“It’s a way of life,” says Frank Belle Monache who has been a part of the Welland Farmers’ Market for almost 45 years.

A vendor for two decades, he now operates the Market Trattoria, a restaurant at the market square.

“The market is and always has been a place for socializing,” he told Niagara This Week.

And Belle Monache is not alone in his opinion.

Vendors such as Lyle Packham, whose father, Glenn, sold eggs and live chickens in the 1930s, are part of the fabric of this Welland landmark. He can trace his family back to when the city was first settled in 1788 by the United Empire Loyalists.

“The only time we missed being here was the snowstorm of 1977,” he said.

Today he continues the family tradition, selling eggs in the outdoor area along with maple syrup and honey. Indoors, he has a stall in the main building where he sells meat, everything from ducks to geese, and chicken to quail.

There are two buildings at 50 Market Square. The first, the main building or “meat building” as vendors refer to it, was built in 1919. It is made of solid brick with a mix of Spanish and prairie-style architecture and has been designated an historic structure.

The second building opened in 1986. It houses vendors as well as the restaurant.

The market has always been and continues to be an important meeting place for commercial and social events.

It dates back to 1907 and is thought to be one of the oldest in Ontario.

Dean and Beth Wismer of Jordan Station have been coming to sell fruit at the market for six decades.

“We have a following here, that’s why we keep coming back,” Wismer said.

The Wismers sell fresh strawberries, raspberries, sweet and sour cherries, peaches, pears, plums and more.

Bonnie Fokkens, who works at John’s Meats, said, “It’s not just about the wonderful food, it’s about the social activity everyone enjoys when they come here.”

It’s also about the camaraderie among the vendors. “I was made to feel so welcome. I look forward to coming here every Saturday,” said Joanne Stortz of Visions of Chocolates. A relative newcomer to the market, she has been operating at the market for about three years.

The Welland Farmers’ Market features everything from baked goods to cheeses, dairy, meat and poultry, to flowers and plants, along with fresh fruits and vegetables.

It is open Saturdays from 6 a.m. to noon.