Saskatoon farmers market may move to the suburbs.

ADI Ramachandran, President of the Board of Directors, said in an interview on Thursday that talks were under way with a private company for a new location. He did not disclose the location, saying only that it was a “suburb” and that the deal could be completed in about a month.

A farmer’s market has been running in the former garage of the demolished power station since 2007.

“I would like the city of Saskatoon to think about what citizens want,” Ramachandran said.

The city wants “animation” on the site six days a week, but the farmers market feels currently three days of operation (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday) ensures the farmers market continues to be a genuine market for local food production.

The lease expires at the end of the year and the building will be closed early next year indefinitely so the roof can be repaired, according to a city report.

Ramachandran said he would like financial help from the city in renting the new location as the group will pay the full market price for the new building.

“This is a way for the city to save face and try to save the situation,” he said.

Ramachandran said he met with eight city Council members to discuss the issue.

The city Council will consider an update on the situation with the ongoing construction of the farmers market on Monday.

A report to the Council said the city had approached “other potential farmers markets and potential suppliers” interested in renting space on the site. The city administration is considering options to allow a group or individual to manage the site and manage vendors, the report said.

The mayor’s office does not expect more than one request to manage the site, but wants to keep the farmers market component, the report said.

Ramachandran said he was skeptical that any other farmers market could match or exceed the cooperative, which has 100 members and another 40 to 50 producers. That makes Saskatoon’s market the largest in the province, he said.

If the farmer’s market fails to secure year-round rental of the new building, Ramachandran said an indoor winter location and an outdoor summer market would be considered.

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