(rdnewsNOW/Troy Gillard)

By Sheldon Spackman

Gasoline Alley

Indoor Farmers Market set to open in November

Sep 15, 2020 | 1:24 PM

Central Albertans will soon have the chance to enjoy locally made products year round at an indoor farmers market nearing completion.

The Gasoline Alley Indoor Farmers Market is set to open in November at the corner of Laura Avenue and Lantern Street.

General Manager Shauna Fisher says the initiative has been in the works for about two years.

“Some local investors got together with Red Deer County and formulated a plan in order to put in a year round farmers market – an Alberta approved farmers market,” she explains. “The building is roughly 25,000 square feet and it’s going to house about 50 individual, independent vendors and business people from around Alberta.”

Fisher says a unique feature of the market will be Craft Beer Commonwealth – a union of three local brewers (Red Shed Malting, Red Hart Brewing, Blindman Brewing) to offer patrons a home-grown beer-tasting experience along with local food vendors.

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“We are going to have the ability to purchase local produce and local protein from all independent people throughout Alberta,” says Fisher. “It’s an Alberta Agriculture approved farmers market, which means all our products have to be made, baked, grown, sewn, produced, and made here in Alberta. Twenty per cent can come from B.C., like fruit from other places.”

Fisher notes that a wide variety of vendors will be in place at the Gasoline Alley Indoor Farmers Market, in addition to the food and beverage options.

“Artists, jewelry, all handmade soaps, refillables, honey, bath balms, baking, chocolate, butchers and candlestick makers,” laughs Fisher. “Ninety per cent of all our vendors will be permanent – they all have leased out spaces as their storefront. We’ll be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 – 5, but the brewery and the food market will have longer hours.”

In terms of the construction process, Fisher says crews are currently working on the paving outside the facility.

“They’ll be pouring the concrete inside I believe shortly,” says Fisher. “So I’m looking at finding leases and going around talking to people. It’s super exciting. People are very much excited about the whole indoor farmers market year round that people can come in and know where their food is coming from and get to know their baker and get to know who their butcher is.”

Fisher feels Red Deer has required something like this for a long time.

“We’re also looking at having different events within the market,” adds Fisher. “So that will be on our website featuring different vendors and bringing in other things at night to entice people to come in.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic still with us for the foreseeable future, Fisher points out that they’re in close contact with Alberta Health Services to ensure the market can operate safely.

“We will be following whatever protocols that are put in place,” declares Fisher. “We will make sure that people are safe.”