You can find a farmer's market in nearly every community across British Columbia, where residents have come to appreciate and expect good quality fresh food. Farmer's markets range in size and scope from a local farmer selling fresh produce off the back of a truck or a small roadside stand, to a large sophisticated enterprise like Granville Island market in Vancouver.
A virtual sampling of British Columbia farmer's markets:
Whistler Farmer's Market
www.whistlerfarmersmarket.org
Located in Whistler's Upper Village near the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, the market has live cooking demonstrations by local chefs, and local artists and musicians.
Take home relishes, jams and chutneys from Crème Fraiche Catering, cinnamon buns from Golden Crust Specialties, and browse through homemade soaps, candles, arts and crafts, jewelry, and custom made furniture.
Fiddlehead Farmer's Market
www.fiddleheadfarmersmarket.com
With a tag line of "Because trees don't grow on money! -- it's all about reprioritizing food and community", the Fiddlehead Farmer's Market's mandate is to encourage people to grow their own food by making it fun, social, and profitable.
Salt Spring Island Saturday Market
www.saltspringmarket.com
It's worth a trip to the island for the market alone. Vendor offerings run the spectrum from artisan breads, island-grown produce to locally grown and produced health and beauty supplies.
More links to B.C. farmer's markets:
Abbotsford Farm and Country Market
www.abbotsfordfarmandcountrymarket.com
White Rock Farmers' Market
www.whiterockfarmersmarket.ca
Nanaimo Downtown Farmers' Market
www.nanaimofarmersmarket.com
Find a farmer's market in your area:
B.C. Association of Farmer's Markets
www.bcfarmersmarket.org
Listed alphabetically by city, this is a comprehensive list of British Columbia farmer's markets and dates they run.
Shop in season
June: apples, cauliflower, cherries, Chinese vegetables, chives, cilantro, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radish, rhubarb, rosemary, sage, spinach, strawberries, thyme, turnips.
July: apricots, basil, beans, beets, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cherries, Chinese vegetables, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, radish, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, sage, spinach, strawberries, summer squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes, thyme, turnips.
August: apples, apricots, basil, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese vegetables, chives, cilantro, corn, cucumbers, currants, garlic, kale, lettuce, melons, peaches, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, radish, raspberries, rosemary, sage, shallots, spinach, strawberries, summer squash, sweet onions, Swiss chard, tomatoes, thyme, turnips.
September: apples, basil, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese vegetables, chives, cilantro, corn, cucumbers, currants, garlic, kale, lettuce, leeks, melons, onions, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, pumpkins, radish, raspberries, rosemary, sage, shallots, spinach, strawberries, Swiss chard, tomatoes, thyme, turnips, winter squash.
Tips for successful farmers' market shopping:
-Do a little preliminary research by scouting the farmers' market website (if available). What's in season? What products would you like to try? If you do up a weekly menu, plan it around your farmers' market selections.
-Planning on stocking up for the week? Bring something on wheels -- a cart, a duffle bag -- to make light of your work.
-If you're making a day of it, keep a cooler in your car to keep your purchases (especially meats and cheeses) cold.
-Make an initial sweep of the market before you start toting up your purchases and, if it's logistically possible, save your heavy purchases for the end of your market outing.
-Consider bringing your own canvas or plastic bags to store your purchases. It's good for the environment -- one of the crowning mandates of the farmers' market -- and will be sturdier than one-use plastic bags.
-Bring cash! Many farmer's markets vendors don't have the set up for debit or credit cards and don't accept cheques.
-Don't overbuy. It's tempting, but remember the point of visiting the farmer's market is to get fresh food. Instead of overstocking on fruits and vegetables make the trip to a nearby farmer's market part of your regular shopping plan.
Top tip
Make your trip to the farmer's market part of a family outing. Crafts, a chance to try local goodies and a say in planning the family menu will appeal to everyone.
See the entire range of Homemakers.com's Canadian farmer's markets series, mapped out with Microsoft's Live Search Maps by clicking here.
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