Historic bylaw changes for Vancouver Farmers Markets

New Farmers Markets - Coming Soon to a Community Near You!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vancouver, BC July 23, 2010
Vancouver City Council has unanimously approved bylaw and zoning amendments that pave the way for more farmers markets to operate throughout the city. Vancouverites will soon see larger markets and will find it easier to locate farmers markets with official city signage.

"This is an historic moment for the City of Vancouver which has not had truly legitimate farmers markets since the early 1900's - and it's great for our organization," explains Tara McDonald, Executive Director of the Vancouver Farmers Markets. "We've had farmers on waiting lists for years now, with nowhere to put them. With the new by-law changes we can now start looking into opening new markets in new neighbourhoods which have been requesting farmers markets."

Other key changes that city staff outlined in the Farmers‘ Market By-law Amendments and Interim Actions Report are reducing permit fees, streamlining the application process for setting up a market, and allowing farmers markets to operate on private land.

"Now there will be more coordination between the 6 or 8 different city departments involved in creating permits for weekly farmers markets," explains McDonald, "and our organization won't need to pay staff to put up and take down a thousand or so signs every year. The money can now go towards developing new and better markets."

During the public debate over the report on July 20, 2010 at city hall, several interest groups requested that city staff change the report's formal definition of a farmers market to state that vendors be producers. Council approved the definition change.

Chris Bodnar from Glen Valley Organic Farm, who was at the public hearing, explains why this is important.

"It is imperative that those selling at the market be connected to the farm they represent," said farmer. "Otherwise there would be nothing stopping someone from buying fruit and veggies at a wholesaler and selling them at a market."

Vancouver's new bylaw amendments bode well for a city destined to become the world's greenest city, says McDonald. "A hallmark of the world's great cities are great farmers markets, where generations of farmers have fed tens of thousands of citizens for centuries. As Vancouver strives to become the world's "greenest city," strong, viable farmers markets are a vital part of a robust local food system and healthier neighbourhoods. These bylaw and zoning amendments and guidelines will help current farmers markets improve and allow new markets to develop across Vancouver."

McDonald adds, "The vendors, staff, board of directors and volunteers of the Vancouver Farmers Markets are very grateful for the hard work city staff have put into developing and bringing these bylaw amendments forward. We'd also like to thank city council for its unanimous support and leadership in creating a farmer-friendly city."