The mid-week Island Roots market runs every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Beban Park, offering a wide array of fresh produce and artisan goods. (Island Roots Market)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FRESH AND LOCAL

Mid-week Island Roots market boosted by best winter ever

May 23, 2022 | 10:01 AM

NANAIMO — A local mid-week market is growing from strength to strength.

The Island Roots market, which is open every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the south end of Beban Park on Bowen Rd., offers another opportunity to access fresh, local produce, handmade baked goods and other artisanal products.

Market manager Michele Greene told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re now outside through the summer months after a successful winter season inside the Centennial Building.

“This winter was our largest winter market ever. We had close to 30 seasoned vendors, meaning they were there every week and they’re finding new ways of extending the growing season.”

Dozens of vendors now line the grass along Bowen Rd. behind Cliff McNabb Arena every week, continuing the momentum gained over the winter.

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“We had carrots all winter, we had potatoes quite late, the regular root vegetables and now we’re back at greens but we had a lot more than anybody expected to find at the market.”

Greene added more and more shoppers are not only coming for treats and one or two items, they’re doing the equivalent of a grocery shop.

Many regulars are there like clockwork every week.

“It’s really increased, not so much the number of shoppers, it’s the seriousness of the shoppers. They’re there to shop, it’s not just to look. People are coming to get their weekly groceries so it’s really wonderful to see.”

More additional events will accompany the vendor booths as the weather slowly improves.

Live music is slated to begin Wednesday, May 25 along with more food trucks and live demonstrations.

“‘I’ll be inviting groups like local children’s book authors and adult authors, we’d like to do more, like showing about collecting honey with some beekeepers at the market,” Greene said.

Greene believes the Island Roots market is the only one of its kind on Vancouver Island, which runs year-round, mid-week.

Markets in Esquimalt and Courtenay are mid-week, along with street markets in Parksville and Nanaimo, however, they only run during the summer months.

The popular Cedar Farmers Market is a rain-or-shine event from Mother’s Day to Halloween.

“People don’t know that we’re open year-round,” Greene said. “We advertise and we have signage around the market in the summer but there’s still people who come in the summer and said ‘oh, I didn’t know you were year-round.’ So that’s been a big challenge.”

More information on the Island Roots market is available on their website.

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