The Comox Valley will host 13th annual conference and AGM for the BC Association of Farmers' Markets.
Scheduled to take place March 2 and 3, For the Love of Farmers' Markets will be held at the Best Western Plus Westerly Hotel and Convention Centre, in partnership with the Comox Valley Farmers' Market Association.
Highlights include a keynote address about market integrity from Stacy Miller, executive director of the Farmers' Market Coalition; sessions on how to measure social and economic impact and position a market for success; and roundtable and breakout discussions.
"The Comox Valley is known as a hub for agriculture and it's an honour to welcome farmers from across the province to our region, showing off the bounty from our land and sea," said Murray Presley, president of Comox Valley Economic Development, one of the event sponsors.
"Our region is unique in that it has a popular, year-round farmers' market — instead of packing up in the wintertime, our climate and demand for the product enables our progressive producers to continue to meet the demand throughout the seasons."
"This is the one time of the year that markets have a chance to share ideas and talk about successes and challenges, face to face," said Elizabeth Quinn, manager of the BC Farmers' Market Association. "Each year, themes emerge — helping us direct our action in the coming year. We are always happy to hear new voices."
The conference kicks off next Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. with a welcoming reception, continuing next Saturday with welcoming remarks from Minister of Agriculture Don McRae, and a day of workshops, panels, roundtables and breakout sessions.
After the conference closes at 4:45 p.m., the BC Association of Farmers' Markets will hold its annual general meeting and election, starting at 5 p.m.
For full details or to register, visit www.bcfarmersmarket.org/conference/index.htm or call 604-734-9797.
The BC Association of Farmers' Markets is a not-for-profit organization committed to developing and strengthening the capacity of farmers' markets in all regions of British Columbia.
The Comox Valley Farmers' Market Association is a non-profit organization committed to: promoting the economic health of the local farm community, providing quality locally grown farm products, educating the community in agricultural issues, and promoting local agriculture.
— Comox Valley Economic Development