New market brings fresh food to Montreal's Old Port

The Old Portis known for a lot of things cobblestone roads, heritage sites, general old-timey charm but being a place to pick up fresh fruit, vegetables and other locally-madegoodies isn't necessarily one of its claims to fame.

But a new market is trying to change that. March des clusiers, on de la Commune Street at the intersection ofMcGill Street, officially opened to the public last week.

Founder Devin De Sousa partnered with 10 independent businesses to create a space that offers fresh food options for people who live in the area.

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The market is set up like a smaller version of the Jean-Talon Market.

Bio Locaux sells fresh, locally-grown fruit and vegetables, BoucherieLawrence sells meat and charcuterieand there are baked goodsfrom La Petite Boulangerie, fish and other seafoodas well as a caf and restaurants.

Great location

The market is right along the water. Those who can'twait until they get hometo dig in to their haul can have a seat and enjoy while taking in the Old Port atmosphere.

The idea is to provide a service to all Montrealers, but especially to those who live in Old Montreal. The neighbourhood counts many condo dwellers among its residents, and while there are a lot of restaurants and dpanneurs in the area, there aren't as many options for fresh food, DeSousa said.

De Sousa owns FabergRestaurant on Fairmount Avenue in theMile End neighbourhoodand says he's interested in encouraging people to buy local and cut down on food waste.

"What we're trying to do is create awareness in terms of waste and compost and the future, what we need to do to save ourselves and be alive in the next hundred years," he said.

New riffon an old theme

The area where the market is set up sat empty for many years, but decadesago it was where port workers lived and worked.

They were called "clusiers" and their job was toopen and close the port for ships and businesses. Since De Sousa'sgoal was to, in a sense,open up the Old Port to a new way of eating,he decided to name his market after those port workers.

It's run like a co-op the vendors pay rent and there is no government funding or sponsors, yet.

The market is open every day. The caf opens at 8 a.m., the market at 10 a.m. and restaurants around 11 a.m.

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