Support for Local Farmers and a Year-Round Marketplace

Victoria Downtown Public Market Society

By Linda Chan

Did you know that there is a once (now twice) a month Winter Farmers' Market selling local foods, held on the lower level of Market Square? You can buy local winter produce, sprouts, exotic mushrooms, bread, cheese, meat, seafood, honey, hot apple cider and much more from all over the island while listening to live music as you shop. Since November 20, 2010, people have been enjoying the quality food while supporting local farmers and food producers.

The idea of the Winter Farmers' market was an outgrowth of the highly successful Eat Here Now: Victoria Harvest Festival in September 2010. James Bay resident Timothy Trebilcock, organizer of the Victoria Winter Farmers' Market and a director of the Victoria Downtown Public Market Society, put it this way: "We discovered so much great food produced right here on the island and wanted to fill a need to better showcase that quality."

The Winter Farmers' Market runs from 11am to 3 pm, with Saturday, March 19, being the next date and Saturday, March 26, being the last winter market of the season before the usual summer markets (such as James Bay and Moss Street markets) resume again in April. The Society plans to continue the Winter Farmers' Market each year from November to the end of March until a permanent downtown market location is established.

Meanwhile, the Victoria Downtown Public Market Society has other events planned. A screening of the film "Dirt", co-hosted by Philippe Lucas and MLA/Agriculture Critic Lana Popham with a presentation by farmer and local food advocate Bob Maxwell, will be held at the Fernwood Community Association Hall, 1923 Fernwood Ave., on Tuesday, March 15, at 7:00 pm. Admission is by donation with all proceeds going to the Victoria Downtown Market Society. Stay tuned for Eat Here Now 2: Victoria Harvest planned tentatively for Sunday, September 11, at Spirit (Centennial) Square. Eat Here Now is a free, family-friendly, festival featuring some of the best farmers, fishmongers, butchers, bakers, processors, and restaurateurs in the region. To celebrate the craft of our food producers, there will be live music from local performers, a corn boil, a wild salmon roast and local restaurants demonstrating how they make the best use of regional produce and value-added food products. To be informed of the latest news, please visit and to volunteer, call Linda at (250) 380-6383.