VITORIA - With a season of liquor sales under their belts, B.C. farmers’ markets are dusting off their tables and opening up for another successful year of locally grown and raised food and locally produced alcohol beverages.

From honey mead to potato vodka to blackberry wine, unique B.C. agrifood products are providing the base for this burgeoning craft - joining the farm-to-table movement to the tune of almost 90 B.C. manufacturers registered to sell at farmers’ markets so far this year, in more than 40 different communities throughout the province.

Natural relationships are beginning to build, and markets are coming up with unique ways to welcome new liquor vendors into the fold. For example, the Pemberton Distillery has teamed up with a well-known family farm in the area - purchasing local, organic potatoes to create their award-winning vodka - which is now sold at the Pemberton Farmers’ Market.

The Moss Street Market in Victoria has created a tasting room where customers can sample products in a dedicated tasting area, and a third-generation orchard in Vernon, the BX Press, is quickly becoming the talk of the town and a huge tourist draw with their assortment of ciders, sold at the Vernon Farmers’ Market.

The Kamloops Saturday Market will be offering pairing events later in the season, featuring two 2015 Okanagan Wine Festivals award winners. This summer is also the first year, following a successful pilot program in 2014, that many Vancouver Farmers’ Markets, including the River District Farmers’ Market, will be selling beer, wine, cider and spirits.

Building the local market for British Columbia foods is a key component of government's Agrifoods Strategy, a component of the BC Jobs Plan, to lead the agrifoods sector growth into a $14-billion-a-year industry by 2017.

Progress by Numbers:

• B.C. currently has 299 grape, fruit and other wineries, 109 breweries and 46 distilleries. 
• Almost 90 manufacturers have already applied to sell their liquor products at a B.C. farmers’ market - with many more expected to take advantage of this opportunity in the coming months, as farmers’ market season gets underway.
• The B.C. government provided $85,000 in Buy Local Program funding to the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets for a 2014 campaign to help spread the word about farmers’ markets - encouraging more people to buy and try locally.
• There are more than 20,000 family farms in B.C. providing healthy, local food to B.C. families.

Quick Facts:

• Since June 21, 2014, beer, wine, cider and spirits have been available, alongside fresh fruits and veggies, at B.C. farmers’ markets.
• According to the BC Wine Institute, B.C. farmers' markets reported an overall traffic increase in 2014 and many attribute this to the addition of BC liquor sales.
• According to the BC Association of Farmers' Markets, the number of B.C. farmers' markets has more than doubled in the last 10 years. 
• Buying local food results in fresh and trusted meals on your table, and also supports more than 61,000 B.C. jobs, food security, and B.C.’s diverse and strong communities.

Quotes:

Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton -

“Allowing the sale of liquor at B.C. farmers’ markets is a great example of government cutting red tape for real people - and has proven to be one of the most popular changes coming out of the Liquor Policy Review. Offering B.C. liquor manufacturers a unique, additional opportunity to sell their products is a direct benefit to them, to their community and to their customers.”

Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick -

“A trip to the market is so much more than just veggies these days - not only are farmers’ markets social events, they’re one-stop shops for everything from locally raised meat and locally processed cheese to honey, baked goods, and B.C. liquor products - and I encourage you to visit your local farmers’ market this season.”

BC Association of Farmers’ Markets president Jon Bell -

“We are going into our second year of liquor sales at B.C. farmers’ markets and our members are anticipating another busy season. The farm-to-glass concept is taking hold and has provided market customers with even more reasons to visit their market - from the unique opportunity to learn about local food and liquor pairings; to additional vendors that are helping to attract customers even before the market season is in full swing.”

Connect and join the conversation:

Hashtags:

#FarmtoGlass

#BCLiquor

BC Liquor Policy Review, visit:

Website: www.engage.gov.bc.ca/liquorpolicyreview

Twitter: @BCGovNews

BC Ministry of Agriculture, visit:

Website: http://t.co/kdMOCwVZZW

Twitter: @FoodsBC

BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, visit:

Website: www.bcfarmersmarket.org

Twitter: @BCFarmersMarket

Media Contacts:

Ministry of Justice
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 213-3602

Ministry of Agriculture
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 356-1674

BC Association of Farmers’ Markets
604 734-9797