We frequently get compliments on the lovely images we’ve used  in our materials and on our site – did you know that all of them (as in every! single! one!) are images that volunteer photographers, both professional and amateur, have taken and given us the liberty of using? We feel really lucky because so many people find inspiration for nice photos at the market and we are always delighted when a new email, tweet, or search results in seeing new and pretty pictures – especially if it’s viewing the market in a way we hadn’t considered before. If pictures say a thousand words, we love what you are saying about us.

Here are two images we found recently from Flickr member hudsonny that really float our boat because they are depictions of the market the way we want to be seen – a community gathering place with producers and shoppers who care.

We’re always on the lookout for some new luscious food and market images to use, and 2011 is the year we’ll be working to expand our library. Want to help? Come to the market (winter and summer!), shoot some angles of the market you’re seeing, and tell us about it in one of the following ways:

• Upload to flickr with the tag “rcfm2011” (and feel free to add it to our group)
• Tweet it (Make sure you @nwfarmers and use the hashtag #rcfm2011)
• Email us at marketmanager at rcfm dot ca (we’ll upload it and tweet it ourselves)

With your permission, we’d like to have a copy of the photo in our library for use in our promotional materials and website. You’ll get a special limited edition RCFM button proclaiming you an official volunteer photographer, and better yet, you’ll be entered to win a super duper prize package, which we’ll be drawing at our last market in the Summer 2011 season – October 6th.

What’s in the prize package? I’m glad you asked! UPDATED March 2nd 2011

• A private tasting for 4 to our favourite local New Westminster winery Pacific Breeze Winery, valued at $100
• Tea for two every month for a year at Great Wall Tea Co, located in River Market, valued at $72
• Two annual subscriptions to Edible Vancouver Magazine: be greedy and have two years all for yourself, or be generous and have one for yourself and one for a lucky friend!, valued at $62.72

Check back as we establish other goodies in the prize bag.

A huge thank you to the sponsors who have donated their goods to the contest! Please check out these great local businesses:

We are very excited to have been supplied with a Green Zebra Guide to give away to one lucky market shopper at the upcoming March 12th market. The Green Zebra Guide is part coupon book and part buyer’s resource guide and the whole thing is actually published by TB Vets Charitable Foundation – you know, the keytag people who raise money for hospitals in BC. Here’s what they tell us about the Guide:

“You can enjoy local savings for sustainable living with 2011 Green Zebra guide.  Discover the best of the Lower Mainland with thousands of dollars in savings at local, community-minded restaurants & markets, spas, yoga studios, ecoapparel boutiques, bike shops, family outings, theatres, and more!  Sprinkled through the stylish book are practical tips and fun ideas for all aspects of a sustainable lifestyle.  It’s easy to change your stripes…with Green Zebra!”

To enter, simply fill out a ticket at the info desk in the lobby of the market on March 12th with your contact info. We aren’t collecting your info – all leftover tickets are destroyed after each market. You can also sign up for our email newsletter at the market (or sign up online right here through My Markets News!) We’ll send you an email before each market event.

Check out Green Zebra Guide online and explore what the guide offers.

As part of our mission to support all of our community, RCFM allocates one space to a community group at every market. The space is offered free of charge, and includes the use of a table, two chairs, and a tent. We encourage groups from New Westminster to apply and give preference to groups working with food security, environmental concerns and health issues. For our complete guidelines and application form, please check out the community group page. We are now accepting applications from community groups for the Summer 2011 season. We encourage you to apply early – the spots fill up fast.