About

Vancouver Farmers Markets (otherwise known as Your Local Farmers Market Society) is about people who love fresh food at festive gatherings. With the initial goal in 1995 to create the fun and value of weekly Farmers Markets in urban settings, the Society and the Markets have become Vancouver plazas of fun, discovery, and connecting.

The good feeling of the Markets gets even deeper. We produce our weekly Markets to create healthy food networks that sustain our land, our community, and our homes.

When you shop at Vancouver Farmers Markets, you help keep BC farmers farming.

Through the Markets and our special events, the Society spreads awareness of agricultural issues facing our largely urban society. These issues range from the truths about genetically modified foods, to fair pricing for agricultural products, to the glory of a variety of foods available with a locally-networked food system. If you have questions about how and what kinds of food arrive at your table, a visit to the Markets, and a tour of this website, will bring you some fresh answers.

Vancouver Farmers Markets History - 1994 - 1999

2009-10 YLFMS Board of Directors

YLFMS Constitution and By-Laws

Amy Robertson, Board Chair
Amy joined the Market board in 2005, bringing with her years of organic farming and market experience.  She and her husband owned and operated what is now Glen Valley Organic Co-op, and is a founding member of Langley Organic Growers, the Mission Farmer's Market, Happy Planet Foods, and Better Choice Organics, a farmer's marketing group.  She is also the past  president of BCARA and the Linnaea Farm Society on Cortes Island.  Amy lives in Vancouver with Gregor and their 4 children, has a backyard garden, and loves to weave both willow and cedar baskets.

Joni Sherman, Co-Chair
Joni Sherman joined the Vancouver Farmers Market Board in 2005 with great enthusiasm. She is an avid gardener, permaculturist, and an aspiring apiarist. Joni is an active member of the YLFMS Vendor Advisory Committee, various fundraising campaigns and membership development. She advocates urban, regional and sustainable agriculture by eating locally and seasonally whenever possible.

She is a librarian, cyclist, runner, and is a true believer in community.

Kevin Klippenstein, Treasurer - Kevin has served on the board for 4 years and has been organic farming since 2001. He and his wife own and operate Klippers Organic Acres in Cawston, B.C. On Saturdays and Sundays he can be found at Trout lake or Kits markets in Vancouver.

Kevin spent 10 years previous to farming as a manager in the hospitality industry. Kevin really enjoyed teaching and helped initiate the food and beverage server apprenticeship program. Now as a farmer they have an apprenticeship program on their farm.

Over the last 7 years his farm has grown exponentially from 5 acres to 40 acres and their apprenticeship program has grown to take 5 apprentices a year. They have now started a CSA program on their farm as well. Kevin is on the board of the Organic Farming Institute which is an online learning school. Kevin believes that getting young people into farming and making it sustainable is essential to building a strong food system.

Andrew Hale
Andrew Hale graduated from the University of Victoria in 2003 with a degree in Geography and Environmental Studies. In 2005, Andrew completed a certificate in Community and Economic Development at SFU.
Andrew believes that a strong, locally-focused food production system is essential. He has farmed for the past six growing seasons at the Yarrow Ecovillage and most Saturdays, during the summer, he can be found at his farm's stall at Trout Lake.

Bob Ransford
Bob Ransford is a communications and public affairs consultant who specializes in dealing with urban development issues and complicated urban land use challenges. He is also a community volunteer who has contributed his energy and ideas over the last 30 years to a myriad of community-serving agencies. His earlier career pursuits were in journalism and politics where he acquired an advanced understanding of public policy decision-making. He has written a regular column on urban affairs in the Vancouver Sun newspaper for nearly nine years. Bob has a keen interest in agricultural urbanism and its application in our everyday lives. He brings his communications skills, knowledge of local government decision-making and his passion for community building and for food and agriculture to the Board. Bob Ransford is a fourth generation Richmond resident, living on the same property his family began farming nearly a century ago.

Deb Taschuk - bio coming soon.

Gigi Egan - bio coming soon.

Mel Lehan
Mel is a long-time community builder who has worked on social justice and environmental issues.  He has helped to preserve the Point Grey foreshore, created St. James Community Square,  worked with parents to improve the educational system at the inner-city school of Macdonald and helped protect the jobs of workers and the quality of service in the Vancouver Handi-Dart system.
 
Lately, he has been very involved in food security issues.  Mel helped to found the Kitsilano Farmer's Market and is working to help save the UBC Farm.  This has led to him being on the Board of the Vancouver Farmer's Markets. Mel  is working to build community involvement in the local markets.  Last year he helped create a bicycle valet system and this year he is implementing both a bicycle food delivery and a bicycle repair system at the Kitsilano Farmer's Market.

Claire Williams - bio coming soon.

To contact the Board, email board at eatlocal.org