Citing poor attendance due to stiff competition and rain, the City of Toronto is shutting down Riverdale Farm Farmer’s Market.

But critics say city neglect is to blame for the summer market’s demise.

The brainchild of late local-food advocate Elizabeth Harris, Riverdale made its debut in 2001, the first organic farmer’s market in Toronto, operating on Tuesday afternoons. After Harris’ death in 2011, the city, which runs Riverdale Farm adjacent to the market at Winchester and Sumach streets, took over its management.

In late November, the city decided not to reopen it, said Carol Guy, supervisor of the city-operated Riverdale Farm; the move was announced to vendors earlier this year.

“We did give it our best shot,” said Guy.

Guy told the Star an influx of downtown farmer’s markets in recent years drew customers away from Riverdale. “Torrential downpour” the last two seasons exacerbated the problem, she added.

“We go from having . . . nobody because of bad weather to something like 350 people in July. It’s all over the map and not consistent.”

On any given week, she said there were 12-14 vendors on site.

Laura Sabourin, owner of Feast of Fields, an organic orchard in the Niagara region and one of the founding vendors at Riverdale, said interest in the market began to dwindle when Harris fell ill, a situation that only worsened with the city at the helm.

“Elizabeth was a very dynamic driving force,” said Sabourin, pointing to Harris’ ability to connect with the community, consult with vendors and land public funding.

In its heyday, she said Riverdale attracted 30 vendors.

“It was exciting, it was friendly, it was very co-operative and very much a neighbourhood event.”

She claimed the city’s approach has been much more hands-off.

“They didn’t have passion and the love for it. For them, it was a job. For Elizabeth, it was a passion.”

Marina Queirolo, a former vendor with Riverdale who now works at Evergreen Brick Works community centre, echoed Sabourin’s concerns.

“(The city) hired staff that really is not engaged with the market community,” she told the Star, arguing market saturation is not the issue.

“If you don’t have a champion that talks to the community and sees what’s happening to address any changes and make things work better, you start losing customers.”

Sabourin said she wishes the city considered handing off Riverdale to a vendor. Guy said the city did not discuss that option with vendors or the neighbourhood before deciding to close shop.

“In hindsight, it probably would have been a better idea,” she said, adding the city is open to having a community member step up.

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Her staff developed good relationships with vendors, she said, and was always available to help set up the market. It employed different growth strategies over the years, such as inviting musicians and artists to the market, but was unsuccessful, she said.

Cabbagetown resident Noni Castonguay, who lives across the street from the market, said she’s sad to see it go. On sunny days, it became a meeting point for neighbours, especially young families who would take their kids to eat and play in the park.

“I think all of us who lived right on the street across from it loved it.”