The benefits of local and organic food production are huge—providing significant environmental and social benefits

“There’s no doubt people are becoming increasingly passionate about buying local, in-season food and locally produced goods,” says Elizabeth Quinn, executive director at the B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets. She points to the fact that over the last several years, there’s been a 62% increase in the number of farmers’ markets in the province.

And anyone who’s a farmers’ market regular knows that in addition to locally grown food and locally made products, the markets offer a surprising variety of community activities such as live music, children’s activities, cooking classes, artisan workshops and much more.

The Farmers’ Markets Assocation believes that farming is a powerful catalyst that transcends time and returns us to simpler days when we knew where our food came from and who tended to it. While some of us may be several generations removed from farming, there is still something intrinsic in us all that understands what it means to live off the land. Farming is a part of our heritage.

The provincial group recently launched the It Feels Better at the Farmers’ Market campaign and a Farmers’ Market Selfie contest, which run until July 21, 2014. The public awareness campaign and contest offer prizes, activities, and incentives at participating markets throughout B.C. to encourage market ‘newbies’ to discover why it feels so amazing to visit the Farmers’ Market [open PDF news release].

We visit Nanaimo’s Bowen Road Farmers’ Market, speak with some of the vendors and shoppers, and speak with B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets executive Director Elizabeth Quinn.

562_bowen road farmers market_july_17_2014_40    Left-click to listen; right-click to save.