To Market, to Market: Summer Market Season is Here!

Summer Farmers Markets are in full swing offering fresh organic produce, locally produced dairy products, gardening supplies and crafts by local artisans.  There are a number of these open-air markets around the Lower Mainland serving up to 12,000 customers a week.

Trout Lake Farmers Market

There’s nothing more pleasant on a weekend morning than to take a leisurely stroll down the line of tents and booths of the local farmers market.  The one I usually visit is at Trout Lake, which is in my neighbourhood in East Vancouver.  But there are markets springing up all over town with several neighbourhoods including Gastown planning to start markets. Because of their popularity, there is a growing demand for more.

Most of the markets are set up under tents in various locations and there’s almost a ‘carnival’ atmosphere.  The Main Street Station Market is reminiscent of the famous Ferry Plaza Market on the Embaracdero in San Francisco.  It’s also the city’s only mid-week market, open on Wednesday.  The markets are a social event, linking the farmers and crafts people to their customers and a chance to visit with your neighbours.

If you’ve never been to one, take along a shopping bag and enjoy a morning of browsing and buying straight from the farms to your table.  Nothing better than real fresh home-grown produce!

Where to find your local farmers markets

Vancouver

• Trout Lake Farmers Market: North parking lot, John Hendry Park.  9 am to 2 pm, Saturdays to Oct 23. (map)
• West End Farmers Market: 1100-block Comox Street at Mole Hill. 9am-2pm  Saturdays to Oct 23
• Main Street Station Farmers Markets: Thornton Park, 1100 Station St.  by VIA Rail Station, 3 – 7pm Wednesday to September 29 (map)
• Kitsilano Farmers Market: Kitsilano Community Centre parking lot, 2690 Larch St. 10 am – 2 pm Sunday,to Oct 24. (map)

Burnaby

• Burnaby Farmers Market: North parking lot of Burnaby City Hall, 4949 Canada Way,  9am – 1 pm Saturday to Oct 30  (map)

Richmond

• Steveston Farmers and Artisans Market: Gulf of Georgia Cannery, 12138 Fourth Ave at Chatham Street, 10am – 4 pm Sundays to Oct 10. (map)

West Vancouver

• Ambleside Farmers Market: Parking lot on Bellevue Ave. between 13th and 14th St. 10am – 3 -m Sunday to Oct 31

North Vancouver

• Londsdale Quay Farmers Market: E. Plaza, Lonsdale Quay, 10 am – 3 pm Saturday to Oct 30  (map)

University of B.C.

• UBC Farm Market: 6182 South Campus Rd. 9 am – 1 pm Saturday to Oct 16 (map)

For more information on all of the 105 markets see website

Photo credit: W. Ruth Kozak