Vancouver, BC

Shopping at Vancouver's Farmers' Markets

When given a choice to go shopping at your local farmers market or going to your standby grocery store, it's a no brainer! Call it one of those opportunities to dream about quiet pastoral days amongst rows of homegrown local product, supporting our local economy and teaching our children the importance of eating natural farm fresh produce.

Saturday morning and I am getting Bella ready to go to the Trout Lake Farmers Market, where we will pick up some fresh cut flowers for mommy, perhaps pick up fingerling potatoes from Helmer's who come down from Pemberton with a cache of various rainbow coloured nugget potatoes. Next we peruse the organic greens form Glorious Garnish and the co-op of farmers from the Fraser valley; depending on how far along in the season we are, there are new crops being supplied while others have stopped producing. There are many farmers here from the Okanagan, Lillooet, and Fraser Valley, and they make the trek each week. Our menu will reflect what is in season; today we are buying leeks, English peas, and a mixture of greens. Next we are off to the government wharf at Granville Island to pick up fresh spot prawns. Next week we will be back to find something new for dinner.

Markets we Frequent:

• Thursdays — Granville Island outside of public market — should be opening soon.
• Saturdays — Trout Lake Farmers Market — My personal favourite, just opened for the season.
• Granville Island Fisherman's Wharf at the Govt. Docks — Fresh Local seafood all summer — most afternoons from 1pm on or until all seafood is gone