About

Vancouver Farmers Markets (otherwise known as Your Local Farmers Market Society) is about people who love fresh food at festive gatherings. With the initial goal in 1995 to create the fun and value of weekly Farmers Markets in urban settings, the Society and the Markets have become Vancouver plazas of fun, discovery, and connecting.

The good feeling of the Markets gets even deeper. We produce our weekly Markets to create healthy food networks that sustain our land, our community, and our homes.

When you shop at Vancouver Farmers Markets, you help keep BC farmers farming.

Through the Markets and our special events, the Society spreads awareness of agricultural issues facing our largely urban society. These issues range from the truths about genetically modified foods, to fair pricing for agricultural products, to the glory of a variety of foods available with a locally-networked food system. If you have questions about how and what kinds of food arrive at your table, a visit to the Markets, and a tour of this website, will bring you some fresh answers.

Vancouver Farmers Markets History - 1994 - 1999

 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
To learn more about job opportunities with Vancouver Farmers Markets, visit our Employment page.

There are no job opportunities with VFM at this time.

 

2011-12 YLFMS Board of Directors

YLFMS Constitution and By-Laws

2010 Your Local Farmers Market Annual Report

2006 - 2010 YLFMS Strategic Plan

 

To contact the Board, email board at eatlocal.org

Pat McCarthy, Chair
Pat McCarthy is a Langley resident and owner (with his spouse) of A Bread Affair. Since opening the bakery in 2006, he has been focused on promoting its hand crafted organic artisan breads. In that time he has worked to develop direct relationships with growers both on the prairies and in the Fraser Valley and has developed specialty products to use local food sources.
As a value-added processor of agricultural products, Pat helps to create a market for BC and Fraser Valley items as well as showcase the world class stature of our unique blend of soils and climate. Pat says “Ultimately, the bakery, and my involvement with local food, is a personal political statement. I believe that if humanity is to survive and continue to prosper, we in North America specifically, but in the world more generally, must eat lower on the food chain. But with that, I believe that we will still be able to eat very well. The bakery is an example of how we can continue to eat well, but lower on that food chain”.

Kevin Klippenstein, Vice Chair - Kevin grew up in Chilliwack and was in the food and beverage industry managing restaurants and bars and worked as a consultant- opening a new restaurant in Red Deer, Alberta. In 2001 Kevin, along with his wife Annanmarie bought a farm in Cawston- Klippers Organics and have been selling everything they grow at farmers markets throughout Vancouver and to some restaurants and co-ops. Since starting with 5 acres in 2001 they have expanded the farm to 40 acres, created a website: www.klippersorganics.com and moved into social media with a facebook page: www.facebook.com/klippersorganics and able to follow the farm on twitter. Kevin has strived to be the best and was the first organic farm to be awarded the environmental farm plan, first organic farm to be certified salmon safe, and was awarded the BC/Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer of the year award for 2011. Kevin has a passion for agriculture and feels that through direct contact with the consumer farming can be sustainable. Farmers markets is the one venue that can make that possible.

Will Woods, Treasurer
Will Woods is a resident of North Vancouver where he lives with his wife Alicia. Will has a passion for eating local sustainable food and in supporting local food networks. Will is a regular and enthusiastic visitor to both the West End farmers market and the winter farmers’ market. Will is a senior manager for consulting firm Deloitte, where he specializes in helping organizations identify and manage risk. Will’s clients include private and public sector organizations across BC, including crown corporations and credit unions. Will believes his experience will be valuable in bringing business-focused perspective to the organization’s decisions.

To be effective, a market requires support from a range of stakeholders: market shoppers, local farmers,
government, business and other non-profit organizations. Will’s overall area of focus as a board member would be to support these partnerships and to hence solidify the Vancouver Farmers Markets as a valuable element of the city’s culture. More specific areas of focus Will would have as a board member include: strategy development; deepening engagement with members and broadening the membership-base; and maintaining low market fees for farmers through the pursuit of diverse revenue streams.

 

Meeru Dhalwala

Meeru Dhalwala was born in India and moved to Washington, DC at a very young age with her parents.   In DC, she worked with various international non-profit organizations on human rights and economic development projects.  She received her Master’s degree in Development Studies from Bath University in England.  Meeru moved to Vancouver in February 1995 and joined her husband, Vikram, to work at his then newly opened restaurant, Vij’s.   She quickly took over the menu and has been creating new recipes since summer 1995.

Meeru’s particular interest and focus at Vij’s/Rangoli is to forge business relationships with other local businesses, and farmers in particular.   She is committed to improving her business environmental footprint, most notably through their choices in produce, seafood and meats. In 2009, Meeru signed up Vij’s to join local CSA (community supported agriculture) farms and has started long-term business relationships with various BC farmers.

Meeru is very passionate about sharing her cooking skills and ideas with other parents who have the same goal as hers:  to feed their families a combination of easy, delicious and healthy.  In particular, Meeru is keen to share money saving and healthy ideas with those who have limited budgets and wish to avoid cheap, junk filled foods.

 

Richard Lewin

I have been self-employed for 40 years. My business interests have included printing, art galleries, restaurants, farming and food service.

My current business, Golda's Finest Foods, grew out of my interest in vegetarian cuisine and nutrition. My products are value-added, using B.C. farm produce. Golda's Finest Foods has been a vendor at VFM markets since 2000.

I am a member of the B.C. Small Food Processors Association and I have served two years on the board of the B.C. Association of Farmers' Markets. I am interested in the expansion of the Vancouver Farmers' Markets and in encouraging B.C. sustainability.

 

 

Joni Sherman
Joni Sherman joined the Vancouver Farmers Market Board in 2005 with great enthusiasm. She is an avid gardener, permaculturist, and an aspiring apiarist. Joni is an active member of the YLFMS Vendor Advisory Committee, various fundraising campaigns and membership development. She advocates urban, regional and sustainable agriculture by eating locally and seasonally whenever possible.

She is a librarian, cyclist, runner & a true believer in community.

Deb Taschuk
From a life volunteering for Community Service, I offer no ‘I’ this or that, except… For the past 30 years I have been committed to service to ‘Sustaining the Big Picture’, the full circle of communities and the eco-systems that support them. It is essential to keep Farmers on their land, Fishers on their boats and the Artisans, Bakers, Crafters active and productive, which keeps a family whole, talents flourishing, the land valued, active and preserved, and consumption connected to our vital communities.

Knowing the saving Grace of us all is the Respect of our Environments and a value of the vast webs and networks of dynamic Food Systems, from the most voracious nemitode and worms to humans, it has been an honour and a privilege to serve, support and promote Farmers, producers and the extraordinary community of markets.

Serving on the farmers market board is the opportunity to appreciate how the markets have enriched and blessed our city lives with a superior quality of living with all the amazing produce, crafts, talents and products that we would not otherwise have the chance to enjoy if not for the Farmers’ markets.

I truly believe the Farmers markets will help save farms, fishers, artisans and their families, thus their communities and in turn save our amazing planet.