Dream Cuisines

Dream Cuisines: A VFM Partnership with Flavours of Hope

Now in its third year, Dream Cuisines is a nine-month immersive program built and led by women of colour that empowers newcomer refugee and immigrant women to develop their own cultural food businesses to sell at Vancouver Farmers Markets and beyond. 

Meet our 2023 Dream Cuisines Businesses

• Colombian Antojitos                                             
• Damaskino Pastry
• Egyptian Bites                                                       
• Elaichi Patisserie
• Sabor A Yucatan   
• Meet our Alumni businesses

Dream Cuisines empowers participants to support their families as entrepreneurs while breaking down systemic barriers in our local food system and building community connections. The program includes:

• Educational Workshops
  Participants gain access to a wide range of workshops including food safety, business planning, English language training, social media marketing, market software training, financial management, product packaging, selling at markets, customer interaction and more.
  
• Peer Knowledge Sharing
  Participants share experiences and expertise in a collaborative and supportive environment, fostering a sense of community that helps build confidence and competence.
• Commissary Kitchen Space
  Access to a fully equipped commissary kitchen allows participants to hone their culinary skills and workshop their food products.
• Farmers Market Vendor Stalls and Training
  Participants receive training and skills development in product packaging, sales, market software, customer development, social media training and more.
  
• Mentorship
  Industry professionals guide and support participants as they build their burgeoning food businesses towards success.
• Network of Supportive Relationships
  Participants become part of a network of like-minded individuals and organizations committed to their success and provide ongoing support.

Help us expand our support for Dream Cuisines!

We are proud to partner with Flavors of Hope to deliver the Dream Cuisines program and invite you to join us in supporting this incredible initiative!

Your donation to or corporate sponsorship of this Community Access Program will allow us to:

• Expand the number of businesses who participate in the program and sell their products at Vancouver Farmers Markets every year

• Offset the costs of participants’ stall fees at Vancouver Farmers Markets

• Allow VFM to deliver more and better workshops 

• Hire staff to help deliver VFM’s workshops within the program

• Offer dedicated translation and other support services 

Your donation helps us support newcomer immigrant and refugee women become entrepreneurs and build a brighter future for themselves and their families!

About Vancouver Farmers Markets Community Access Programs

VFM’s Community Access Programs provide increased access to fresh local food, food education and business development for underserved communities, aligning with our mission to promote food equity, support local farmers and agriculture, and create a more inclusive and sustainable local food system for all.