Returning north Nanaimo market building community connections

A wide array of items is available from fresh baked goods and produce to coffee and honey.

Fabbro said the location and timing of the market is aimed to provide more options for shoppers, in addition to established options such as Wednesday’s Island Roots Market, and Sunday’s Cedar Farmers Market.

“It’s a Friday when you come home from work, you don’t have to do a big detour. It was a great success (last year), but we really also want to grow the interest and awareness about the importance of supporting local food, and the benefits of eating fresh local produce.”

Customers buying locally grown and sourced food at Discover Montessori School during their first Friday Farm Market in 2024. (Submitted)

Growth of the market was a key second-year goal for organizers, boosted by efforts to get solid buy-in from area farmers.

“We presented this as a place not only for the community to come and connect with farmers, but also for farmers to connect with other farmers. Also, it’s a location that is more in the north end, where most other markets are in the south end, so it creates another access opportunity for people in the community.”

While larger farmers and artisans can rent their own tables, smaller operations can sell their items at a table run by Food Hub volunteers.

New this year is an online ordering system, run through a private Facebook group where customers can pre-order items from vendors and pick them up at the market.

The market runs until Aug. 29.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Returning north Nanaimo market building community connections

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