Sunday July 20, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Visiting a farmer’s market weekly or monthly is hopefully part of many people’s household grocery shopping.
That’s the view of BC Farmers’ Markets which helps promote local farmers markets across BC.
Buying food from BC farmers and food entrepreneurs is part of the shop local movement. That fits within the larger ‘buy Canadian’ trend under the current economic challenges with the United States.
Food prices:
Food prices at local farmers’ markets may not be cheaper than at the grocery store. But the produce is likely fresher as a way to get optimal nutrition. Local farmers possibly also grow produce without pesticides and without preservative chemicals that are used for long-distance transport of food.
A BC government-funded nutrition coupon program is available to low-income households, pregnant women and seniors but the program is now full for 2025.
Local market locations:
Some local farmers markets are weekly on Thursday evenings (Sooke Night Market) and Saturday mornings (Sooke Country Market) in Sooke, on Saturdays (Goldstream Farmers Market) in Langford, Saturdays at Moss Street Market in the Fairfield neighborhood of Victoria, and on Sundays at the Metchosin Farmers Market in Metchosin.
Check for all Farmers Market locations on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
Food banks:
Fresh produce is sometimes available at food banks — whether sourced from grocery store rescue or directly from farmers and community gardens in their local areas.
Grow your own:
Of course, the freshest possible fruits and vegetables are available from your own backyard, urban growing space or community garden.
The non-profit Urban Food Resilience Initiatives Society helps guide municipalities in providing urban food growing spaces.
===== RELATED:
BC Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon program now full for 2025 (June 18, 2025)
NEWS SECTIONS: FOOD SECURITY | AFFORDABILITY | URBAN FOOD RESILIENCE