Some people believe that Grocery Store vs. Farmers' Market is a debate that boils down to money vs. quality, but a better way to look at is finding the perfect balance of money, quality, and convenience that works for you! If money was no issue (which would be nice) shopping at a farmers' market would win every time because it has the unique atmosphere, the taste of fresh food straight from the earth, and the fact that you can feel good supporting local farmers. By supporting local farming your helping more than that particular farmer, but the world as a whole because most local farmers use natural, heirloom seeds that haven't been as genetically altered, as well as less pesticides and chemical usage which means less contamination of our earth and water.
Did you know most produce that you see in the grocery travels an average of 13-hundred miles before it ever gets to the store. To keep it from going bad farmers end up harvesting the fruits and veggies before they are ripe; they are picked green and gassed to actually keep that tomato green for a month. By harvesting early, those fruits and vegetables not only loose freshness, but also many nutrients since they weren't able to ripen naturally on the vine.
Money is not always saved in the grocery store, it really pays to shop around, often times farmer's markets have been shown to offer cheaper or comparable prices to those of the major grocery stores. The money spent on vegetables from large chain grocery stores is sometimes wasted because the fruits and vegetables aren't as fresh and more prone to rot before you have a chance to use them.
Most people find that shopping at the local Farmer's Market is a lot more fun than spending the day at a major grocery store, not only is the atmosphere more relaxed and inviting but it's a place that's fun for the kids and the whole family. It's often a community event where you can meet old friends and new neighbours. Although some find that farmers' markets are not all that convenient because they are too out of the way or they mean an extra stop when running errands instead of one major stop at the grocery store.
Obviously, all of these conditions depend on where you live and what's available to you, but I know that here in Vancouver there are multiple farmers markets that happen covering different days and different neighbourhoods. After sampling their wares and finding them better than other options near me and the costs are very comparable. Farmers' markets aren't always open year round so during the spring and summer months take advantage of them!
Vancouver Farmers' Market Dates and Locations:
Abbotsford Farm and Country Market
Day SaturdayTime: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Where: Montrose Avenue and George Ferguson Way, downtown Abbotsford
Date Closes: December 21, 2013
Ambleside Farmers’ Market
Day: SundayTime: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Where: Parking Lot behind the Police Station on Bellevue between 13th and 14th in Ambleside, West Vancouver
Date Closes: October 27, 2013
Burnaby Market
Day: SaturdayTime: 9:00am – 2:00pm
Where: North Parking Lot Burnaby City Hall 4949 Canada Way
Date Closes: October 26, 2013
Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market
Day: SundayTime: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Where: The Orchard of the Fort Langley National Historic Fort
Date Closes: October 12, 2013
Haney Farmers’ Market
Day: SaturdayTime: 9:00am – 2:00pm
Where: Memorial Peace Park, on 224th Street between Lougheed Highway and Dewdney Trunk road in downtown Maple Ridge.
Date Closes: October 27, 2013
Lonsdale Quay Market
Day: SaturdayTime: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Where: On the East Plaza at Lonsdale Quay Market & Shops at 123 Carrie Cates Court at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver
Date Closes: October 26, 2013
Oak Street Farmers’ Market
Day: WednesdayTime: 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Where: At the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, Oak Street and 49th Ave West
Date Closes: October 30, 2013
NOTE: ALL ORGANIC!
Port Moody Farmers’ Market
Day: FridayTime: 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Where: Port Moody Recreation Complex
Date Closes: October 25, 2013
Poirier Street Farmers’ Market
Day: FridayTime: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Where: Dogwood Pavillion Parking Lot
Date Closes: October 27, 2013
Royal City Farmers’ Market
Day: ThursdayTime: 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Where: Tipperary Park – 4th Street and Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC
Date Closes: October 10, 2013
Simon Fraser University Pocket Market
Day: WednesdayTime: 11:00am
Where: Cleveland Ave and Vancouver St, Squamish
Date Closes: October 16, 2013
Squamish Farmers’ Market
Day: SaturdayTime: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Where: Cleveland Ave and Vancouver St, Squamish
Date Closes: October 26, 2013
Surrey Urban Farmers’ Market
Day: WednesdayTime: 1:00pm – 6:00pm
Where: North Surrey Recreation Centre Courtyard – 10275 135th Street, Surrey BC
Date Closes: October 9, 2013
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