Fredericton Boyce Farmer’s Market

As the sun comes up over Fredericton, the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market gets into full swing. The Saturday market is in downtown Fredericton, were it was established in 1951. The bustling aisles full of customers starts at 6am, with the day ending at 1pm.

From handmade crafts, freshly cut bacon and other deli items, essential oils, lotions and lip balms, hand squeezed orange juice; the market has something for everyone.

The market is more then your ordinary farmers market. It’s a community-based meeting place for all cultures. The impact the market has on the Fredericton community is extraordinary. The market is not only a meeting place but a safe space.

“A lot of those cultures find the market not only as a meeting place, but a safe place, where they can come and ask questions or sell their wears,” says Leslie Morrell. Morell is the market manager, who is responsible for the full operation of the market.

What draws you into the market is not only the sense of community but the liveliness it brings to your Saturday mornings.

Chef Rick Huskins is the chef and owner of Chef Rick, the prime destination for your Saturday breakfast. Huskins is originally from Montreal; the market was the first-place people talked about when he came to Fredericton about 20 years ago. Huskins says the place gets you hooked.

“It’s just a place that you come and there’s a big community, and you get to meet a lot of new people but you also get to see the same people that come every week. It just becomes a habit,” says Huskins.

The market puts people first, specially during difficult times that the community goes through. The market did not shut down during the shooting this past August. It stayed open and welcomed anyone who needed a place to go.

Leslie Morell was asked why the market had stayed open that weekend.

“We were asked why we were not closed and a lot of people that day had to have some place to go to feel safe. But not only to feel safe but to feel like they were with family if they didn’t have family in the city and that they could be together and feel comfort. The market was a place for them to come and do that. We got a lot of response back after the market was open that Saturday, of thank yous for doing that for certain people.”

“Meet us at the market” is what is said on the days leading up to Saturdays. Vendors like Rick, want you to get hooked like he did, and to see everyone on Saturday morning at the Fredericton Boyce Farmer’s Market.