Bringing a friend to any of B.C.’s famers’ markets – including New Westminster’s – could pay off this month.
Throughout July, anyone who has a plus one can be entered to win prizes and giveaways, including a trip for two to Sparkling Hill Resort in the Okanagan.
“It’s great that we have this awesome, loyal customer base, and I know that people go home and they talk about it, they share pictures of what they bought on Instagram and Twitter, but this campaign helps to take it one step further,” said Melissa Maltais, operations manager of Royal City Farmers Market.
The contest, dubbed “Meet My Market,” asks shoppers to visit the info booth at any farmers’ market and fill out a ballot. Those on social media can also enter by posting a photo with the hashtag #MeetMyMarket and tagging @BCFarmersMarket.
Maltais said New West residents are very good about posting pictures of their local finds.
“People share photos of the face painting of their kids, which is really cute, and they also show the haul they bring back from the market and dinners, too, which is really neat.”
The contest, organized by the B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets, in an extension of the “huge growth” farmers’ markets across the province have experienced over the last decade, according to BCAFM executive director Elizabeth Quinn.
She told the Record between 2006 and 2012, sales were up 147 per cent (about $170 million), with $1 million coming from New West in 2012.
“We thought, well what if we have a campaign to encourage to bring a friend and then we’re building on that momentum,” Quinn said.
This season, the Royal City Farmers Market stretches along the grassy area from Tipperary Park to Queen’s Avenue for the months of July and August, making it the “biggest one yet.” Maltais said the decision to expand has worked in their favour.
“A lot of people are coming, going, ‘Why hasn’t this been done before?’ It’s great because that area has also been quite shady, so we’ve been able to add a few vendors that have sensitive products that tend to melt in the sun,” she said.
Even though the New West market attracts around 1,500 people each time, Maltais said she’s definitely noticed a drop in foot traffic given the unusually-dry weather, especially seniors and families with children under five.
“We try to compensate by having lemonade and misters, but at the same time, I don’t want to jeopardize anyone’s well-being to come to the market, so I think the vendors all realize that weather is something that is always beyond our control,” she said.
The Royal City Farmers Market runs every Thursday until Oct. 8, from 3 to 7 p.m.
