Local farmers bring fresh produce to tables at farm day event

By Gomathi Sridevi Radhakrishnan

Oct. 19, 2023.

To spread awareness about live microgreens, Michael Arsenault of Fresh Hope Farms in Warren Grove, P.E.I., set up his stall at Farm Day in the City on Oct. 1 at Queens Street. Gomathi Sridevi Radhakrishnan photo.

Destiny and Michael Arsenault of Fresh Hope Farms were busy arranging informative brochures of live microgreens on their table.

The couple set up their stall at the ‘Farm Day in the City’ event on Queen Street.

It was held on Oct.1 by Discover Charlottetown, following a two-year break caused by COVID-19 and post-tropical storm Fiona.

This was their first time as vendors at the event.

They wanted to reach out to more people to spread information about urban farming.

“We want people to get excited about their food. We want them to understand that their food plays a huge role in their lives. That’s why we try to educate as many people about our micro greens as we can,” Destiny Arsenault said.

This is the 14th annual celebration of local farmers, artisans, food sellers and performers in the city.

Hayley Cardiff from Discover Charlottetown shared how it’s a fall tradition for both residents and visitors.

“This free event serves as an opportunity to promote and build relationships between the public and the Island’s agricultural and artisan communities, while also reinforcing Charlottetown’s cultural and culinary branding, and offering shoulder season products to visitors,” Cardiff said in an email.

Fresh Hope Farms in Warren Grove is all about live microgreens. They chose live microgreens because nutrition is not lost when consumers cut their own micro greens from the roots.

They took part this year to educate people about the benefits of microgreens and how it can be used in daily food intake.

“It’s incredible to watch people try microgreens for the first time and they ask more about it. The expression on their face is the best thing ever,” said Destiny.

With the increase in inflation, the couple’s selling products cheaper than one could find in other provinces, she said.

Not only has the inflation rate affected customers, but also the vendors.

“Recently, we had to put our broccoli rate from $4 to $5. It’s still one of our most expensive seeds now.”

She wants to keep the rate at $5 for now so people can afford it. She encourages people to grow live microgreens since they can be grown all year.

“Someday we hope we will be in a commercial greenhouse providing Islanders with the most nutritious food. Everybody deserves healthy food, and we hope that we can give that to people.”

Similarly, Ally Martin-Carroll of Ten Acre Wood Farm in Charlottetown, had put up her stall for the first time this year.

Although she sells produce in other markets, she finds it challenging with the cost of everything being so high.

“We sell our produce for the same price. But it’s very hard for small farms in general, especially organic farms.”

The produce on her farm has been better this year compared to last.

She is looking forward to having some big sales.

“I’ve been in farmer’s market and uptown one, but this is definitely a great opportunity to showcase our farm and it would probably be the biggest sales of the day.”

Nathaniel Braithwaite, of Soul Root Farm in Charlottetown, was at the event.

“People celebrating farms is bringing attention to all of us who are participating in agriculture. It makes me feel like it’s a job worth doing,” he said.

Braithwaite has a good relationship with people at the farmers market. But with the increase in grocery prices, he is finding it difficult to get extra money from his regular customers.

He said he increased prices for the groceries.

“But you don’t see it when you pay for it. At the end of the day, I don’t want to be passing that on to my customer.”

He wants to sell more farm produce.

“It's one of our biggest markets of the whole year. So, we bring as much as we possibly can, and we sell. And hopefully it pays for me to take a week off.”

Visitors also benefit from the event.

Anna Seshna, finds Farm Day in the City as an opportunity to buy extra fresh food.

“It’s like home to the market. I think we can get fresher products and it’s quite cheaper compared to other supermarkets.”

Discover Charlottetown intends to organize Farm Day in the City annually, making it the biggest street celebration and outdoor market in Prince Edward Island.