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Locally grown goodness

Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett emphasizes the benefits of locally grown food.

It’s the season for farmers’ markets, and I can’t think of a better way of spending a lovely summer morning or afternoon here in the Cariboo than visiting a local market and picking up some fresh produce for the week.

Farmers’ markets are a great place to meet people, get to know your community, and maybe find some food you didn’t know was grown locally, or some crafts you didn’t know were made right here.

With live music and a great atmosphere, visiting a local market is always fun. We have some excellent markets here in Williams Lake, like the Williams Lake Farmers Market in Boitanio Park every Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or the Oliver Street Market at the Old Courthouse Square on Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m. If you’ve never been to these markets, or haven’t been in a while, head down this Friday – you’re in for a treat!

Farmers’ markets also encourage people to buy local, which is great for the local economy, great for the community, and great for the environment. More and more people in B.C. are shopping at farmers’ markets, and the number of markets has more than doubled over the past ten years. According to the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, farmers markets across the province contributed $170 million in economic benefits last year – that’s a lot of money, and represents a 146 per cent increase since 2006. This is all great news, for our farmers and for consumers too.

So this week, instead of getting all your groceries at the supermarket, why not stop by the farmers’ market and buy something grown by our local farmers – and don’t forget about BC Farmers Appreciation Week in the second week of September!

 

Donna Barnett is the Liberal MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin.