May 3rd, 2008

“The Regina Farmers’ Market begins its 33rd year today, offering locally grown
and handmade products for City of Regina residents and tourists. This last year
has been a watershed year for us with new leadership and new policies that will
open up the Market to more vendors and products. We have designed and
launched a fresh new look for the RFM, with new logos and tablecloths
purchased in partnership with the Regina Downtown Business Improvement
District. I have been working with the City of Regina Urban Planners on the
WOW project which will transform 12th Avenue. This has been exciting news for
vendors, with the prospect of adding another block to the RFM.

We have accomplished much, and due to a new project we are announcing
today, we plan to strive for a better and socially responsible Market. We applied
for and received a Grant from Go Green Saskatchewan for the “Sustainable Bag
Project”. These funds were used to create locally made cloth bags, and purchase
corn-based bags that compost within 30 to 60 days. We will sell cloth and cornbased
bags at the RFM and sustain the project by purchasing more in
replacement. It is estimated that this project will save 250,000 plastic bags to
landfill in a one year period, plastic that can never be broken down by Mother
Nature. I would like to invite the public to help us attain our goal for this project by
buying and using cloth bags or corn-based bags for a small fee. We will also
provide information about plastic and its effect on the environment along with
these alternatives.

The grant led to the creation of the Regina Farmers’ Market Green Committee
which decided to enact other Green initiatives, for example providing recycling
bins on the street to reduce Market waste, recycled paper for all Market
paperwork, serving food on compostable products for our Saskatoon, Corn, and
Pumpkin Festivals. We also continue to offer our products as the more
environmentally sound choice, due to emissions being reduced by buying locally
instead of shipping products across North America.

The Regina Farmers’ Market wholeheartedly thanks the Ministry of Environment
for the funds to create this worthy project. As always we are grateful for the
excellent working relationship and support of the Regina Downtown BID, and the
City of Regina.