A new farmers' market for buying fresh veggies, local meats and baked goods is now being set up every week in Nanaimo's East Wellington area.
The Discover Montessori School's farmers' market is a collaboration between the school and Nanaimo Food Hub, an emerging group aimed at creating more sales channels for local farmers and promoting farming education.
Rhianna Solomon, co-founder of the Nanaimo Food Hub, said the market is a pilot project intended to engage with the public and work with local producers.
"[Discover Montessori School] is really keen to be a contributor to local food security and be actively engaged in producing food and involving the kids in that, so the partnership here really allowed us to develop this pilot project…" Solomon said. "If we have enough traffic and we're well enough known, I could see a farm store or farm stand evolving, but we're trying to build awareness and just become recognized as a place you can find fresh local food."
Participating vendors include Glassen Farms, Morgan Creek Farm, Azimuth Neighbourhood Farm, Grouchy Goat Coffee, Boots Floral, Mint Family Farm, Westwood Acres Farm and Orchard, Discover Montessori Farm School, and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools Learning Alternatives' Woodlands school farm.
The market is open every Friday afternoon from 4-7 p.m. at the Discover Montessori School, located at 3460 Jingle Pot Rd. Parking is available and visitors are asked to avoid parking on the road.
Come November, Solomon said the market is planned to close for the season until re-starting in February.
"It's been a trial, see how it goes [and] it's been going really well," Solomon said. "Nothing's really set, but it's around a nine-month market to have an additional sales outlet for the farmers and for the school, and it's proven to be quite successful."
