Farm Markets

By Marilyn Zink

It's summer and the living is easy. Enhance your summer by stopping in at a local farmers market to pick up some fresh produce to liven up your meal.
There is a plethora of farmer's markets on Vancouver Island and surrounding islands, which much to choose from. Farm markets offer so much more than produce nowadays. You're as likely to find craft items, plants and cheese as you are to pick up produce.

The very popular Salt Spring Market on Salt Spring Island has been running for 30 years or more, according to co-ordinator Matthew Coleman.
"There's thousands of people who come," he says, noting that parking can sometimes be hard to find. Parking can be avoided by the busloads of people, who come to the market that runs 10-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Among the many different vendors, Coleman says farmers always get a spot.

"Farmers have precedence in our market. For a while we didn't have many farmers. Now the farmer's section is growing. There seems to be more of an interest in farmers. Organics is really big these days."

Farm produce is also important at the Errington Farmers Market held on Saturdays from 10-1 p.m.at the Community Park on Errington Rd. President Guy Franklin says the market is part of the B.C. Farmers Market Society, so "everything has to be made or grown by people. So it's a mixed bag of baking, produce, plants and vegetables.

He said market volunteers and people in the community got together to build stalls in the park. "We built it into something unique, the stalls are in among the trees. It's very popular now."

The grassy setting is also used by the Cedar Farmers Market, which runs Sundays from 10-2 p.m. in front of the Crow and Gate Pub in Cedar on Yellowpoint Rd. Market vendor France Bournazel says she really enjoys coming to the market to sell her produce. "It's really family oriented, it's fun, it's not just a market." At the Downtown Farmers Market on Fridays in Nanaimo, treasurer Ann Smith says there are 51 full-time vendors. "We don't have a lot of farm people. We have a lot of people that make products derive from farm products."

The Nanaimo market is also offering extra markets on Sept. 18, Oct 1 and Oct. 11 to be available for cruise ship traffic.

To enhance your farm experience even more, why not take in a local festival. These festivals foster an appreciation for the quality of locally produced food.

Second Annual Cowichan Festival of Lavender
July 3-4, 10-5 p.m. Bird's Eye Cove Lavender Farm,
5881 Genoa Bay Rd. Cowichan, 1-888-303-3337

Tour of Farms, Sunday, July 18, 10-4 p.m.
A self-guided tour of 25 farms, 250-544-0941

Harvest Bounty Festival, Aug. 28, 10-4??
468-2332, Nanoose Edibles Farm,
1960 A. Stewart Rd., Nanoose Bay

7th Annual Feast of Fields, TBA
A Harvest Celebration of Our Island,
743-4267, engelerfarm@telus.net

Island Farm Markets
Salt Spring Market at Centennial Park,
Saturday, 10-4, 537-2378

Sidney Summer Market,
Beacon Ave in Sidney, Thurs 5:30-8:30
655-6417

Moss St. Market, Victoria
Sat, 10-2 p.m., Sir James Douglas Elem, corner Moss and Fairfield
361-1747

James Bay Community Market
Sat, 9-3 p.m corner Menzies and Superior St.
381-5323

Downtown Duncan Farmers Market
Sat, 9-2 p.m. Canada Ave at train station lot
743-7055

Cedar Farmers Market
Sun, 10-2 p.m. Crow and Gate Pub on Yellowpoint Rd., Cedar
722-0054

Nanaimo Downtown Farmers Market
Fri, 10-2 p.m., Pioneer Waterfront Plaza, Front St
754-1998

Errington Farmers Market
Sat, 10-1 p.m. Errington Community Park
951-0406

Qualicum Beach Farmers Market
Sat, 9-12 p.m. on Fir downtown at Memorial
752-7489

More articles