CHÂTEAUGUAY – The season for the public markets of Roussillon champêtre started earlier this year with the third edition taking off on July 7 for Châteauguay.
As in the two previous years, the public market in Châteauguay is located at 70 Maple Boulevard, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For Saint-Constant, it is located at the church grounds on St-Pierre Street, Thursday afternoon from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Last year the markets were available for 10 weeks, while this year they will be open for 16 consecutive weeks. This increase in availability is explained by consumer demand. "We worked very hard for the market to come back. There is a very strong demand for this type of activity," said Châteauguay Mayor Nathalie Simon, who hopes that its citizens will take advantage of the market.
In 2011, about 600 people a day visited the Châteauguay market for a total of 10,000 visits for the two markets. During its first year in 2010, approximately 5,000 people had come out to both markets.
Something for all tastesAmong the selection of new offerings for this third edition, there are more vendors than in previous years. "There are a greater numbers of produce growers and a greater supply of alcoholic products. It is important for us to show all products," explained Allan Bilodeau, consultant in economic development at the Centre local de développement (CLD) Roussillon. "Fifty percent of the producers and processors come from the region.” “It is that Roussillon is not autonomous for all products. But the majority of the other producers come from the upper St. Lawrence Valley or from Montérégie," said Ginette Laurencelle, Executive Director of CLD Roussillon.
For Nathalie Simon, les marché publics du Roussillon champêtre represents the rural-urban duality that defines Roussillon. "We hope to, at first, create a link with our producers. Buying from the public market helps build a relationship with farmers," said Simon, who expects to see the market take on even greater significance in the future.
That which is in Châteauguay could also move, as of this year, to the future citizen’s agora which will be built in the former Guy-Scott Arena.
