Market Matters
Summer 2009 Vol.10
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Market Matters |
Summer 2009 Vol.10 |
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President's Report"Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other arts
will follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization." 
Spring was long and wet. Summer is hot and dry. We seem to want to complain all the time! As a farmer it is frustrating to plant and watch the cool weather slow production. Then the hot days of summer are welcomed but the dry days have caused production to slow for those who do not irrigate. BCAFM is much like a farm. We plant many seeds. Constantly we are in discussion with government about sourcing funding and programs that will benefit farmers and farmers' markets. We plant the seeds. As time goes on we cultivate our planting by engaging in conversation with MLA's, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and staff in various government offices. We cannot rely on government funding to look after the BCAFM and our member markets. The BCAFM must cultivate and nurture our market members and their vendors. As time moves forward, volunteers are burning out. I personally spend a minimum of 20 hours per week volunteering on behalf of BCAFM. These hours are less now than over the last few years because we hired Elizabeth Quinn as our BCAFM Manager. She has been "watering" the association making sure that everyone is "hydrated". We also need "fertilizer" to keep BCAFM and member markets growing. Translated this means we need $$. During the next few months, BCAFM directors will be looking at ways for the Association to become sustainable to allow us to continue bringing programs and services to our members. Perhaps we should follow the example set by other Provinces. I ask you to consider how important BCAFM is to your farmers' market. If BCAFM is indeed important, and I believe it is, then we need to find $$ to move forward. 
 If every market charged $2 more to each vendor per week and sends $1 to BCAFM and keeps $1 for their own "fertilizer", think about the growth! BCAFM would have $$ to keep paid staff and therefore have a "harvest" to allow us to offer valuable programs and services to our members. Each market would have the necessary "fertilizer" to hire a manager who would then be able to help grow the capacity of their market(s). 
 A thought-provoking concept! As we move forward to 2010 and the 10th anniversary of BCAFM, wouldn't we be proud to have a Farmers' Market Association that is financially self-sustainable? With your help we will achieve this. Have a great 2009 market season! Happy selling!
Manager's Report
Communication and FundraisingThe BC Association of Farmers' Markets contacted the Premier's office and Steve Thomson, the new Minister of Agriculture and Lands, to request funding to match $800,000 in federal funding from Western Economic Diversification (WED). The Assistant Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Lands met with us to say that the BC government cannot "join us at the altar" by providing matching funding in these tight economic times. The application is excellent and perhaps a few years down the road, it may be reconsidered. The proposed WED proposal expands over three years. One activity among many would be to hire a business developer and marketing specialists to offer hands-on support to member markets to assist with business and market development. It is hoped that the economic impact of BC farmers markets will double over the next year given with some financial stimulus. Recently, the BCAFM held a productive meeting with the Executive of the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) to discuss shared goals and to explore ways of working together as partners. A follow-up meeting will be held in September. The BCAC is a provincial association representing 12,000 farmers. Membership2009 membership in the BCAFM increased over the previous year by 20%, from 65 to 81 full members and 8 associate members. I appreciate hearing from you as our discussions help me to learn more about your business which I can then share with other markets, given your permission. Feel free to keep our lines of communication open through bcafmoffice@gmail.com. How Many Farmers are Selling at Farmers' Market in BC?We are conducting a survey to determine:
Your cooperation will allow us to collect data on the economic impacts of our markets. Most funders require a solid business proposal before considering a funding request. Please email this data to info@bcfarmersmarket.org before October 1, 2009 and remember to include your market's name please. Budding PhotographersDo you want to see your photo published proudly on the web or in print? If so, email your high-resolution colour photos of farmers selling their products at your market and we may feature it on our website or use it in the 2010 farmers market directory. All photos should include the farmer's name and contact information. Wishing you continued prosperity! Elizabeth Quinn Food Safety at BC Farmers' MarketsBy Mary Forstbauer Annually, BCAFM members meet with the directors of BC's five health regions and the Director of the BC Centre of Disease Control (BCCDC) in BC. The first meeting, held in 2006, is when we first expressed our desire to sell eggs and meat at all farmers markets in BC. BCAFM provided our wish list to the CDC and the five Directors of Health Authorities to lay the foundation for the Guidelines for the Sale of Foods at Temporary Food Markets (the Guidelines). To date, it has been a challenge to help Environment Health Offices (EHO's) in each of the five Health Regions to understand that BCAFM is not the author of the Guidelines. 2009 has been especially challenging. Some EHO's are demanding mechanical refrigeration for eggs, dairy and frozen meat. The Guidelines state that eggs and dairy must be kept at a temperature of 4 degrees C and meat must be kept in a frozen state and not allowed to thaw. In the heat of the summer this can be done without mechanical refrigeration using ice, dry ice and coolers that have been frozen. Keeping the coolers out of direct sun is very important. We, as vendors, must always care about public safety in storage of our food. We must follow the direction of the EHO's. If we feel we are keeping the integrity of the food and temperature without mechanical refrigeration the steps for making a complaint are:
Please remember to document all conversations (include the date, time, name of person you spoke with and the content of the conversation, etc.) for accurate reporting. Jams, jellies, pickles, baking and other home prepared foods offered for sale must be approved by the local health authority. Once approved, an official letter will be issued by the Health Authority. The letter will be issued once and should be accepted by all regional health authorities. The letter remains valid until you change your recipe. Streamlining the processMary has spent many hours on the phone and email with vendors and managers who are complaining that the Guidelines are not being accepted by the EHOs. Mary has called the EHO's to discuss the issues and emailed the Regional Health Directors to request clarification on the Guidelines. The information is shared with the EHO's and Directors. Sometimes things are resolved and sometimes they are not. If problems remain, Mary will phone Lynn Wilcott (Director of BCCDC). Recently, Mary has requested a special meeting with Lynn. The Regional Health Directors, BCCDC and BCAFM members will meet in Fall 2009 to annually review and discuss any changes to the Guidelines. Each of us must be concerned about public safety when selling food. We do not want BC Farmers Markets to have a food safety issue that could cause the public to be afraid of purchasing food at our markets. Please call Mary if you need assistance with talking to your local EHO or Regional Health Director. Nutrition and Coupon Program Update
eat local, nutritious foodWelcome to the 2009 season of the Farmers' Market Nutrition & Coupon Project (FMNCP). The FMNCP continues to evolve and grow, and in 2009 we are pleased to be in 16 communities around BC. Each community has a BCAFM member market partnered with a local cooking and skill building program for low-income pregnant women and/or low-income families with children. Participating families actively participate in weekly nutrition and food related programming, and hands-on cooking classes. Cooking and skill-building program leaders incorporate information on local, seasonal market foods into their programs, and many market managers give market tours to orientate participants to the wonderful world of their local farmers' market. The end result is a new generation of market goers, food and nutrition for our more vulnerable community members, an increased awareness of farmers' markets around the province, and dollars straight into the local farmers' pockets. It is a win-win situation.
Success of 2008:
Below is a listing of the 2009 markets and cooking and skill building programs. We are piloting a 'small market' trial this season to allow the Revelstoke Farmers' Market and the Nelson Outdoor Market to participate this season. In this way, the FMNCP will grow and move into smaller communities around BC.
What people are saying..."Vendors love it!" "[The Farmers' Market Nutrition & Coupon Project] was helpful to farmers as they begin their season." "Vendors are really enthusiastic about the program. Everyone loves to be a part of something good!" "Several families reported they were not comfortable purchasing food from the vendors prior to the [market] tour. During the tour several families indicated that they learned about new foods to cook at home by asking the farmer how to prepare or cook the food." "The beet greens were really good" "People were excited to actually attend the Farmers Market and found it a positive experience!" 
2009 is going to be a dynamic & fruitful season. See you at market! Paula Luther |
Market Managers: make sure to share this newsletter with your vendor community, boards and managers
MarketSafe UpdateThe development of the MarketSafe food safety training program is well underway. The BC FOODSAFE Secretariat has a curriculum writer, a field photographer and an illustrator working together on the development of the MarketSafe Student Workbook and Instructor Guide. The assistance and cooperation that marketers on the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island have shown to our roving photographer has been much appreciated! Meanwhile, the BC Centre for Disease Control is working on the administrative structure for the program, including putting together a MarketSafe Steering Committee who will assist in the development of guidelines for implementation, instructor certification, and program integrity. The program will be ready to implement before the 2010 farmers' market season.
Board Governance & Market Manager Training UpdateThere's a growing buzz in the air about the BCAFM Farmers' Market Manual project as more people are excited about exploring the ideas that each manual contains. Market manuals and workshops are currently being developed to provide guidance and inspiration to Farmers' Market managers and boards of governance members across the province. The stir began at the energetic BCAFM conference in Westbank this spring, where many interviews were conducted to gather input on key topics relating to running a successful Farmers' Market. Let's carry that excitement into the Fall, when the BCAFM and Vancouver Island University (VIU) will host Market Management and Market Governance workshops in each of the five health districts across the province. Now is the time to start planning for your manager and board members to take this valuable opportunity to share and learn from the experiences of others who are passionate about Farmers' Markets. Over the summer months, the two manuals will be reviewed by a variety of market managers and members of various boards of governance, with feedback coming from large and small, new and established BCAFM member markets. Once the fall workshops are concluded, the feedback will be incorporated into the manuals, and they will be published in the late fall — ready to be help your market flourish as it grows and develops! Your market may want to contribute to the manuals by providing photographs that demonstrate how lively and diverse the Farmers' Market scene is around the province — we would love to include pictures from the 2009 market season. Please submit photographs of your market to the BCAFM office. Stay tuned to this newsletter and the BCAFM website to find out more about your opportunity to contribute to the Market Managers and the Market Boards of Governance workshops, coming soon to a market district near you!
How to Update Your Market Profile on the BCAFM WebsiteThe number one reason non farmers' market goers don't shop at farmers' markets? They're not aware of any nearby. Help customers discover your farmers' market by boosting your online/web presence with your online BCAFM Market Profile. The BCAFM website gets 1,048 views a week — all potential customers! Here is a step-by-step explanation of how to update or create your Farmers' Market listing on the BCAFM website. The BCAFM will set up your user account, but keeping it up to date is your market's responsibility.
Helpful Hints:Mention the name of your farmers' market within your market description, for example "Come join us at the ... Farmers' Market" or "See you this week at the ... Farmers' Market." This is a tip for increasing your farmers' market's web/online presence. Attention FMNCP Markets!If your farmers' market is participating in the 2009 Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Project why not include this in your BCAFM web listing? Include it in your market description. This means that when someone searches for "Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Project" your market's BCAFM web listing will pop up! If you have any questions please email Georgia at bcafmadmin@gmail.com. Have Fun and Good Luck!
Upcoming Events
The 2009 International Farm Succession Conference is only one month away and only one week remains for you to benefit from the early bird registration rate! The early bird deadline is August 2nd. Come join your colleagues from across Canada for an unforgettable networking experience in Quebec City! This spectacular event will include presentations and workshops offering fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to resolving the complex issues surrounding farm business succession. You'll be charmed by the interactive farm tours and a dinner cruise on the beautiful St-Lawrence. For more information, visit www.farmcentre.com. Key BCAFM Contacts:General Inquiries:Elizabeth Quinn Mary Forstbauer Nutrition and Coupon Program Enquiries:Paula Luther, RHN |
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