About

What is the BC Farmers’ Market Trail?

Wherever you are in the province, the BC Farmers’ Market Trail is your quickest route to fresh, local, in-season food and artisan goods direct from the people who produce them.

The BC Farmers’ Market Trail showcases 145+ authentic BCAFM member farmers’ markets across the province. Each of these markets is dedicated to hosting vendors who grow, make, bake or raise the products they sell.

This year we are highlighting farmers’ markets in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Northern BC, Sunshine Coast, Kootenay Rockies & Columbia Basin, and Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands. Explore these diverse regions of BC, and learn about the passionate growers, makers and bakers you’ll find at farmers’ markets along this Trail. Stay tuned as the BC Farmers’ Market Trail expands to showcase more unique regions!

PRODUCED BY

BC Association of Farmers' Markets

The BC Farmers’ Market Trail is an initiative of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, a non-profit that exists to support and promote its 145+ member farmers’ markets so local food continues to thrive.

We are committed to developing and strengthening farmers’ markets in all regions of British Columbia. Our key focus areas are:

  • Providing education and training to market boards, managers and vendors;
  • Promoting farmers’ markets to the public and key industry stakeholders;
  • Educating the public to choose healthy BC grown agricultural products to ensure a secure food system, to reduce the carbon footprint and to ensure the viability of farming into the future;
  • Conducting research and development activities;
  • Delivering a unified industry voice for all BC farmers’ markets.

SUPPORTED BY

Destination BC

Destination British Columbia is an industry-led Crown corporation that works collaboratively with tourism stakeholders across the province to coordinate marketing at the international, provincial, regional and local levels.

Columbia Basin Trust

Columbia Basin Trust supports the ideas and efforts of the people in the Columbia Basin.

They take their lead from residents and communities. Whatever the situation calls for, they adapt their role: from providing resources, to bringing people together, to leading an entire initiative. The Trust is here to offer experience and support to all Basin residents.

While their range of services, programs, initiatives and financial investments is extensive, their purpose is straightforward: we exist and act for the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Basin—now and for generations to come.

Kootenay Rockies Tourism

The Birthplace of Adventure—in the southeast corner of BC, the jagged peaks of the Rockies rise in parallel with those of the Purcell, Selkirk and Monashee ranges. In between are valleys, rivers and lakes that have enabled human existence for thousands of years. With incomparable scenic beauty around every turn, this is British Columbia’s Mountain Playground.

In the midst of this monumental landscape, geography, geology and history have conspired to create utterly charming Victorian small towns. Visitors come to the Kootenay Rockies for a rich palette of recreational summer activities that includes world-class hiking, biking, climbing, river rafting, paragliding, canoeing, wildlife viewing and golfing. Discover more with Kootenay Rockies Tourism.

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Marketing Association

Stretching across central British Columbia from the Rocky and Cariboo Mountains west to the Great Bear Rainforest of the wild Pacific Coast is a “land without limits”. The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region is renowned for its natural beauty, history, culture and boundless outdoor opportunities and is comprised of three distinct regions each with their own individual personality. The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Marketing Association (CCCTMA) engages with numerous organizations, levels of government, stakeholders and the public to ensure sustainable and strategic development of tourism within our region. Better yet – we are able to share the home we love, every day.

Island Coastal Economic Trust

Created and capitalized by the Province of British Columbia, the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) has been at the forefront of economic diversification, planning and regional revitalization in the Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast region for the past twelve years. ICET makes strategic investments in key economic sectors, leveraging new funding and investment to the region, improving community economic development readiness and fostering regional collaboration and planning.

ICET is independently governed by a Board of Directors and two Regional Advisory Committees which include more than 50 locally elected officials, MLAs and appointees from the Island and Coast region. This exceptional team of leaders collaborate to set regional priorities and build vital multi-regional networks.

Through a community centered decision-making process, ICET has approved more than $50 million in funding for over 200 economic infrastructure and economic development readiness projects. These investments have leveraged over $270 million in new investment into the region creating more than 2500 construction phase jobs and 2600 long term permanent jobs.

Northern Development Initiative Trust

Northern Development Initiative Trust works with communities, First Nations, local government and businesses to build a stronger north by investing in economic development in central and northern British Columbia. Northern Development operates independently from government and provides the funding and ability to identify and pursue new opportunities for stimulating economic growth and job creation within the region.

Sunshine Coast Tourism

Sunshine Coast Tourism is the official destination marketing organization for the Sunshine Coast.

Tourism Vancouver Island

The largest island on the west coast of North America, the Vancouver Island region, which encompasses the stunning Gulf Islands, has been a global destination for hundreds of years. The local Indigenous people were the first to discover the wealth of fresh water, abundance of food, natural beauty, and temperate climate, and their ancestral homesites can still be seen today.

You don’t have to be a foodie to love the flavours of the Vancouver Island region, but if food and drink are your elements, you won’t be disappointed.

Fresh water, fresh air, fresh tastes, and fresh ideas: on Vancouver Island, there’s an experience for everyone. Discover more with Tourism Vancouver Island.

Buy BC

Buy BC is a Ministry of Agriculture initiative that helps local producers and processors market their products by re-establishing a strong, recognizable Buy BC brand and supporting industry-led marketing activities.

The BC Farmers’ Market Trail and BC Association of Farmers’ Markets is a recognized Buy BC partner.

Put your region and market on the map!

Join the BC Farmers’ Market Trail, a collaborative initiative of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets. The Trail makes it easy for tourists and locals to find fresh, local, in-season food and artisan goods at the farmers’ market in your community.

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (FMNCP) provides an opportunity for 10,000+ lower income families, pregnant women and seniors to buy fresh, local, food direct from BC farmers at markets across the province.

Over 60 farmers’ markets and 100 community partners currently participate in the Program, which is delivered by the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets.

This innovative healthy eating program strengthens food security and directly supports farmers’ markets and 900+ farmers across BC. To learn more or make a donation visit www.bcfarmersmarket.org/coupon-program/about-program.

Adrian Wagner, Nelson Farmers' Market