There’s never been a better time to eat seasonally while supporting local food growers and suppliers on the Sunshine Coast. The farmers’ markets are in full bloom and local farm stands are beckoning with fresh-picked home-grown produce and farm fare up and down the Coast. You can also reap the benefits of convenient new farm collectives and community supported agriculture programs, now up and running.
Fresh, locally grown foods are not only packed full of healthful and readily available nutrients, consuming them offers connection and support to our local farming economy and benefits the whole community by boosting food security.
There are wonderful Farmers’ Markets on the Coast on varying days and locations. Check them out, and in between market days, visit the pop-up and established farm stands, or consider purchasing fresh food from farming cooperatives and collectives.
The Farm Gate Market is an all-season market on Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at Roberts Creek Hall. For more details on this and other local markets, see www.markets.bcfarmersmarket.org
Madeira Park Farmers’ Market is now running seasonally at Harbour Spirit Centre (Mad Park Bistro location) on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Madeira Park.
Friday Market at Gibsons Public Market runs seasonally on Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m. at 473 Gower Point Road, in Lower Gibsons.
Sechelt Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market is a seasonal market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Cowrie Street at Ocean Avenue, in downtown Sechelt.
Gibsons Landing Sunday Market runs seasonally on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Holland Park across from Winegarden Park in Lower Gibsons.
Sechelt Farm Collective is an online farmers’ market, offering fresh and sustainably grown foods and staples all produced exclusively on the Sunshine Coast. Join the email list at [email protected] to receive their weekly fresh sheet and place an order for pick-up.
Gibsons Farm Collective is a group of eight Sunshine Coast farmers also offering their produce and products conveniently online for ordering each week. Find out more, sign up and place your order for pickup weekly at www.gibsonsfarmcollective.com
Persephone Brewing launched an exciting community supported agriculture (CSA) program this spring. The Beer Farm Food Box offers shares of the farm’s harvest and members receive a portion of the bounty every week, with the bonus option of being able to add locally made beer to your box! Find out about next season’s CSA at www.persephonebrewing.com/CSA
