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A celebration of the people, food and connections that make farmers’ markets an essential part of communities across BC
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Every farmers’ market begins with a farmer willing to grow food in and for their community.
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During BC Farmers’ Markets Appreciation Week, September 12–19, BC Association of Farmers’ Markets is inviting British Columbians to celebrate the thousands of farmers, market organizers, food producers, volunteers, vendors and communities that make farmers’ markets an essential part of life across the province.
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For generations, farmers’ markets have been places where people come together to buy food, meet the people who grow it and reconnect with where their food comes from. But their value reaches far beyond the market itself. Farmers’ markets help keep local food economies moving, provide important sales opportunities for farmers and food producers, create vibrant gathering places and strengthen the connections that make communities more resilient.
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At the centre of it all are BC farmers.
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Bringing food to farmers’ markets takes dedication. Farmers work through unpredictable weather, rising costs, changing seasons and the many challenges of running an agricultural business. Every basket of vegetables, carton of eggs or bushel of fruit represents hours of work before it ever reaches a market table. Farmers’ markets give those producers a direct connection to the people in their communities and an important opportunity to earn income from the food they grow and produce.
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“Farmers’ markets are ultimately about people,” said Heather O’Hara, Executive Director of BC Association of Farmers’ Markets. “They are about the local people who organize the farmers’ market, the farmers who work incredibly hard to feed their communities, the vendors and small businesses who bring their products to market, and the customers who choose to support them. When you visit a farmers’ market, you’re doing more than buying your groceries, you’re investing in the people and places that make BC communities stronger.”
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That local connection also matters when it comes to food security. Food Security programs such as the BC Farmers’ Markets Nutrition Coupon Program, delivered by BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, help make fresh, healthy food more accessible to 30,000+ lower-income people in nearly 100 communities across BC, while directing spending directly back to local farmers. At the same time, the economic activity generated by farmers’ markets supports local businesses, keeps money circulating within communities and contributes to vibrant local economies.
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In a time of rising costs and affordability challenges, climate impacts and supply disruptions, strong local food systems are more important than ever. BC farmers’ markets help build those systems by creating relationships between farmers, food producers and consumers and by keeping local food production connected to the communities it serves.
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BC Farmers’ Markets Appreciation Week is a chance to celebrate that connection.
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BC Farmers’ Markets encourages British Columbians to make a trip to their local farmers’ market between September 12 and 19, thank the farmers and producers who make it possible, and experience the food, people and community that make each market unique.