A new farmers' market is being launched in June - possibly on Saturdays - following the eviction of five local farmers from the Peterborough Farmers' Market at Morrow Park.

Three of the ousted vendors - from Circle Organic, McLean Berry Farm and Otonabee Apiary - made the announcement on Friday along with the Peterborough Regional Farmers Network (PRFN).

PRFN is the not-for-profit corporation that will organize a board and a group of committees that will operate the new market. Organizers are already accepting applications for vendors and volunteers on the PRFN website.

It's still unclear exactly where the market will be located, although PRFN board president Neil Hannam said several pieces of private land in Peterborough city and county have been offered.

It's expected to be a weekend market.

"I love Saturdays," Hannam said. "I think Saturday is the only day to have a farmers' market in Peterborough."

Hannam also said at least 50 per cent of the vendors will be local farmers offering homegrown food.

The announcement was made Friday at Circle Organic farm in Millbrook.

Andrew Flaman, co-owner and farmer there, was recently evicted from the Morrow Park market. He said he would be applying to sell at the new market.

He said he was pleased to see a new venue opening where he may potentially do business.

"I think it's a clear indication of how important local food is to the community," he said.

Astrid Manske of Otonabee Apiary, Erin McLean of McLean Berry farm and Chef Marshall Eckler were all at the announcement and they said they'd apply too.

McLean - whose farm was ousted from the Morrow Park market after 27 years selling there - said she looked forward to applying to sell at the new market.

"Buy directly from the farmer," she said.

Lauren Nurse, an organic farmer from Stirling who was evicted from the Morrow Park market last year, was also at the announcement.

Her eviction letter says she was dismissed because too many other vendors at the market sell the same type of salad greens, even though she says she'd planned to also offer ginger and turmeric (which aren't available now, at that market).

Nurse said she was thrilled about the plans for a new market.

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"If they'll have me, I'm there," she said.

PRFN is the organization that helped farmers create large banners last summer advertising that they grow 100 per cent of what they sell.

Those banners were introduced as tension simmered at the Morrow Park market between local farmers and resellers (who buy produce from places such as the Ontario Food Terminal without necessarily telling the customer.)

On May 1, five local farmers and artisans received letters saying they were evicted from the Morrow Park market - operated by the Peterborough and District Farmers' Market Association - over concerns that they gossiped and spread rumours about the board of directors.

Cindy Hope, president of the board of directors there, and marketing director Mark Jones have not been available for comment since May 1.

Hannam said there may be produce from outside the area for sale at the new market: customers may want Niagara fruit, for instance.

"But the baseline will be 51 per cent primary producers," he said, adding that the farms will be verified by a third party (such as the MyPick program, which sends inspectors into the field from Farmers' Markets Ontario).

Who won't be allowed to sell at the new market?

"That will be up to the community," Hannam said.

NOTE: The PRFN website at ptbofarms.com