It has been a challenging season for farmers’ markets, but Errington farmers agree that it has been a season of glorious food nonetheless.
As with many others, our farmers’ market society has faced many challenges during the current health pandemic. While our move from the forest market site to the big field of the Errington Community Park was a significant change for our visitors, we are grateful to have been able to continue uninterrupted operations throughout the season by creating safe and effective new systems for managing public health precautions.
This year, we were gratified to receive generous support from the Parksville Qualicum Foundation in the form of a grant to help us both maintain a safe market environment and supply more fresh local food to people who need it the most.
Because of the foundation’s assistance we have been able to increase and broaden our participation in the Nutrition Coupon Program, which provides fresh food vouchers to local pregnant women, mothers with small children, and seniors. Administered by the BC Farmers Market Association and the province, it is a critical tool for connecting local individuals with fresh and nutrient-dense meal ingredients.
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The gift that we have received from the foundation has allowed us to spend thousands more dollars on nutrition coupons distributed by outstanding local social organizations including Family Place and the SOS. As a result, many more seniors and young families received coupons each week to buy their food at the Errington Farmers Market; a win for families, farmers and the health of our local community.
While the farmers’ market has now come to a close for the season, we are pleased to be hosting a special Harvest Market on Saturday, Oct. 3 in the Errington Community Park Field (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
We have much to celebrate. We look back upon a season that presented us with new and difficult challenges, but that also brought us together as a society and as a community in powerful and lasting ways. Thank you to our farmers, our vendors, our volunteers, our managers, our visitors and many supporters for a season of growth.
The Errington Farmers’ Market Society