Tell City Hall Farmers Markets are also Infrastructure
The City of Vancouver is currently gathering public input for its 2027–2030 Capital Plan, which is a four-year investment strategy that shapes the infrastructure and amenities people rely on every day.
This includes parks, roads, sidewalks, community centres, libraries, utilities, public gathering spaces and other civic infrastructure. But once again, farmers markets are nowhere explicitly named in the survey.
Farmers markets are also infrastructure, of Community, Joy, Food Access, Climate, Economic Resilience, and more. Week after week, across the city, this market infrastructure quietly comes to life. This infrastructure feeds people, supports small farms, strengthens neighbourhoods, and builds resilience in uncertain times. Week after week, farmers markets transform streets and parking lots into vibrant community-serving hubs but our spaces are under pressure.
As the City plans for the future, we are encouraging our community to speak up and help ensure farmers markets are recognized as essential civic infrastructure deserving of long-term support and investment.
How You Can Help
Please take a few minutes to complete the City’s Capital Plan survey before June 7.
We especially encourage community members to mention farmers markets in:
- Question 7 — transportation and street improvements
- Question 8 — priorities for future investments
- Question 11 — general feedback
A simple mention of farmers markets helps demonstrate public support.
Sample language you can adapt:
- “Farmers markets are important community infrastructure and should be recognized in future city planning and investment.”
- “Please support farmers markets as essential public spaces that strengthen local food systems, food access, climate resilience and neighbourhood connections.”
- “Farmers markets are valuable community-serving infrastructure and deserve long-term investment and support.”
Why This Matters
Farmers markets create economic opportunities for local farms and food businesses while making fresh local food more accessible to residents across Vancouver. They also activate public spaces, strengthen social connection, support climate goals through regional food systems, and contribute to healthier, more resilient neighbourhoods.
If we want vibrant local food systems in the future, farmers markets must be included in the conversations shaping public infrastructure today.
Learn more about 2027-2030 Capital Plan
Read more about our campaign – Farmers Markets are Infrastructure
Thanks for your support!
Vancouver Farmers Markets
