The annual BC Farmers’ Market Awards recognizes outstanding farmers’ markets, vendors, partners, volunteers and municipalities that are exemplary in adding value to their communities and the BC farmers’ market sector.
Does your local farmers’ market go above and beyond? Does your farmers’ market manager champion local agriculture, foster community connections, or provide outstanding service?
This is your chance to recognize their efforts for the 2024 summer season!
The award winners will be announced during the BC Farmers’ Markets Awards Ceremony & AGM on March 4, 2025.
Not sure who is a BC Farmers’ Market Member? Check out our directory HERE.
Most Outstanding Community Impact – Farmers’ Market
Recognize an outstanding farmers’ markets that is exemplary in adding value to their communities and connecting local food, farmer and artisans vendors to consumers through fresh and prepared foods, and artisan products.
Click here to nominate in this category.
3 Award Categories:
- Small Market: 7 – 20 vendors per week on average
- Medium Market: 21 – 60 vendors per week on average
- Large Market: 61+ vendors per week on average
Who is Eligible?
All BC Farmers’ Markets members in good standing. Nominees are not eligible to win the same award two years in a row.
Last year’s winners:
Small: Ashcroft Farmers’ Market
Medium: Esquimalt Farmers’ Market
Large: Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market
Qualities of Outstanding Community Impact:
- The market is an integral part of its community and brings together local food, farmer, and artisans vendors, and community members in innovative ways, facilitating strong sales for farmers/vendors through creative special events and educational programming that celebrate and promote fresh foods, prepared foods, and artisan products.
- The market demonstrates a commitment to the BCAFM make, bake, grow philosophy.
- The market promotes, supports and advocates for farmers’ markets, small farms, local, sustainable agriculture, artisans, and programs that strive to link diverse consumers of all economic levels in their community with fresh, local food.
Selection Process:
Nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ markets collaborators.
Who May Nominate:
Nominations may be submitted by the public, vendors, or the farmers’ market itself.
Nomination Deadline:
Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
Most Outstanding Community Impact – Market Manager
Recognize an outstanding farmers’ market manager for their work and accomplishments in their role.
Click here to nominate in this category.
Who is Eligible?
Market managers of BC Farmers’ Markets member markets. Nominees are not eligible to win the same award two years in a row.
Last year’s winner: Launie Elves – Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market
Criteria for Selection:
Market manager nominations will be reviewed for the following:
- Exemplifies the highest level of achievement in connecting farmers, vendors and community members by creating and maintaining a safe market atmosphere that celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of the community and the bounty of its fresh, locally grown food, and artisan products
- Demonstrates a commitment to the BC Farmers’ Markets make, bake, grow philosophy
- Exemplifies sound and innovative business and people management practices; seeks out and develops strong community partnerships that are mutually beneficial
- Represents leadership in the farmers’ market sector in British Columbia and actively works to promote and support sustainable agriculture, small farms and farmers, and small business and entrepreneurs through farmers’ markets
Selection Process:
Nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ market collaborators.
Who May Nominate:
Nominations may be submitted by BC Farmers’ Markets members, other vendors, or the public.
Nomination Deadline:
Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 11:59pm.
Most Outstanding Community Impact – Farm Vendor
Recognize an outstanding farm vendor for their work and accomplishments related to the farmers’ markets in which they participate.
Click here to nominate in this category.
Who is Eligible?
Vendors who sell at a BC Farmer’s Markets member market. Nominees are not eligible to win the same award two years in a row.
Last year’s winner: There & Back Again Farms
Criteria for Selection
Vendor nominations will be reviewed for the following criteria:
- Demonstrates a strong connection with market-goers and community members
- Provides excellent customer service
- Actively promotes the benefits of fresh, locally grown food or artisan products
- Demonstrates the BC Farmers’ Markets make, bake, grow philosophy
- Serves as a leader and role model at farmers’ markets
- Continually seeks to gain knowledge, adapt to the changing marketplace and apply innovative techniques in their respective areas of farming, food production, or craftsmanship
- Demonstrates success and growth in their farmers’ market sales or business
Selection Process:
Nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ market collaborators.
Who May Nominate:
Nominations may be submitted by BC Farmers’ Markets members, other vendors, or the public.
Nomination Deadline:
Sunday December 15th, 2024 at 11:59pm.
Most Outstanding Community Impact – Non-Farm Vendor
Recognize an outstanding vendor for their work and accomplishments related to the farmers’ markets in which they participate.
Click here to nominate in this category.
Who is Eligible?
Vendors who sell at a BC Farmer’s Markets member market. Nominees are not eligible to win the same award two years in a row.
Last year’s winner: The Drift Meat & Seafood
Criteria for Selection
Vendor nominations will be reviewed for the following criteria:
- Demonstrates a strong connection with market-goers and community members
- Provides excellent customer service
- Actively promotes the benefits of fresh, locally grown food or artisan products
- Demonstrates the BC Farmers’ Markets make, bake, grow philosophy
- Serves as a leader and role model at farmers’ markets
- Continually seeks to gain knowledge, adapt to the changing marketplace and apply innovative techniques in their respective areas of farming, food production, or craftsmanship
- Demonstrates success and growth in their farmers’ market sales or business
Selection Process:
Nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ market collaborators.
Who May Nominate:
Nominations may be submitted by BC Farmers’ Markets members, other vendors, or the public.
Nomination Deadline:
Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
Best Contribution to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Farmers’ Market
Recognize a BC Farmers’ Markets member with outstanding contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion within their markets and communities.
Click here to nominate in this category.
Who is Eligible?
BC Farmers’ Markets member farmers’ markets. Nominees are not eligible to win the same award two years in a row.
Last year’s winner: Cranbrook Farmers’ Market
Criteria for Selection:
Farmers’ Markets will be reviewed for the following:
- The farmers’ market’s commitment to the focus area of the award
- How the farmers’ market has positively contributed to the focus area of the award
- How the farmers’ market’s contributions had a positive impact on others (particularly with the focus area of the award)
- How the farmers’ market’s contributions may be creative and/or unique
- How the farmers’ market’s contributions may have inspired others or their organization to take action
Selection Process:
Nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ market collaborators.
Who May Nominate:
Nominations may be submitted by BC Farmers’ Markets members, the public, vendors, or the farmers’ market itself.
Nomination Deadline:
Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 11:59pm.
Best Contribution to Youth Engagement
Recognize a BC Farmers’ Markets farmers’ market member with outstanding contributions to youth engagement in their community.
Click here to nominate in this category.
Who is Eligible?
BC Farmers’ Markets farmers’ market members. Nominees are not eligible to win the same award two years in a row.
Last year’s winner: Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market
Criteria for Selection:
Farmers’ Markets will be reviewed for the following:
- The farmers’ market’s commitment to the focus area of the award
- How the farmers’ market has positively contributed to the focus area of the award
- How the farmers’ market’s contributions had a positive impact on others (particularly with the focus area of the award)
- How the farmers’ market’s contributions may be creative and/or unique
- How the farmers’ market’s contributions may have inspired others or their organization to take action
Selection Process:
Nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ market collaborators.
Who May Nominate:
Nominations may be submitted by BC Farmers’ Market farmers’ market members, the public, vendors, or the farmers’ market itself.
Nomination Deadline:
Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 11:59pm.
Helen Fathers Partner of the Year Award
Recognize an outstanding municipality or community organization for their contributions and support of BC farmers’ markets.
Click here to nominate in this category. *Nominations in this category must be submitted by a BC Farmer’s Market member market or FMNCP Community Partner.
Who is Eligible?
Municipalities or community organizations whose work supports or improves a BC Farmers’ Markets member market, or the BC farmers’ market sector as a whole. Nominees are not eligible to win the same award two years in a row.
Last year’s winner: L.I.N.C. Society
Criteria for Selection:
The municipality or community organization has demonstrated commitment and action to improving or supporting a BC Farmers’ Markets member market or the BC farmers’ market sector.
Selection Process:
Nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ markets collaborators.
Who May Nominate:
Nominations will be accepted from BC Farmers’ Market member markets or FMNCP Community Partner.
Deadline to Nominate:
Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 11:59pm.
It is with great honour that we would like to recognize one of our own, Helen Fathers, by naming this award after her.
With her unforgettable smile, vivacious spirit along with great wit and warmth, Helen was a great friend and supportive colleague and board member to many of us at BC Farmers’ Markets over the years. All of us looked forward to seeing Helen each year during our annual BCAFM conference where she always brought great enthusiasm and energy, along with much support for the work of BC Farmers’ Markets. Helen was also a wonderful mentor to many farmers’ market organizers across BC. Of the many legacies Helen leaves behind, her work alongside White Rock City Council begun in 2020 to establish farmers’ markets as essential services in emergencies, which was recently resolved and accepted by UBCM in 2021, will live on forever.
Volunteer of the Year
Recognize an outstanding individual for their work and accomplishments related to their volunteer work with a BC Farmers’ Markets member market.
Click here to nominate in this category. *Nominations in this category must be submitted by the BC Farmers’ Market member that the individual volunteers at.
Who is Eligible?
Individuals who volunteer with their BC farmers’ market. Nominees are not eligible to win the same award two years in a row.
Last year’s winner: Mya Robertson – Comox Valley Farmers’ Market
Criteria for Selection:
- Volunteer is reliable, hard working, dedicated, and invested in strengthening BC farmers’ markets
- Individual has volunteered a minimum of 20 hours with their farmers’ market
Selection Process:
Nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ markets collaborators.
Who May Nominate:
Nominations will be accepted from the BC Farmers’ Market member market at which the individual volunteers.
Deadline to Nominate:
Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
Best Live Entertainment at the BC Farmers’ Markets
Recognize an outstanding entertainer for their talent and enthusiasm when performing at BC Farmers’ Markets member markets.
Click here to nominate in this category.
Who is Eligible?
Musicians and entertainers who perform at BC Farmers’ Markets member markets.
Criteria for Selection
Musicians and entertainers will be reviewed for the following criteria:
- Quality of Performance: technical ability and overall sound quality, including vocal/instrumental skills, rhythm, and harmony.
- Crowd Interaction: How well the performer engages with the audience; including creating a welcoming atmosphere, encouraging audience participation, and adjusting performance based on the crowd’s energy.
- Style: The performer should have a distinctive style that sets them apart, whether through musical arrangement, stage presence, or personal flair.
Selection Process:
Nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ market collaborators.
Who May Nominate:
Nominations may be submitted by BC Farmers’ Markets member markets, vendors, or the public.
Nomination Deadline:
Sunday, December 15th, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
Nominations close on December 15, 2024 at 11:59pm, so make sure you have submitted yours before the deadline!
After submissions close, nominees will be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ market collaborators.
The top three submissions in each category will be announced on January 23, 2025.
The top three submissions in each category will again be evaluated by a panel of BC farmers’ market collaborators.
The award winners in each category will be announced during the BC Farmers’ Market Awards Ceremony & AGM on March 4, 2025!