Royal City Farmers Market is ripe for change as it enters its seventh summer season.
The community is invited to attend the first summer market of the 2014 season on Thursday, June 5 from 3 to 7 p.m. in Tipperary Park. Market goers will find gourmet prepared foods, entertainment, crafts from local artisans, and locally grown and produced food and produce at the family friendly summer market that takes place in Tipprary Park every Thursday until Oct. 9.
“I really want folks to come and meet the farmers, meet the small scale producer,” said Melissa Maltais, the market’s operations manager. “I think that’s what the difference of shopping local at your farmers’ market is because the face of those products and those vegetables are right there. You look at farmers’ hands – they are caked with dirt, they have worked hard. They were up at four in the morning to pick those cucumbers and strawberries.”
This year’s summer market will feature 14 different farms, including some newcomers.
“We have a few more organic farms coming, which is very exciting for us,” Maltais said. “Farmers are something that are not as easy to get as people would assume for farmers’ markets because there are quite a few in the Lower Mainland. It’s a bit of a competition to see which markets get the best farmers. I think we have done a very good job this year of getting some really good farmers on board, as well as our returning farmers that we know and love. It’s going to be a nice mix of new faces and familiar faces.”
Earlier this year, the Royal City Farmers Market surveyed its shoppers to see what they thought was missing from the market. More organics, variety and seating were among the requests.
“We have a few different vendors, a few different food trucks coming this year. We have got quite a few who cater to gluten-free and vegan diets. We are trying to make sure we have one option at least for food trucks to cater to some specialty interests rather than the regular fare that we had before to make sure everyone is happy,” Maltais said. “We’ve got lots more seating because the venders are all chipping in to bring tables and chairs so people can sit and stay longer and enjoy the music.”
Market goers will have more choice when they attend the Royal City Farmers Market, Maltais said.
“Now we have two dairy vendors instead of one. We have a bit more options,” she said. “There were some calls for more variety. There are different vendors with the same products so people will have more to choose from, that kind of thing. We have really listened.”
Wine and beer are also expected to be among the offerings at this year’s Royal City Farmers Market. The province is expected to soon begin rolling out new liquor guidelines, which will make sales and sampling of beer and wine possible for July. People will be able to buy a bottle of wine to take home and enjoy with their food purchases.
“I was in Halifax last summer and their farmers’ markets already have beer and wine there,” Maltais said. “It’s not like a free-for-all beer garden. It’s very classy. The displays are always really nice. It’s a very casual atmosphere where wine or beer are concerned.”
In addition to Pacific Breeze Winery, Steel and Oak Brewing Co. and Four Winds Brewery have expressed interest in attending the market.
“We’ve got a nice mix of different beer and wine vendors that are going to come,” Maltais said. “I think it’s going to be a very different for us – but a good step.”
A mini farmers’ market will be a new feature in the children’s area at the market.
“They have got a little farmers’ markets stand of their own, they’ve got play fruits and vegetables to sell and barter between them, a little cash register,” Maltais said. “I did this at the Surrey Farmers’ Market last summer – it was adorable. You could hear the little kids in the play area going, ‘anybody want to buy some vegetables?’ It was so cute.”
With a ONE-prize grant courtesy of Donald’s Market and River Market, Royal City Farmers Market aims to improve opportunities for seniors to attend the market. It will use the money to provide a market shuttle program to help break down barriers for seniors who want to access fresh, local produce.
“Some of these farmers we have are young kids and they are just trying it out. People don’t farm to make money. They aren’t out there to make a million dollars. They are there because they love what they do, they love the land and they really want to feed people,” Maltais said. “I really want to impress upon our community that this is where you should buy your local produce because it’s really local.”
