Cariboo Farmers’ Markets

BOLSTER LOCAL ECONOMY AND FOOD SECURITY

BY ERIN HITCHCOCK

There is nothing like entering a farmers’ market. Everyone seems so happy. They meet and mingle, catch up with each other. The air is fresh, the atmosphere is relaxed and joyful. Often, a local band plays. This is the heart of the community, a celebration of food, local craftsmanship, and friendships.

With so many farmers and producers selling their wares in the region, it’s so easy to support local. And when you take home that head of broccoli, loaf of bread, or woodcarving, you feel you took part in something special, something meaningful.

Barb Scharf, manager of the Williams Lake market, has been busy preparing for this year’s market, which is planned to be business as usual, following various COVID-19 restrictions in recent years.

“We’re anticipating it’s going to be a normal farmers’ market year,” Scharf says, adding that with COVID-19, nonfood vendors and musicians weren’t originally allowed at the start of the pandemic. There was one-way foot traffic and restrictions were placed on how many could attend at once. “It’s all status quo this year,” Scharf says. “It’s a full, normal market. We’ll have musicians, everything.”

The Williams Lake market kicked off with the 13th annual Seedy Saturday and Earlybird Farmers Market on Saturday, April 30, jointly hosted by the Williams Lake Food Policy Council and the Cariboo Direct Farm Direct Market Association. It will run Fridays, however, starting May 6 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. between Kiwanis Park and the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Centre, and includes most previous vendors, as well as some new faces. Expect lots of plants, textiles, pottery, baking, wood and metal works, and bath and body products. The well-loved Fennel Cup food truck is no more, but the previous owners will still be vendors, selling Indian food and pottery. Fresh crêpes, bannock, and Mexican food are also planned and can now be enjoyed on site.

But it’s not all just about the goodies.

“A lot of people come because it’s essentially a social occasion,” says Scharf, who shares the management duties with her husband and daughter. “Shopping is almost a side thing that’s happening. They meet people, you see people chatting, they’re in little groups talking, they’re sitting down having lunch together, they’re just hanging out.”

The Williams Lake Farmers Market is under the umbrella of the BC Farmers Market Association, which also includes the South Cariboo, McLeese Lake (Alexandria), and Quesnel, though there are other, independent markets scattered throughout the region, too. Because some of the markets are held on different days from each other, Scharf says many of the vendors hop-scotch between them, offering their products in more than one location.

“It fills a really strong need in our communities to have a place to connect with local growers and producers and small business operators, people who make their own

items,” Scharf says, adding that the pandemic, floods that closed roads and highways, and forest fires have all highlighted the importance of food security, as those events have all played a role in limiting what has been available in grocery stores during those challenging times. “People realize how dependent we are on food coming from other places and also the importance of strengthening local food economies and production.”

It’s not yet known where the South Cariboo Market will be held this year, as the organization, at press time, was fine-tuning a possible location and new manager.

However, market board director Rod Hennecker was optimistic everything would come together soon, ensuring the market’s 37th year of operation.

“We’ve got some good farmers here and artisans, too,” Hennecker says, adding the market has between 30 and 40 vendors, some coming from as far as Lytton, Little Fort, and the Okanagan.

Though it’s expected to continue running on Fridays from early May to September, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., those interested can contact Hennecker by phone at (250) 395-3580, email ceeds@xplornet.ca, or visit the South Cariboo Farmers Market Facebook page to find out the location.

Tim Cadwell began managing the Quesnel market just when COVID-19 started in 2020, so in addition to the new market duties, he also had to stay on top of restrictions. He says he looks forward to it being like it used to be prior to the pandemic and senses that enthusiasm from others. “I’m seeing more people excited about it, musicians especially,” Cadwell says, adding that the pandemic financially hurt a lot of farmers and food vendors.

However, the market received grants that will allow for new picnic tables, which will be put to good use now that visitors are able to sit and visit with each other at the market.

“We’re looking forward to a normal year and want to get it back to where you can visit with friends and family and have a nice day at the market,” Cadwell says.

The Quesnel market runs Saturdays, starting May 7 until Oct. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Helen Dixon School site on Kinchant Street. Visit quesnelmarket.net for more information.

The McLeese Lake market will find an exciting new home this year and go under the new operating name of Farmers Market at Alexandria, says market president Wylie Bystedt.

It will now be held at the Alexandria Community Hall, where it holds its Christmas market, and will therefore include both outdoor and indoor space.

“It’s awesome, especially for some of the artisans,” Bystedt says, explaining that hot summer temperatures can affect items such as candles, baked goods, and leafy greens. “Having an indoor covered area year-round for producers or artisans who just need a little extra protection will just be phenomenal.”

Though the former site at McLeese was beautiful, the market was also limited on space and accessibility for food and cooler trucks.

“Now we have no issues with that,” she says. “We are hoping we will be able to get some bigger vendors in, so we can fit everybody.”

While many of the markets in the region share some of the same vendors, exclusive to this market is Luv Your Bunz, Smooth Cut Woodshop, and Mini’s Crochet.

“Every market has a slightly different flavour,” Bystedt says. “We are all in the same region but we’re not cookie cutters, so I think you really get a sense of each community by what their market is like.”

The Farmers Market at Alexandria kicks off Sunday, July 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until mid-September and then returns from mid October till the end of the year for the holiday season.

Erin Hitchcock is a freelance journalist with a focus on environment and sustainability. She lives with her husband and two children east of Williams Lake.