Farmer’s Market on the move

The Saturday morning trips to the Farmer’s Market in Prince George will now be a little different.

The Farmer’s Market will be the same, it just won’t be on the steps of the provincial courthouse.

At a recent special meeting the members have decided to unite the market and to set up at a single location only. The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of moving all vendors to the year-round location at Sixth Avenue. After losing the indoor location in the former Morrison building, some seasonal vendors have set up at the courthouse location while the year-round vendors moved into the city-owned green building behind the Keg on Sixth Avenue for the past two years.

When Third Avenue was closed due to court proceedings, seasonal vendors who used to set up at the courthouse moved to the year-round location on Sixth Avenue for that Saturday and market visitors and customers were unanimous in their opinions: The Sixth Avenue location is the preferred one.

The board of directors have yet to set the date for the official move as they are working with various agencies to ensure the interests of Prince George Farmer’s Market Association vendors are protected for the long term. Customers are asked to be patient while the merging of vendors is being organized and check the market’s Facebook page (PG Farmers’ Market) and the website at www.farmersmarketpg.ca for information updates.

The market will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year and its membership, counting more than 100, draws about 2,000 visitors to downtown on a Saturday adding about $ 1.4 million annually (BCAFM Market Benefits Assessment Report) to the local economy and provides local products ranging from several types of meats including bison, grass fed beef and local bacon and sausages to freshly made pasta, a huge selection of fresh vegetables, perogies, prepared foods, jams & jellies, fair trade coffee, baked goods and an amazing variety of crafts and arts.

The Market is open every Saturday, year-round from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the year-round location on Sixth Avenue behind the Keg Restaurant.