Directors List
President: Mary Forstbauer
Email: info@bcfarmersmarket.org
Mary, the Organic Earth Mother is the mother of 12
children. Mary and husband Hans along with their children have
been farming organically for 30 years, 18 years in Chilliwack and
12 years in Matsqui. Mary has been involved with BCAFM since its
inception and served on the board of directors for many of those
years. In 2007 Mary returned to the BCAFM director's position as
president. "It has been a rewarding year to date" states
Mary with excitement as she remembers all the exciting projects
BCAFM has undertaken this year
Mary started selling at farmers markets in 1989. She had a load
of pickling cucumbers that a local "green grocer" did
not need. She asked the grocer "What am I to do with these
800 pounds of cukes?" "Take them to the Chilliwack
Market." stated the grocer. Mary found the market and sold
out of cukes in three hours. She was hooked and sold at the
Chilliwack market for many years. Mary and family sell at many
markets in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
"I believe that selling at the market in my local
community is important. I know that I can make more cash at the
bigger city markets but that does not build my local economy, so I
try to work with the local markets to diversify and hold their
markets on different days so that I am able to participate along
with some of the other vendors who go off to the city on the
weekends."
Mary has served as director on many boards and as president on
most of them at some time. Some include COABC, BCARA, Bio Dynamic
Association, Chilliwack Farmers market, Mission Farmers Market,
Artisan Farmers Markets, Canada Farmers' Markets, and school
PAC's.
It is exciting for Mary that two of her children have farms of
their own, while one of her sons farms full time on the family
farm. Her children who attend university all come home for their
summer job "working on the farm and selling at various
farmers markets".
Eat Local visit your communities Farmers' Markets!
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Vice-President: Bruce Fatkin
Email: fatkin@shaw.ca
Bruce has just entered his second year as manager of the
Abbotsford Farm and Country Market. He comes from a family farming
background in the Fraser Valley. The Fatkin clan made their living
growing daffodils until the mid 1960s, switching to the present
line of plants and shrubs for the landscape industry.
Bruce has spent over 20 years in diverse roles with a range of
not-for-profit organizations. He worked for a time as a small
business advisor helping develop business plans for new
enterprises.
Bruce is pleased to be a part of the growing farmers market
movement in British Columbia. He feels that Markets are among the
most effective tools for furthering the public's understanding of
the industry and that these same Markets represent an excellent
opportunity for small-scale agriculture to grow by test-marketing
(new) products and diversifying farm income.
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Treasurer: Dolores Gottenberg
Email: dgotten@telus.net
Upon receiving her doctorate from Lehigh University in
Pennsylvania, Dolores recently relocated to Nanaimo to be closer
to her daughter and family. Having held an interest in farming and
agriculture for many years, she has joined local agricultural
organizations and is presently serving as Director of the Nanaimo-Cedar
Farmers Institute and Vice-President / Treasurer of the Cedar
Farmers Market.
With a generalist background in science, business, and
education Dolores brings extensive experience in industry,
government, and education to the Board. Since arriving on
Vancouver Island, she has established Island VermiTech &
Organics Ltd. which will market and promote vermiculture products
along with vegetables and herbs from her urban community gardens.
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Secretary: Tara McDonald
Email: tara@eatlocal.org
For just over 2 years, Tara McDonald has been the Executive
Director of Your Local Farmers Market Society in Vancouver, BC. In
that time, Tara has worked to develop and grow the society and its
markets by strengthening YLFMS staff and board capacity and
resources, increasing YLFMS' public and political profile in
Vancouver, making the organization more open and democratic and
diversifying its funding base.
Tara's commitment to the growth of Vancouver's Farmers Markets
is showing results already. Annual sales to vendors jumped from
$1.5 million in 2004 to $2.16 million this past year. YLFMS
brought in $140 000 in grants to assist the organization's growth
and support vendor development over the next few years. Thanks to
YLFMS staff Vancouver now has a farmers market through the winter
and is developing another farmers market to serve the city's West
Side. The society is also partnering with Farm Folk City Folk and
local food businesses to launch an Eatlocal Campaign in the spring
of 2007.
Tara has worked in community economic development and food
security for over 10 years as a Good Food Box and School Food
Garden program coordinator in Ontario, and as Executive Director
of SEEDS, a Community Gardening non-profit in Durham, North
Carolina. She has worked with organic and bio-dynamic farmers in
Canada and the US and has a deep commitment to supporting farm and
rural culture.
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Director: Jordan Sturdy
Email: Jordan@northarmfarm.com
Jordan was first elected to the board of the Whistler Farmers
Market in 1996. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 2005 after
serving as treasurer for several years.
In 1994 Jordan founded North Arm Farm in Pemberton and has
managed the organization ever since. North Arm Farm grows 40 acres
of row crops including most vegetables, many berries and cut
flowers. The product is sold at the farm, to restaurants and at
Farmers markets. The Farm also includes a bakery and will cater
events such as dinners and weddings. Fall is an especially busy
time at the Farm with Pumpkin rides and school tours.
Jordan is very involved in the region as a trustee of the
Pemberton Valley Dyking District, is a member of the Regional
District Agricultural Advisory Committee and director of the
Pemberton Farmers Institute, the Pemberton Valley Trails
Association Board and other transportation and wildlife
associations. His latest venture is as Mayor of Pemberton.
Jordan grew up in the City of Vancouver and works in the winter
as a ski patroller at Whistler Blackcomb and a paramedic for the
BC Ambulance Service.
Jordan and his wife Trish have lived in Pemberton since 1989
and have two children, Emma and Thea.
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Director: Tabitha McLoughlin
Email: gtmcl@shaw.ca
Bio coming soon.
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Director: William Hayward
Bio coming soon.
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Director: Richard Lewin
Bio coming soon.
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