Market Matters
Spring 2009 Vol.9
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Market Matters |
Spring 2009 Vol.9 |
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President's ReportI think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and
joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth? 
It's SPRING! As BCAFM moves into its 10th year I am encouraged by the springing forth of new energy. In March the event organizers delivered a great conference under the leadership of Tabitha McLoughlin. Working with BC AgriTourism Association and Small Scale Food Processor Association was a great partnership. BCAFM acted as the catalyst to bring likeminded Associations together for the purposes of better meeting the needs of our membership and to use our limited resources more cost-effectively. On April 20/21, the Board of Directors came together in a retreat. It was an intense two days filled with review, visioning and action plans designed to move your Association forward. We've committed to adopting stronger business approach and becoming more strategic in our activities. I am excited to welcome to our board members Bob Callioux (Manager, Kelowna Farmers' & Crafters' Market), Patrick Demers (Maples Sugar Shack, vendor at many markets) and Werner Hupfauer (Director and vendor at Sorrento Farmers' Market). We welcomed the input from Donna Anaka (Government Liaison) and Elizabeth Quinn (Manager) to the Association. Their input and enthusiasm for BCAFM is welcomed. I want to thank Bruce Fatkin for the past two years that he served on the board. Bruce will be missed. Also, I wish to thank Dolores Gottenberg who left our board in earlier in 2008. Each of these individuals performed the job of Treasurer at different times over the past two years. As the BCAFM moves into Spring there is a sense of great renewal. On our farms, we are planting and the buds on our plants are appearing and growing. In our Province, a new government will soon be elected. I urge you to speak with your local MLA after the election and remind them that British Columbia's farmers' markets are an important part of BC agriculture and the local economy. Did you know that the economic impact of farmers' markets in British Columbia is over $118.5 million and nationally it is $3.09 billion! So, please remind you local MLA's to support BC's farmers' markets. Let's get the word out about the economic value of this sector and its importance to our economy. It's our time to thrive! Happy selling!
Manager's Report
The Association is busier than anyone could imagine. The conference, membership renewals, and emails and phone calls have given me a tangible experience of working with all of you and meeting such a wonderful group of passionate people. A big thank you to our Board's Secretary, Tabitha Mcloughlin, Coquitlam Farmers' Market Manager for delivering a first class conference that continues to create a lot of "buzz" in our industry circles. All of us are looking forward to another first class conference in 2010. With 85 members markets, 77 being full voting members, and new applications arriving daily the association will be a strong voice for farmers' markets in BC. The 2009 member directory will be published in early May with 15,000 copies distributed throughout BC. Member markets who registered early will also be listed in the Buy BC Wild directory with over 25,000 being distributed through Thrifty Foods stores, farmers' markets, and BC Wild sector businesses, conferences and trades shows, a project supported by Royal Roads University, centre for Non-Timber Resources. All members are requested to update your market information on the BCAFM website at www.bcfarmersmarket.org/login.asp as soon as possible. Please call or email me if you need your password and help with navigating the site. New members will be sent a password soon. The market season is about to begin. Ready, set, go! Elizabeth Quinn 2009 New Partners: New Opportunities Conference – A Huge Success!Educational and fun! I met people who can help improve my business! We discussed ideas that will effect change throughout the province! 
On the first weekend of March, the annual BCAFM conference was hosted in Westbank, BC at the beautiful Cove Lakeside Resort. Coordinated in partnership with BC Agritourism Association and Small Scale Food Processor Association, the conference focused on "real people talking to real people" about working collaboratively to effectively build and enhance the future of our industries in BC. The idea for the conference grew out of a need for more dialogue among the agritourism sector organizations and an economic need to combine resources to reach a wider audience. Over 25 speakers, from all over BC, spoke to a record number of attendees. Many thanks to each speaker for delivering informative and often entertaining presentations. Conference delegates had a wide variety of speakers and topics to choose from, ranging from climate-change initiatives, discovering what customers want, to the best ways to take a farmers' market to the next level. Through interactive and engaging presentations, attendees shared their experiences, ideas, and new opportunities emerged. Thank you to everyone on the organizing committee for their tireless work – Bob Thompson, BC AgriTourism Alliance, Candice Appleby and Kim Stansfield, Small Scale Food Processor Association; Donna Anaka, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands; and Elizabeth Quinn, BCAFM Manager. It was through the collaboration of minds and resources that made this conference possible and successful. If you missed the conference this year, you don't miss out next year! Stay tuned for more details on the 2010 conference. Tabitha McLoughin A Big "Thank You" to these 2009 Conference InvestorsSponsors
We give a special thank you to all who donated to the silent auction. Your contribution was appreciated. Board Governance and Marketing Manager Training Manuals UpdateSara-Jane Brocklehurst and Dr. Jenny Horn, both with Vancouver Island University, are working diligently on the Board Governance and Market Manager Training Manuals respectively. Jenny Horn attended the BC Association of Farmers' Markets Conference in early March to gain first-hand input from a number of market managers and board members. This input has helped flesh out the first drafts of these two manuals for review. Over the spring and summer, Sara-Jane and Jenny will be seeking input and polishing the manuals for delivery of one-day workshops in the fall in the five health regions throughout BC. The feedback from these workshops will help finalize the content of the manuals, which will be made available to all farmers' markets through BCAFM, for future training and continuing education needs in Farmers' Market management and board governance. Wanted:
Nutrition and Coupon Program Update
eat local, nutritious foodHappy Earth Day! I am inspired by the freshness of it all. Everything is springing to life, the birds are singing their sweet songs, the many shades of green that the spring rains bring, the seedlings poking through the soil, and the start of farmers' market season is upon us. Already I have visions of the excitement that comes with the beginning of market season. Seeing old friends and familiar faces, eating fresh spring greens, inspiration from local farmers, trying something new for the very first time, and the sense of community that compares to no other. Spring is a time of fresh beginnings, and with that spirit, we are in full swing preparing for the 2009 season of the Farmers' Market Nutrition & Coupon Project. The 2009 season will see the Farmers' Market Nutrition & Coupon Project (FMNCP) expand to fifteen communities throughout British Columbia. This will allow for three communities in each of the five provincial health regions to participate this year, and allow for even more low-income families with children and low-income pregnant women to access market fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy, nuts and fresh cut herbs through their local farmers' market. This is a unique opportunity for skill building and community building alike. The Farmers' Market Nutrition & Coupon Project is the only program of its kind in Canada, combining skill building programs and farmers' market coupons. Transformation happens for everyone involved. Markets and participants alike grow and flourish. The FMNCP has had a very positive impact, resulting in the growth and expansion for some participating markets, and creating more opportunities for local farmers. The selection committee is hard at work, and the 2009 participating markets will be announced shortly. Stay tuned to the BCAFM website for full details on the 2009 season. We will be announcing the 2009 markets, and are also working on expanding the FMNCP page on the website. You can look forward to regular FMNCP updates with our upcoming blog, a dynamic map of participating communities, with live links to participating markets and cooking & skill building programs websites, and more. www.bcfarmersmarket.org/ind/fmncp.htm. We are also excited to announce a new addition to the FMNCP family. Georgia Stanley has been hired as the Administrative Assistant, and will be working part time with the FMNCP, as well as offering administrative support to the BCAFM. Georgia brings with her great enthusiasm for the FMNCP and farmers' markets. She is a graduate of UBC's Land & Food Systems, and will be a familiar face to those involved with the Vancouver Farmers' Markets, where Georgia worked both at the Trout Lake Market and the Winter Market. Georgia's excitement, love for local farmers' and commitment to getting the job done will make her an asset, and a delight to work with. Georgia will be assisting with the daily operations of the FMNCP, and will be helping to ensure there is a smooth flow of processing of coupons for all participating markets. Please help us in welcoming Georgia! 
2009 is going to be a dynamic & fruitful season. See you at market! Paula Luther, RHN |
 Market Managers: make sure to share this newsletter with your vendor community, boards and managers 
 Welcoming your 2009 BCAFM Board of DirectorsPresident — Mary Forstbauer Vice President — Bob Callioux Treasurer — Patrick Demers Secretary — Tabitha McLoughlin Director — Tara McDonald Director — Richard Lewin Director — Werner Hupfauer Director — William Hayward Director — Jordan Sturdy Ex-Officio — Donna Anaka, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Manager — Elizabeth Quinn Assistant — Georgia Stanley P.S. Contact Elizabeth at bcafmoffice@gmail.com to find out how you can work with this dynamic Board. MarketSafe UpdateWork is well underway on the MarketSafe BC program, a food safety training program for farmers and producers who make, bake or grow products to sell at BC farmers' markets. The MarketSafe BC program is being developed by the BC FOODSAFE Secretariat in partnership with BCAFM. The training course will cover the science of food borne illness and food safety practices before, during and after market. A team of five farmers' market managers / vendors and five food safety experts met for a two-day retreat in Kelowna following the BCAFM Conference in March (see photo). The team worked together very well, collaborating on the development of essential content for the training program. Thanks to the group's dedication and hard work, the Instructional Design for the program is nearing completion and the curriculum development will be well underway by the end of April.
Wanted:
MarketSafe BC Tagline Contest
WIN! ...a surprise package of great "stuff" including a FOODSAFE fleece vest, an apron, EatSmartBC gel packs, giant microbes, and some cool goodies from the BCAFM! We're looking for a great tagline for the MarketSafe BC food safety training program which is coming soon! For example, the FOODSAFE logo with its "Makes Good Food Better" tagline is familiar to foodservice workers and customers across BC. Now, we're looking for a GREAT tagline for the new MarketSafe BC logo that will eventually become just as familiar to those who make, bake or grow products for sale to customers at BC farmers' markets and other types of temporary markets. Email your tagline ideas to foodsafe@foodsafe.ca by May 18, 2009 to be eligible to win! Be sure to include your contact information. Farmers' Markets CanadaThe "National Farmers' Market Impact Study 2009 Report" conducted by Farmers' Market Canada found:
For more info, visit: www.farmersmarketscanada.ca (PDF file) Is the Recession Impacting Your Sales?According to a recent report published by the George Morris Centre, the recession is impacting the food industry. Consumers are changing their spending by:
In a nutshell, consumers are watching their pennies and looking for good value. For more info, visit: www.georgemorris.org/. Do Tourists Visit Your Market?According to the Canadian Tourism Commission, there is an ever-increasing trend for larger groups of the family to travel together. This is a way of combining family time and travel time. It is no longer uncommon to have a couple travelling with their parents, grandparents, in-laws, cousins, etc. If your market appeals to tourists, you may want to offer products and services appealing to a wide age-range of travellers. Reminder — Vendor Emails Wanted!If you want information on new opportunities or developments, please ensure that your up-to-date email address is on file in our office by contacting Elizabeth at bcafmoffice@gmail.com. Key BCAFM Contacts:General Inquiries:Elizabeth Quinn Mary Forstbauer Nutrition and Coupon Program Enquiries:Paula Luther, RHN |
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