By Dylana Milobar

No more plastic bags, future cannabis vendors: Previewing the 2019 Farmers’ Market

Mar 30, 2019 | 12:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — A number of changes will be coming to the 2019 season for the 41st annual Kamloops Farmers’ Market, including the removal of plastic bags given out by vendors, and discussions starting around possible cannabis vendors.

Market Manager Greg Unger says the market vendors will be going without plastic bags this year.

“We’re asking that all vendors stop using the style of bag that you find at the grocery check out,” He explains, “We figure that as the Farmer’s Market, we’re in a place where we can sort of lead by example. Environmental sustainability is certainly a huge issue for this day and age, so it’s important that we do this.”

For alternatives, Unger says vendors can provide cloth, paper, or compostable bags, and there are also Farmers’ Market cloth bags available at the information booth.

“The ban is just on vendors, so if customers have their own plastic bags in the market, we’re not going to turn people away.”

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In the future Unger says the ban could extend to plastic utensils given out by prepared food vendors and trucks, but for now it”ll just be the grocery-style bags. 

“We haven’t banned straws or plastic cups. Though the board and I feel that plastic straws are not a good thing at the market,” He explains, “We strongly encourage food vendors to use environmentally friendly options.”

Along with a push for reusable bags, Unger says there are a number of new features this season.

“You can look forward to seeing a few of the breweries in town, there is going to be some wineries,” He says, “And one or two new food trucks that we’re going to have at the Farmer’s Market.”

With the legalization of recreational marijuana, Unger says the Farmers’ Market could one day see legal, regulated cannabis sellers join their list of vendors. 

“It is definitely a hot topic right now,” He says, “There has been a lot of talk internally among farmers markets about the selling of cannabis of farmers’ markets.”

Unger says most markets are excited for the potential, but cannabis certainly won’t be an instantaneous addition.

“The legislation just isn’t in place yet for farmer’s markets or for even products like edibles or oils, that sort of thing,” He says, “But it’s coming down the pipeline. Word is that some of the legislation could even be in place by the end of this year. So who knows, maybe by the end of this market season we could see our first cannabis vendor.”

The 2019 Farmers’ Market kicks off in the 200 block of St. Paul Street, Saturday, April 20th, with the first Wednesday 400 block Victoria Street market coming up May 1st. 

For more information, go to the Kamloops Farmers’ Market website, found here.