Powell River’s Open Air Farmers’ Market opens for the season on Saturday, April 27, providing locals with fresh produce in a vibrant social setting within the forested Paradise Valley Exhibition grounds.
In celebration of Earth Day earlier in the week, opening day has an added incentive for people to attend the market. Western Forest Products is supplying tree saplings to every attendee to be planted anywhere they choose.
The market will be open until October, with hours 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays and 12:30 to 2:30 pm on Sundays. There are 36 vendor booths, a newly renovated kitchen facility and a cedar shake bandshell. There is running water, electricity and washrooms onsite, and parking is available free of charge.
“The highly successful Winter Market that has been taking place at the Community Resource Centre on Joyce Avenue will be migrating its vendors up to the Open Air Market for the warmer months,” said market manager Jesse Black. “There will be additional vendors and some brand new ones this season.”
Over the years the market has responded to feedback and expanded its product base. The market is proud to offer a wide variety of local fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, bedding plants, cut flowers, hot food, country baking, candy, honey, teas, soaps, knits, woodcrafts, ceramics and more.
“In addition to a marketplace that appeals to your shopping needs, the farmers’ market also offers an excellent weekly family outing,” suggested Black. There is an extensive children’s play area with a sandbox, toys and a swing.
Children are also invited to participate in Kids’ Market Days every Sunday. Children are welcome to set up a blanket to display items that they wish to trade or sell. “They may bring arts and crafts, toys, books, games and more, but no food items, please,” added Black.
Kids’ Market Days are always free of charge, making it easy for children to just show up and find a spot in the field.
Another lively feature of the market is the open-mic stage. “The stage provides wonderful music and entertainment, as well as an opportunity to get up and share your talents,” said Black. There is a sign-up board beside the stage and sign-up begins 15 minutes before the market opens.
New this year at the market grounds is the highly anticipated miniature train. Volunteers from Powell River Forestry Museum Society have been working hard all winter to expand the track and construct an onsite storage facility for the train, which means that train rides will be available more frequently for market goers.
“The train will be running on opening day, as well as at all special events,” said Black. “If the volunteer power is available, the train will run every weekend at the farmers’ market.” If the weather permits and riders are interested, society members plan to operate the train each Sunday, starting May 5.
As a member of the British Columbia Association of Farmers’ Markets, the market adheres to the association’s primary guideline, the make/bake/grow/raise policy. All products sold at the market must be made, baked, grown or raised within the Powell River Regional District.
The market has capacity for growth and is open to applications from new vendors who provide complementary products to the current selection. Black is especially interested in incorporating new vendors who offer produce, meat/seafood, cheese/dairy, mushrooms, prepared food, whole grains/flour, nursery products, and service vendors such as knife sharpening, bicycle repairs, et cetera.
For farmers and consumers alike, the market is a social place to celebrate food, sustainability and a healthy lifestyle.
For more information, readers can contact Black at [email protected] or 604.344.0021.
