BC Farmers' Market Awards
From left to right Tara Immell, Clarence Selden, Farmers’ Market Volunteer of the Year, Leanna Mehma, Gina Ironmonger, Rob Ironmonger winners of Small Farmers' Market of the Year Trail’s IncrEDIBLE
With spring just around the corner, the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM) celebrated the best of BC with its sixth annual BC Farmers’ Market Awards.
Markets in Esquimalt, Pemberton and Trail topped the awards, winning in their categories for Farmers’ Market of the Year.
“The award winners are perfect examples of the high standards to which farmers’ markets, market vendors, volunteers and managers hold themselves,” said awards judge, Bruce Fatkin. “Each has excelled at product innovation and quality, market citizenship, promoting farmers’ markets in their communities or giving to their communities in some way.”
A panel of leading professionals in the sector, including Jon Bell, farmer and former BCAFM president; Elizabeth Quinn, former BCAFM executive director; and Bruce Fatkin, former Abbotsford Farm and Craft Market manager and BCAFM board member. The judges selected the following as the best of BC farmers’ markets in 2018, from nominations received throughout the province:
- Farmers’ Market of the Year (Large, 61+ vendors): Esquimalt Farmers Market
- Farmers’ Market of the Year (Medium, 21-60 vendors): Pemberton Farmers’ Market
- Farmers’ Market of the Year (Small, up to 20 vendors): Trail’s IncrEDIBLE Farmer’s Market
- Farmers’ Market Manager of the Year: Miche Warwick (Rossland Mountain Market)
- Farmers’ Market Vendor of the Year (farmer): Forbes Farm (Gord and Steve Forbes, Kelowna and Penticton Farmers’ Markets )
- Farmers’ Market Vendor of the Year (non-farmer): Blackbird Bakehouse (Tanya Molle, Cranbrook, Fernie and Kimberley markets)
- Farmers’ Market Volunteer of the Year: Clarence Selden and Dion Langevin (Cranbrook Farmer’s Market)
- Partner of the Year: Kyle Goulet and Moss Street Market (Victoria)
Now in their sixth year, the BC Farmers’ Market Awards recognize the work of all those involved with making farmers’ markets thrive as venues where communities, farmers and artisans can come together to celebrate locally grown and made items. “When reviewing the candidates for the awards, I was reminded of the enthusiasm and good-will evident among farmers' markets managers, vendors, customers and volunteers. It's like a world unto itself that only those that are actively participating in the farmers' market movement can truly appreciate. I found the process of choosing the winners uplifting,” said Quinn.
The Esquimalt Farmers Market won in the large market category and was recognized for its creative and innovative work, including initiatives to achieve a waste-free farmers’ market and the collection of food donations for community members in need.
