More growers, neighbourhoods want in on the action

Complete article: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Farmers Markets bond between farmers people/3055719/story.html#ixzz0ocGiVWGB

By Randy Shore, Vancouver Sun May 21, 2010

[May 2010, Vancouver, Canada]

As farmers dust off their tents and tables for a new season, farmers market organizers admit they cannot keep pace with growing public demand for more markets nor demands for vendor space from farmers eager to sell.

"We can't create farmers markets fast enough, there are waiting lists of farmers who want to get in, but we don't have enough space at any of our markets to put them all," said Tara Mc-Donald, executive director of Vancouver Farmers Markets, which runs the city's four established markets. "We are seeing upwards of 12,000 people a week."

Summer market season will hit full stride in the first week of June as the Main Street Station Market and the West End Market open June 2 and 5 respectively. The Kitsilano Market opens this Sunday at 10th and Larch, while the Trout Lake Farmers Market has been open since May 8 on the north parking lot of John Hendry Park.

The Main Street Station Market ran on a smaller scale last year after being moved down the road from Riley Park. Its Thornton Park location is right outside the front doors of the Pacific Central station, but more importantly it is just steps from some of the city's busiest bus routes and the SkyTrain.

The location is reminiscent of the world famous Ferry Plaza Market on the Embarcadero in San Francisco.

"The city really worked with us to get that market front and centre in that great transit hub and now we have a waiting list of vendors who want to get into that market," McDonald said. "You can easily get off the SkyTrain, shop for your dinner and get back on within the time of a transfer."

Main Street is also the city's only mid-week market, scheduled to be open Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. through the end of September. "It's really geared to after school, after work, picking up dinner and going home," she explained. "It's a second shopping opportunity, so you don't always have to wait for the weekend."

At least 35 vendors will be on site and it will feature a variety of ready-to-eat hot foods, such as crepes and sausages.

"We have to work with about eight city departments to open a market, but Main Street was spearheaded by the planning department," she said. "We've never had that kind of help before."

"City council and senior staff right through all the departments that we work with are very much in favour of farmers markets. In fact, they'd like to see more farmers markets in the city," McDonald said. "What they've just started doing in the last month is putting together a plan to make farmers markets more acceptable and become more secure in their locations."

The city is actively reviewing its fee structures for special events and drafting zoning bylaw amendments to encourage more farmers markets to open. Council will consider some of those changes this summer.

The society has held off opening new markets this year while waiting for that plan to come together. And there is significant pent-up demand.

"Six different neighbourhoods have contacted us wanting to start farmers markets," she said. Gastown is chomping at the bit, as are Kerrisdale, Riley Park and Mount Pleasant.

"We just want to hold off until all the proper bylaws and zoning are in place to guarantee long-term viability," she said. "Otherwise it would be like throwing money down a hole."

"Everybody wants a farmers market in their community," said Mary Forstbauer, president of the B.C. Association of Farmers Markets. "At least 10 new markets have joined the association this season."

"Every single one who tried it stayed with it," she said. "When they start to talk to people who really appreciate what they grow, they never look back."

rshore@vancouversun.com

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