Image Credit: Kamloops Food Policy Council

By Daniela Ginta

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Come for the market goodies, stay for the sense of belonging

Jun 18, 2024 | 3:19 PM

IT’S SATURDAY, which means that it’s farmers’ market day. (There is a Wednesday market day, too, by the way.) In our family, we shape our weekend activities around this weekly event, unless we are out of town altogether.

Okay, that sounds a bit silly, you might think. I’ll argue it’s not and I have solid reasons why — aside from the out-of-this-world pretzels and salad turnips, two personal favourites.

There’s no other place where ‘local’ comes together the way it does at the farmers’ market.

First, it’s the food — it’s the freshest you’ll get. Ask any of the farmers, bakers and other goodie makers about when they get their stuff ready for the market. Veggies are picked either in early, early morning or the night before, and baked goods take shape the day before the market. There are also fresh food and beverages made on the spot.

Alongside the food, there’s lovely soaps, wood carvings, paintings, pottery, and artsy fabrics and threads that have been transformed into eye-catching clothing or home decor. I’ll call it mesmerizing and leave it at that.

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Then there’s the gardening offerings. Take home some seedlings and create your own magic in the garden. Gardening serves a double purpose — growing food and seeing how riddled with challenges growing food can be. (It’s humbling, too.)

Which takes me to the big reason why we plan our weekend around the farmers’ market — local food. Our farmers’ market is what gives the community a heart, you see, because no matter how you toss it, food remains the thing we cannot stray from. We need it daily — a few times per day, in fact — and we depend on it not just for nutrition, but also for joy and connection with the land and with our loved ones.

The pandemic and then the devastating floods that temporarily severed the connection between the Lower Mainland and the B.C. Interior were a reminder of why a resilient local economy is a must. But creating such an economy doesn’t just happen. Resilient communities are built slowly, and one of the conditions to establish them is that there ought to be a solid foundation. Locally produced food is one of the pillars of that foundation, and by extension, our farming community who builds it, one planted row, one basketful of produce, and one freshly baked loaf at a time.

It’s not just about the freshness and it is not just something you grab in a hurry to soothe your hunger. Locally produced food — and goods in general — are the reassurance that we’re in a good place, literally and otherwise, when it comes to having what we need to survive and thrive as a community.

There’s an after-effect of being a regular at the farmers’ market — you’ll find yourself wondering about the larger picture of local food sustainability, and as you do so, you may come across the hub where food policy, food security and hands-on projects come alive and grow. Yes, it’s the Kamloops Food Policy Council, the longest standing independent food policy council in Canada, who establishes projects like the Gleaning Abundance program, The Stir, the Butler Urban Farm, and a growing seed library.

And if you’re so inclined to take it one step further and learn about our local food system, don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to get involved in local initiatives, and with that affirm your belonging to the community. Getting involved in community is yet another after-effect of attending the farmers’ market – and a good one at that.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.