, connections between current farmers and local groups for education, mentorship, and possible employment. This is long term planning and requires strong connections with many people to work together. Outreach to schools and do it every year. Go to community centers, health clinics, synagogues, mosques, churches, local businesses and see what kind of mutually beneficial relationships you can build. This may be a way to drum up more business for the market or more prospective vendors or employees. There are a lot of young people interested in environmentally friendly, socially conscious initiatives. There are also a lot of people who could with time and effort, find ways to contribute to society with integrated support. This can be cultivated into the farmers of tomorrow/soon. In the short term, yes, I agree there needs to be more safety and more hours during times the working crowd can attend the Market. Safety could look like having designated welcome/security people. It can also look like investing in local street involved people to see what they want/need and working with the ones that have the potential to work with the Market.
Valerie
2 years ago
Keep the free parking. Promote the market better, people from out of town don't know it's there. Advertise in hotels and host tours.
Mike2
2 years ago
Develop the market as a go to destination for tourist
With its location close to the firstontario center and other downtown hotels and attractions, the market has the potential to attract tourists who can spend their cash on our local economy. Implement ideas from other great markets known for its tourism attractions such as the st Lawrence market in Toronto or the market in Seattle, etc! Examples are annual after hours food tours (we have alot of hot food delicious vendors), payment flexibility, easy and safe access to the market, convenient operating hours, heavy marketing from tourism department, highly historical facts about it (we are rich in history), etc
Mike2
2 years ago
Safe accessibility to the market
The market building is great but when walking to the market from the west via York Blvd we tend to get harassed by the homeless that access the salvation army services, my female partner refuses to walk alone even with the existing limited hours the market is open which are in the day time. Accessibility to the market is key as the neighborhood get more densely populated! We rather support the small businesses in the market than get our groceries from fortinos but we aren't willing to risk our safety over it.