The five local farmers who were evicted from the Saturday farmers' market this week are "stunned" to have been kicked out and say the market's board of directors has "gone rogue."

The farmers made the statements in a release issued Wednesday, one day after they were handed their eviction notices.

"These local farmers never wanted this fight," states the release. "They wanted a fairly-organized venue to sell their food."

On Tuesday, five vendors were terminated from the market: Circle Organic, McLean and Buckhorn Berry Farm, Ashburnham Farm Gaelic Garlic, Otonabee Apiary and Chef Marshall.

They were part of a group of seven local vendors and artisans who were told by the market's board of directors in December that they were facing potential eviction over allegations of aggressive behaviour.

Since then, one vendor - Sax Francisco, who sells tea under the business name Necessitea Elixir - was ousted.

Meanwhile the proprietors of Finest Gourmet Fudge did not reapply to take part in the outdoor market this season (which starts Saturday).

That left five vendors of the so-called group of seven - all of whom were terminated Tuesday.

The letter sent to them from the Peterborough and District Farmers' Market Association (PDFMA) states that they were evicted over behavior such as making disparaging remarks about board members or the market.

Cindy Hope, president of the PDFMA, has not responded to a request for interview made on Tuesday. Neither has Mark Jones, marketing director for the PDFMA.

In January there was a closed meeting for all members of the market to determine whether the group of seven could stay.

In the release, the farmers state that one of the group of seven - Astrid Manske, of Otonabee Apiary - heard details of the complaints against her for the first time, at the meeting.

She was allowed to defend herself at the meeting, states the release, and then the members voted against evicting her.

The release further states that the allegations of aggressive behaviour made against the group of seven - brought forward by 16 fellow vendors - were then all withdrawn.

So why have the vendors now been evicted?

"The answer can only rest with the PDMA Board who have gone rogue over the wishes of the farmers' market members," states the press release.

The release doesn't say whether the ousted vendors are looking to try to fight the evictions.

"More information on how the public can help to save local farmers at farmers' markets will be forthcoming," it states.

On Wednesday, two ousted farmers were selling at the Peterborough Downtown Farmers' Market on Charlotte St.; Circle Organic and Ashburnham Farm Gaelic Garlic have been selling there for years.

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The downtown market sells only locally grown food.

Farmer Andrew Flaman from Circle Organic said business was brisk on Wednesday.

"Every other customer is like, 'We support you,'" he said. "People are concerned with their food supply."

Romeyn Stevenson of Ashburnham Farm Gaelic Garlic said he was also busy at the Wednesday market.

A few customers told him they would boycott the Saturday market over the evictions: "Some people have come to me and said they aren't going to the Saturday market anymore - period," he said.

John Etches said as much as he was shopping at the Wednesday market.

"If preference isn't given to local people, I'll never go to the Saturday market again," he said.

Cindy Hope, president of the PDFMA, has a booth at the Wednesday downtown market; she sells goat cheese under the name Crosswind Farm.

But she wasn't there on Wednesday when the downtown market opened for the season and her booth lacked a sign bearing the Crosswind name.

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