Youth sell their bounty at new 4H farmers’ market club

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Members of a new 4H Club are learning about growing and selling produce at the Creemore Farmers’ Market.
Visitors to Saturdays market will have had the opportunity to purchase a variety of produce from the nine members between the ages of 11 and 16 that make up the club led by South Simcoe 4-H Association’s Tamara Fisher-Cullen.
With start up funds from Farm Credit Canada, the club was formed to allow members hand-on experience in how to select, prepare and display produce for sale, as well as budgeting, working with money and communicating with customers, while supporting the farmers’ market.
The South Simcoe Farmers’ Market Club is one of 22 area clubs that fall into the livestock and life skill category with the farmers’ market club falling into the latter category.
Fisher-Cullen said some members live on farms and grow their produce in market size gardens while others are taking advantage of small spaces in their family size gardens.
“Some of them do have their own businesses and some of them are interested in gardening in general, and in developing their marketing skills and customer service skills,” she said.
Last Saturday, the club was selling a selection of their home grown produce such as microgreens, corn, carrots, onions, tomatoes, herbs and lavender soap, and later on in the season they will have pumpkins and gourds.
Fisher-Cullen said members really enjoyed their first day at the market, where they were able to interact with customers, as much as pandemic protocols would allow.
“They were happy to have an avenue to sell their products,” she said… “It was a good learning experience. They learned what it was like to get up early to harvest their crops and bring them in and in some ways it was a little bit eye-opening.”
She said members were intrigued by the questions the customers posed and were happy to have an opportunity to educate people about 4H because a lot of customers hadn’t heard of the organization.
“I really enjoyed working at the market seeing things I grew from seed be bought by people. It’s an experience I would love to do again,” said club member Faun Katirai. 
The 4H Club will be back at the market on August 28 and Sept. 11.
4H is open to youth 6-21 and has been offering learn-by-doing style programs for more than a century. The name of the organization represents the four Hs in the pledge: head, heart, hands and health.
New members and volunteers are always welcome. Visit 4-hontario.ca/association/simcoe-south-4-h-association/ for more information. Find southsimcoe4h on Facebook and Instagram.
The Creemore Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Creemore Springs Brewery parking lot located at the corner of Mill Street and Edward Street. For more information, visit creemorefarmersmarket.ca.

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