Inclement weather had a significant impact on the farmers’ market season throughout Vancouver Island.
It’s not uncommon for a farmers’ market on the island to attract upwards of 40 vendors a weekend, but the bad weather cut those numbers in half on a number of weekends throughout the season.
Vickey Brown is a board member of the B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets and says that supporting local growers is crucial, especially when the major American exporters are affected by disasters.
The driving rain and snow forced many growers, who rely on hot weather crops like tomatoes, berries, and eggplant, to start the spring seeding season late, resulting in far less produce, and far less revenue.
Last winter was particularly hard on farmers, especially those who specialize in growing winter crops.
There are eight all-season farmers’ markets on Vancouver Island, including the ones in Duncan and Courtenay.
