Vancity and Vancity Community Foundation support farmer's markets

Vancity and Vancity Community Foundation support Artisan Farmer's Market Society

The Artisan Farmers’ Market Society provides support for farmers and artisans to grow and sell food and crafted goods locally, which improves the economic stability of the community. In 2011 The Artisan Farmers’ Market Society hosted over 80 vendors. Each week, its three markets had more than 2000 customers who spent over $7,000 and generated an additional $2000 in economic impact for local businesses. The impact on the BC economy as a whole is even greater, as vendors support local BC businesses when purchasing supplies.

The Artisan Farmers’ Market Society was a perfect fit for Vancity’s enviroFund™ Growing Farmers’ Markets program. Vancity awarded the Society a grant to train new market managers, expand its volunteer program, promote the markets, create and implement an emergency preparedness program, and create a partnership with the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Market manager Lyn Hainstock says, “Vancity has stepped up and put family farms first by helping farmer’s markets grow capacity, increase customer awareness and encourage people to buy local BC products directly from producers. Thank you, Vancity, for caring about family-owned farms and businesses."

Between 2007 and 2012 Vancity and the Vancity Community Foundation supported farmer’s markets in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley with over $150,000 in community project grants, $344,000 in enviroFund™ grants and $100,000 in mission-based grants.

We want farmer’s markets to achieve long-term financial sustainability. They support local farmers and our local food system, which contribute to our community’s health and economic well-being.