Fundraiser taking place on May 23 at Wild Rice, tickets on sale online and at market Saturday
The Royal City Farmers Market is holding its annual Fundraiser Dinner and Silent Auction on May 23.
This popular social event will be held at 6 p.m. at Wild Rice restaurant at River Market at the Quay in New Westminster.
This event provides opportunities to connect with the local community and raise money for a good cause.
Andrew Murray, president and founder of the market, attributes the success of the market to the loyal core of knowledgeable customers, amazing volunteers and good management.
He describes New Westminster as "a city with a small-town feel."
He adds "there is a growing local food movement. People get it, people understand it, what we're trying to accomplish."
Todd Bright, head chef and partner at Wild Rice, believes in using local suppliers even if they are more expensive, so working with the farmers' market is a good choice.
Bright says "we're all about promoting sustainable and local."
Bright's 15-year cooking career started when he was studying information technology at university in Australia, where he is from.
He found work at a Chinese restaurant washing dishes and cooking fried rice.
Bright says, "I was the only Caucasian guy in an entirely Cantonese-speaking kitchen."
He loved cooking, so he enrolled in a four-year culinary program. His travels brought him to Canada and he has been with Wild Rice for five years.
The ticket price of $25 will get you an entree and a drink, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the farmers' market.
The entrees, served in Chinese-style takeout containers, will allow people to walk around and mingle.
Bright says, "It's neat to have a fundraiser for a good cause and get local community members engaged with each other, and network and talk about these things that are important to the community."
Tickets for the fundraiser are available from the website or on May 4 at the Winter Market - inside the River Market, 810 Quayside Drive.
To pay for tickets at the door, reserve them by email [email protected].
The Royal City Farmers Market is a non-profit organization started in 2007.
It connects the community with local suppliers of produce, meat, bread, and dairy products, plus sets tables aside for local community organizations.
The Royal City Farmers Market summer season kicks off on Thursday, June 6th at Tipperary Park.
More information can be found online at www.rcfm.ca.
