enviroFund™ Putting Money To Good With A $250,000 Boost To Farmers’ Markets Throughout The Region
enviroFund™ Putting Money To Good With A $250,000 Boost To Farmers’ Markets Throughout The Region
“Our cardholders make it possible to provide funding to the local farmers’ markets by choosing to use their enviro Visa card when making daily purchases,’ says Jean-Marc Handfield, Vice President Payment Solutions and Member Services Centre. “This initiative is a great example of our philosophy of working together with our members to help build sustainable communities that can prosper and thrive.”
Elizabeth Quinn, Executive Director of the BC Association of Farmers' Markets says the funding will be great for all the farmers' markets in the region. “Strong vibrant markets really support farmers in offering fresh local food. Eating locally grown food also encourages the use of local farmland, and keeps the money in the region supporting the local economy," says Quinn.
In addition to the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, others benefiting a financial boost from the enviroFund™ this year include:
- Abbotsford Farm & Country Market
- Agassiz Farm Fresh Market
- Artisan Farmers Market – Burnaby, N. Vancouver & W. Vancouver
- Canadian Organic Growers - Island Natural Growers – Salt Spring Island
- Coquitlam's Farmers Market
- Fairfield Community Market Society
- Langley Community Farmers Market
- Mission City Farmers Market
- North Saanich Food for Future Society
- Oaklands Community Association - Victoria
- Royal City Farmers Market – New Westminster
- Squamish Farmers Market
- Surrey Urban Farmers Market
- UBC Farm Centre for Sustainable Food Systems
- Oak Street Farmers Market in Vancouver
- Your Local Farmers Market Society Vancouver
- Haney Farmers Market Society
- White Rock Farmers Market
- Chilliwack Farmer Market
- Pemberton Farmers Market
- Whistler Farmers Market Society
Since 2007 Vancity and the Vancity Community Foundation have supported farmer’s markets in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley by providing nearly $600,000 towards initiatives that support expansion, marketing, linking chefs with farmers, helping the Vancouver Farmers’ Market Society become a permanent fixture in local neighbourhoods and supporting the creation of the New City Market, a year-round facility in Vancouver that will support the sustainability of local farms.
Did you know?
- Fresh produce sold at BC farmers' markets travels less than 300 km to get to the consumer. Compare this to the average North American meal, which travels 2,400 km to get from field to plate and contains ingredients from five countries in addition to our own. All the transportation results in a lot of fossil fuels being burned which contributes to air pollution, acid rain and climate change.
- Over 75 per cent of farmers selling at farmer’s markets are certified organic or use natural methods of farming.
- 25 per cent of farmers have been farming for less than five years.
- Over the summer Vancity will be giving away 15,000 vouchers valued at $5 at various Vancity community events which can be redeemed at farmer’s markets to support the purchase of local, natural and organic food.
Editors: *Photo opportunity available at Main St. Station farmers' market located at Terminal and Main Street 3 to 7 pm on Wednesdays.
About Vancity
Since 1990, the enviroFund™ has distributed almost $4 million to 152 community projects.
At Vancity we make good money by putting money to good. Vancity’s vision of redefining wealth incorporates personal and community well-being. Vancity has distributed $221 million to members through dividends and to communities through grants and community investment initiatives since 1994. We are a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values—a network of the world’s leading sustainable banks sharing the commitment to achieving triple-bottom-line impact through responsible banking practices. A Living Wage employer, Vancity is Canada’s largest community credit union, with $16.1 billion in assets, more than 479,500 members and 59 branches throughout Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and Squamish.
Media contact
Lorraine Wilson
Cell: 778.837.0394