Market 55 brings farm-fresh favourites to Upper Beaches

Photo: Market 55

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, or fresh produce in the case of the Upper Beaches.  

When locals were bemoaning the lack of an area market on Facebook groups, Upper Beach resident and business owner Fiona Bramzell and fellow Beacher Tessa Paucha sprung into action to start their own. 

Launched late last year, Market 55 is a year-round Sunday market running 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Community Centre 55.

"Supporting the farmers, shopping locally and feeding your family healthy, organic food has never been easier," Bramzell says. "Having access to the community centre allows the market to run year-round, inside during the winter and out in the parking lot in the summer. We really couldn’t have done this market without their involvement."

Locally grown produce is the Market 55's focus with items like eggs, cheese, sausages, baked goods and other farm favourites from its roster of regular and rotating vendors. 

"Starting a new market isn’t easy," Bramzell says. "Vendors are reluctant to commit unless they can be sure it will be busy with buyers, whereas locals won’t come unless they can be sure of a good selection of vendors." 

"However, we’ve been extremely lucky on both accounts, with a great core group of vendors, including Fifth Town Artisan Cheese, Murray’s Farm, Lady Emily Fine Foods and Cedar Hedge Farms, and a really loyal group of locals who come out every week to support the market."

If you’re in the Upper Beach area and want to pick up fresh-from-the-farm products, check out Market 55 every Sunday between 9am-1pm at Community Centre 55, 97 Main Street at Swanwick, and be sure to follow them on Facebook to see which vendors will be attending each week.