This summer鈥檚 extended heat and dryness made it tough for farmers, but those involved in the 91原创 Community Farmers鈥� Market are expanding the market to cater to more members of the public.
Weather was a factor throughout the farmers market season which here runs May to October at 91原创鈥檚 Kwantlen Polytechnic University campus. The final market of the season was Oct. 4.
鈥淎cross the province, the farmers markets got a little bit of a slow start which kind of petered into the whole season,鈥� said market manager Cherise McGee. 鈥淏ut overall it鈥檚 been really good. Even with the weather not on the farmers鈥� side we鈥檝e had a really good season.鈥�
Glen Valley Artichoke Farms has been bringing its mix of produce to the market for about five years.
They go to other, bigger farmers markets in Vancouver but want to support the local market.
鈥淲e鈥檝e built up a clientele,鈥� said owner Donna Plough about what keeps the farm coming back. 鈥淚 get in trouble if I鈥檓 not here,鈥� she added with a chuckle.
Most of items on her tables are vegetables, including the farm鈥檚 namesake artichokes and even artichoke blossoms with their softball-sized spiky flower heads that look like something from another planet.
While the hot, dry summer has been good for some produce, it wasn鈥檛 for artichokes.
鈥淭hey flower too fast鈥� in the heat,鈥� Plough explained.
Across B.C., farmers markets have reporting weather related problems.
The 91原创 market has settled into its Wednesday 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. pattern for a few seasons after switching around days and hours of operation. It鈥檚 found its niche.
鈥淲e definitely have our regulars, people that come every week, because they want to see certain vendors,鈥� marketing manager Kirsten Day said.
She and McGee are the only staff. There鈥檚 also a pool of about 10 volunteers and each market typically has six volunteers helping.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the people coming out that make it run and the great group of volunteers. We couldn鈥檛 do it without them,鈥� Day said.
The local market has introduced ways to broaden the market鈥檚 appeal such live entertainment and food trucks.
The farmers market also has its own currency so that each vendor does not have to go to the expense of setting up electronic payment systems. People can buy the wooden currency from the information booth at the market and spend it like cash.
The market also tracks as much data as it can.
鈥淲e do vendor counts every half an hour with a little clicker. Our volunteers go around and count the amount of shoppers, and we record that every week,鈥� McGee explained.
That鈥檚 how they know that attendance was on par with last year. Typically the 91原创 market has seen growth every year over the past nine seasons.
鈥淸The numbers] are about the same as they were last year, but every year we鈥檝e seen substantial growth and that growth was pretty much flat this year, not decreased, just not the usual pick up,鈥� McGee said. 鈥淚 believe directly related to the weather. That goes across all markets in the province.鈥�
MORE MARKETS
This year鈥檚 season is not stopping the market organizers from building on several years of history with a second summer market starting in 2018.
鈥淚t鈥檚 our 10-year anniversary next season and we鈥檙e going to be introducing a second market Saturdays,鈥� McGee noted.
It will be a different location, closer to the downtown core to attract those who have not been able to attend the Wednesday market.
鈥淲e have a really specific crowd that comes to this market Wednesdays,鈥� said McGee. 鈥淲e want to tap into all the other folks that want to be here but are working. We鈥檙e going to expand for our 10th year. It will be a different vibe.鈥�
HO, HO, HO
The change of seasons usually means farmers markets close up for several months but the 91原创 Community Farmers Market is adding a Winter Market starting Nov. 4. After that, they are on the second Saturday of the month until April.
The monthly markets will still be at the KPU 91原创 campus but have both indoor and outdoor vendors.
鈥淚t will be little bit more craft and prepared food focused, explained McGee.
To try and include more farmers, not just artisans and food makers, the market is looking at what sorts of marketable produce can be grown at other times of the year.
鈥淲e鈥檙e encouraging farmers to start experimenting more with winter growing, so that hopefully that creates a cycle for seasons to come,鈥� McGee said.
Since the markets will be one each month, there鈥檚 more time in between for planning, and McGee said the markets will be themed based on the significant holiday of each month. Expect Santa Claus at the December market and lots of hearts in February.
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