An excited contingent of Smithville farmers' market vendors and members of its steering committee gathered in the council chambers to propose "Plan B" to aldermen Tuesday night. That plan, which received a committee OK, is to move the market downtown into the Convenience Street parking lot, effective August 2.

The Smithville Farmers' Market is finally moving downtown.

At a Public Works meeting Tuesday night, aldermen voted unanimously to allow the market to set up shop in the Convenience Street parking lot for the rest of the season, at no cost.

Previous attempts to move the Saturday morning market downtown into the CIBC parking lot had been nixed by the township.

"It's not that this council doesn't support the market," West Lincoln Mayor Katie Trombetta told the vendors gathered at Town Hall. "We support it 100 per cent. We just didn't support the (previous) location for safety reasons."

An excited contingent of vendors and members of the market's steering committee gathered in the council chambers to propose "Plan B" to aldermen.

Currently in their fourth season at the Smithville Fairgrounds, 12 faithful vendors have been setting up shop under the pavilions every Saturday this year since May. Even in hard times, the group has made fresh fruits, flowers and meats from local farms available for their loyal customers.

Following council ratification July 22, the market will relaunch its season with a grand opening celebration at their new location on Saturday, August 2.

"We're looking to take the market and turn things around and make it thrive," Suzanne Wass, treasurer of the market's steering committee, told aldermen. "We want to revitalize it into something special for the community and make it the diamond it should be."

The Convenience Street market will be a pedestrian-only, U-shaped market, fronting onto Highway 20. Parking will be available courtesy of the Smithville Foodland and in the CIBC lot. The Smithville Pizzeria and Kalinka Sports have graciously offered their washroom facilities to market patrons.

The problem with the fairgrounds location, explained Wass, was the lack of visibility from Highway 20.

"The location of the pavilion was too far out of the way to have visual impact with tourists and residents," she said. "We feel a downtown location would take care of that problem."

With a new downtown location, the market will act as a service to the community, showcasing locally grown produce and handmade goods.

Alderman Doug Joyner said he believes the Saturday morning market will rekindle the downtown sparkle that left with the post office some years ago.

One local business will able to showcase its goods each week, with a booth courtesy of the market.

Vendors of fresh produce such as garden vegetables and fresh fruit are currently being sought, and can contact market manager Vicki Turco at 905-957-2941 to become involved.

Wass also provided aldermen with an onslaught of letters from the community displaying support for a centralized market. A package of 140 letters, 68 of them with excited feedback, were submitted to the township clerk during the presentation.

The market steering committee hopes the new downtown site will showcase local produce, while bringing a new charm and quaintness to Smithville.

"We feel the market will thrive here," said Wass. "We need to support the farmers with a vibrant marketplace. It will be a good pairing with downtown stores so in the end, everybody wins."