The editor in me says this op-ed is missing a lot of numbers to back up the author’s claims. What is the actual vacancy rate of stalls in the market? How has the vacancy rate changed over the past several years?
I like the part where he whines about how the city removed “plusieurs places de stationnement” without mentioning the exact number of spots that have been removed: 10. And then he has the audacity to complain that this asphalt parking lot has been replaced by “un espace totalement minéralisé, avec dalles de béton ou de pierre, sans aucune végétation sauf un petit sapin ridicule qui ne fournira jamais d’ombre.”
This is an “opinion” piece, which means basically anybody can say anything. While I don’t doubt there may be some problems to resolve and that in some ways the JTM is a victim of its own success, I doubt it is seriously threatened.
My one complaint about the market these days (and it’s a big one) is that it’s getting harder to find stalls where you are buying directly from the producers.
I don’t go to the JT market as often as I used to because I find it is too expensive for my budget now. Like the Devoir writer, I, too, have noticed that there are fewer sellers, even in midsummer and have wondered why they have left, ie rents, lack of custom, who knows. This has been happening for a few years, now. I had conversations with vendors at least 5 years ago about the disappearing customer. People seem to forget that the growing season is pretty short in Quebec so you won’t find local corn or tomatoes, apples or lettuce in April or even May. Going to the market at that time and expecting to find anything local that is grown outdoors is going to be a disappointment. And once apple season is over, anything local is already a month old, ie apples, potatoes, onions, etc. The shops along Henri Julien seem to do fine all year long but they don’t necessarily offer local products. So the vendors have to have something to sell off season besides local stuff and that may be where the Costa Rican bananas come in. As far as local producers selling there, I suspect that it is less and less the business model for most farms, who probably sell all their produce to big buyers like the supermarket chains. The vendors that remain are those that enjoy the environment, the contact with customers, and that it is still profitable for them to a certain extent. My dad had a store there, near where Birri is now. It was a tough living even in the 60s when the market was the only place to get fresh produce at good prices.
I tend to agree with the op-ed, I usually go a hand full of times a month to the market and this year it is noticeable how many empty spots there are. The shops around the market seem to be doing fairly well, maybe it’s evolving into more a food market than a produce market?
Also the author isn’t wrong about it being “mineral”, that new space on shamrock and the area in front of the SAQ/Premiere Moison is seriously lacking in shade. I had that exact thought the other there while I was waiting for someone.
I agree as well, I stopped going on weekends where I used to take my time and buy a lot of products, produce, meat,.etc…Although if there really are empty parking spots I may have to reconsider weekends,. although highly doubtful that weekends are quiet. Right now I have a small window of about 50-60 mins after work. It sucks having to rush but I get the essentials and at least it’s not crowded. The op-ed forgot to mention that they have also increased parking rates, another reason to stay away. I used to easily find a parking spot in the neighborhood, forget that idea today.
And there are still some decent producers, but yes the green alley is empty, I noticed that too, pretty evident, MPM needs to get it together.
This opinion piece is garbage. The market has evolved for the better in the last decade. It wasn’t that long ago you could shop from your car. That period of time is looked upon with nostalgia by car drivers, the good old market days!
DeWolf 11:36 on 2019-08-01 Permalink
The editor in me says this op-ed is missing a lot of numbers to back up the author’s claims. What is the actual vacancy rate of stalls in the market? How has the vacancy rate changed over the past several years?
I like the part where he whines about how the city removed “plusieurs places de stationnement” without mentioning the exact number of spots that have been removed: 10. And then he has the audacity to complain that this asphalt parking lot has been replaced by “un espace totalement minéralisé, avec dalles de béton ou de pierre, sans aucune végétation sauf un petit sapin ridicule qui ne fournira jamais d’ombre.”
Is Georges Langlois a pseudonym for Lino Birri?
Blork 11:48 on 2019-08-01 Permalink
JTM is dead. Long live JTM.
This is an “opinion” piece, which means basically anybody can say anything. While I don’t doubt there may be some problems to resolve and that in some ways the JTM is a victim of its own success, I doubt it is seriously threatened.
dwgs 12:15 on 2019-08-01 Permalink
My one complaint about the market these days (and it’s a big one) is that it’s getting harder to find stalls where you are buying directly from the producers.
Frankie 13:03 on 2019-08-01 Permalink
I don’t go to the JT market as often as I used to because I find it is too expensive for my budget now. Like the Devoir writer, I, too, have noticed that there are fewer sellers, even in midsummer and have wondered why they have left, ie rents, lack of custom, who knows. This has been happening for a few years, now. I had conversations with vendors at least 5 years ago about the disappearing customer. People seem to forget that the growing season is pretty short in Quebec so you won’t find local corn or tomatoes, apples or lettuce in April or even May. Going to the market at that time and expecting to find anything local that is grown outdoors is going to be a disappointment. And once apple season is over, anything local is already a month old, ie apples, potatoes, onions, etc. The shops along Henri Julien seem to do fine all year long but they don’t necessarily offer local products. So the vendors have to have something to sell off season besides local stuff and that may be where the Costa Rican bananas come in. As far as local producers selling there, I suspect that it is less and less the business model for most farms, who probably sell all their produce to big buyers like the supermarket chains. The vendors that remain are those that enjoy the environment, the contact with customers, and that it is still profitable for them to a certain extent. My dad had a store there, near where Birri is now. It was a tough living even in the 60s when the market was the only place to get fresh produce at good prices.
Spi 14:12 on 2019-08-01 Permalink
I tend to agree with the op-ed, I usually go a hand full of times a month to the market and this year it is noticeable how many empty spots there are. The shops around the market seem to be doing fairly well, maybe it’s evolving into more a food market than a produce market?
Also the author isn’t wrong about it being “mineral”, that new space on shamrock and the area in front of the SAQ/Premiere Moison is seriously lacking in shade. I had that exact thought the other there while I was waiting for someone.
thomas 15:07 on 2019-08-01 Permalink
Surely, the development of farmer basket delivery services like Lufa, Le Jardin des Funambules, etc. means that the market must evolve.
YUL514 21:58 on 2019-08-01 Permalink
I agree as well, I stopped going on weekends where I used to take my time and buy a lot of products, produce, meat,.etc…Although if there really are empty parking spots I may have to reconsider weekends,. although highly doubtful that weekends are quiet. Right now I have a small window of about 50-60 mins after work. It sucks having to rush but I get the essentials and at least it’s not crowded. The op-ed forgot to mention that they have also increased parking rates, another reason to stay away. I used to easily find a parking spot in the neighborhood, forget that idea today.
And there are still some decent producers, but yes the green alley is empty, I noticed that too, pretty evident, MPM needs to get it together.
Chris 11:26 on 2019-08-03 Permalink
YUL514, is it that you can’t find parking at all, or you can’t find *free* parking?
Jack 12:31 on 2019-08-03 Permalink
This opinion piece is garbage. The market has evolved for the better in the last decade. It wasn’t that long ago you could shop from your car. That period of time is looked upon with nostalgia by car drivers, the good old market days!