Skip to content

Market goers ring in a new season

Bulkley Valley Farmers Market of the season was in full swing Saturday morning with vendors selling fresh produce and other goods.
21244smithersMayorMarket
Mayor Taylor Bachrach rings the market bell to kick off the first Bulkley Farmers Market of the year.

The first Bulkley Valley Farmers Market of the season was in full swing Saturday morning with a number of vendors selling fresh produce and other knickknacks as artisans begin another year of producing locally grown and locally owned goods.

“We’re all super exciting, a little bit cold today but we’re starting to see the fresh produce coming out we’ve got tomato plants at the market already and we still have some fall crops. So lots of greens, bedding plants and of course artisans,” said Bulkley Valley Farmers Market Vice-Presedent Kala Hooker.

In the past few years, the BV Farmers Market has grown by leaps and bounds. Now home to some 90 vendors from the valley, the market has quickly become one of the best in the North and possiblely one of the best in the province. And this season it’s business as usual.

“We’re just going to continue working on building our market and getting the word out,” Hooker explained. “We have over 90 vendors registered with BV Farmers Market and I would say today we have at least 25 vendors out.”

The market has everything you need, from an early morning cup-of-jo from Bugwood Bean, fresh organics from Health Hugs, or a three foot tomato plant ready for transplant into the garden. Whatever the need, the BV Farmers market has it.

This year the market association plans on more marketing and promotion to reach a wider demographic in town. There are regulars that travel from Hazelton and Terrace, however there are still lots here in the Valley that don’t know the value of homegrown commodities.

One way the BV Market is pursuing this is by having a local food day to promote all the great produce and nutritious food in the valley.

“We’re going to be doing a local food day at Muhime Elementary,” said Hooker. “We’re going to go help out at with their school garden. As well, we have a youth contest that’s going on. Kids who are interested in being a vendor can submit their marketing plan and we have a prize worth $205 which includes a booth rental and a cash reward.”

To find out more about the BV Farmers Market visit www.bvfarmersmarket.com and come celebrate Aboriginal Day June 23.

The Bulkley Valley Farmers Market is held every Saturday form 8-12 p.m. next to the Central Park Building in Smithers.