We’ve been asked for a few more details about the winter market so here is a list of some of the Frequently Asked Questions we’re getting.

Where is River Market?

River Market is the building that many of you know as Westminster Quay. It is located at 810 Quayside Drive on the riverfront in New Westminster. It’s been beautifully renovated and is currently being filled with tenants and is open for business. You can find River Market on Facebook, Twitter, and on the web. Here’s a map:

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How do we get to it?

You can get to River Market a few ways: You can transit by taking the skytrain and walking from New Westminster Station. You can take the overhead walkway or you can access it on level ground via Begbie Street or the McInnes Overpass. You can take a number of different buses that terminate at New West Skytrain station – 123, 112, C9, 106, etc. Follow this link to use Translink’s planner to help you get from your house to New Westminster Station.

If you’re travelling by car, you can access via Quayside Drive which is accessible from Stewardson Way at Third Street, via the McInnes Overpass from Carnarvon Street, or you can acces from Columbia Street at Begbie Street. There is surface pay parking available on either end of River Market ($1.50 for two hours). For the market, we’ll be offering free accessible parking for those displaying the handicapped sign in their vehicle, as well as a few free 15 minute pick up parking spaces. Stay tuned for information about free parking options we are working on. Here are some great directions on River Market’s website.

What day and time is the Royal City Farmers Market winter market?

The winter market is once a month on the first Saturday of the month from November to April. It is from 10am-2pm.  The market will take place indoors and outdoors, upstairs and downstairs. The dates are November 5, December 3, January 7, February 4, March 3, April 7. If you want, you can sign up to get a reminder for the market, or you can also add our public online Google Calendar to yours.

How many vendors do you expect?

We expect about 40 vendors at each market (as a comparison, the market at the church hall the past two winters saw about 25) and you should expect to see fresh and preserved foods, crafts, kids’ activities, music, and community groups.

My community group / sport team / not for profit would like to come and fundraise at the market! How do we do that? 

We invite community groups to apply for free spaces by following the guidelines and application process here. Spaces are allocated and we encourage you to apply early. We do give preference to groups working in New Westminster and which are focused on food security, the environment, and health.

I have an awesome product I want to sell at your market! 

We are ever so pleased that we have extra space this year and can expand to include more vendors. As long as you have made, baked or grown the product yourself, we’d love to hear from you. Here is more info about becoming an RCFM vendor. We encourage people just starting out as well as seasoned pros to join our roster.

Any other questions? Please feel free to leave us a comment and we’ll update this FAQ as we are able.

Well, the countdown is on as we wind down our summer season with only three markets left. We’re starting the planning process for our winter market, and are now accepting applications from vendors, and so this week we’re offering part one of a fun little contest that could see you walking away with a prize pack valued at almost $75!

Here’s how to play along: come to the market each week for the next three weeks. Pop by the info table and pick up a stamp card. We’ll stamp a different stamp each week. After you collect all three stamps, add your name and number to the back, and drop it into the draw box. One lucky winner will win a prize package with $25 worth of gift certificates to be spent at the winter market, as well as an RCFM ceramic double walled mug, a set of three of our amazing new produce bags, and a t-shirt (from our existing inventory) AND a free 2012 membership to our organization.

Bonus draw!  Additionally, over this next three weeks, answer the question: What is the best thing about this 2011 summer farmers market season? and drop it in the draw box. One lucky winner will also be selected to win the same awesome prize package: $25 in gift certificates, the shirt, the mug, the produce bags, and the 2012 membership.

You may only win one draw, so we’ll pull the winner for the Stamped Card draw first, and if we pull the same name from the Best Thing draw, we’ll put it aside and pull another name.

Our musical guest this week is courtesy of Redrick Sultan, a four piece funk jazz band. Our music at the market is sponsored by the great people at the Heritage Grill. Be sure to check out the kids area with crafts sponsored by local realtor Derrick Thornhill, and stop by to see our facepainter Allyson to get your arm or face painted. Stop by to see what the folks from the New Westminster Hyack Festival Association are working on. And don’t forget about the cookbook swap! Look for it up at the info table and feel free to bring your unwanted cookbooks to swap for cookbooks from our stash. It’s a book for a book of approximate equal value, or you can buy a book for a minimum $2 donation.

You can reach the market via transit by taking the 106 bus or the Skytrain to Columbia Street Station and walking to the market at 4th and Royal. Parking is available in the neighbourhood for free along Royal Avenue, Queens Avenue, or at City Hall’s lot after 4:30. Please respect our neighbours. Cyclists can drop bikes off to the fine folks at our info desk at the top end of the market for safekeeping. Don’t forget to check out our cool new merchandise – we are now selling reusable produce bags made locally by the people at Carebags.

A list of all vendors attending the September 22nd market is below, but remember to check back for cancellations and updates! This list is current as of September 19th.

Eat On Site

• Eli’s Serious Sausage – handmade pork sausages grilled to perfection
• Gogo Java – Coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
• Mollie’s Minis – delightful and yummy mini donuts and other treats
• Ovenmonkey Bakery – selling fresh Langos – Hungarian fried flatbread
• Samosa Guy – hot vegetarian samosas and pakoras, as well as frozen take home samosas

Produce

• Apple Barn Pumpkin Farm – Peppers, tomatoes, apples & pumpkins
• Celyddon Farms – Certified organic produce from Delta
• Felix Farms – Guichon Farms – assorted locally grown produce by Fifth Generation Farmers in Delta
• Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
• Glen Valley Organic Farm – certified organic produce from a farm located only 50km from New Westminster
• Golden West Farms – Okanagan fruit grown in Summerland, many certified organic
• Maan Farms – assorted locally grown produce
• Nature Village Farm – Asian produce, potted herbs, and mushrooms grown in Richmond
• Red Barn Plants and Produce – assorted locally grown produce

Dairy

• Greendale Herb and Vine – Cheddar cheese, cheese curds, herbs, nut butters and honeycomb
• Little Qualicum Cheeseworks – High quality cheese from Vancouver Island

Meat & Fish

• Outwest Ranches – beef raised locally and fresh eggs
• Port Hardy Seafood – BC caught fish and prawns
• Rockweld Farm – BC frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs

Bread & Baking

• A Bread Affair – Breads
• Blackberry Hill – squares, cinnamon buns, and old fashioned yummies like crisp rice squares
• High Crow Gluten Free Foods – celiac friendly gluten free baking
• Sunrise Pita Company – pitas, chips, dips, baklava and and banana bread
• Sweet Thea Cake Company – tarts, pies, cookies, and cakes

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

• Ace Curries To Go – curry sauces
• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Amber’s Choice – soups, salad dressing and cookies
• Anne’s Gallery – Jams, jellies & knitting
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
• Jane’s Honey Bees – honey and other bee products
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs

Local Crafters

• Black Bamboo Artisans – hand made glazed pottery and knitting
• Dingolay Glass Creations – African and Caribbean fused glass jewelry
• Ildiko Jewelry – hand forged sterling silver jewelry
• The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential & fragrance oils, room sprays, body products

Our winter market applications are now available and applications are being accepted for our winter market, which runs the first Saturday of the month from November to April from 10-2 at River Market. Get your application in early to avoid being disappointed! We are looking for high quality vendors of all categories – prepared and fresh foods as well as artisan vendors. The increase in space at River market means we have more room to fit in a large selection of vendors. Plus, this year – no increased stall fees!

Please read through the Guidelines and Notes first. There are two versions of the application – one is form fillable and you can save it and then send it via email, or if you prefer snail mail, there is a printable version.

Big wheel keep on turnin’! [Turnin’!] Proud Mary keep on burnin’! [Burnin’!] Rollin’! Rollin’! Rollin’ on a river! 

Yes, this week we’re celebrating the wheeled things in our lives with a special market dedicated to the pedal powered, rollin’, spinnin’ wheels in our lives. Farmers and food producers see a lot of wheels as critical to their jobs: tractors, mills, spinning wheels… wheels are a natural part of food production. We thought we’d also celebrate other wheeled goodies – wagons, bikes, strollers, wheelchairs, scooters, and tricycles. Don’t miss the Kids’ (of all ages) Wheeled Parade at 6PM. Meet at the entrance to the walkway on Third Street, by the tennis club with your decorated and festooned wheeled transport. An RCFM representative will be there to line you up and get you going! Participants will parade along the walkway, into the market, and up to the northern grassy area, and receive fresh kettlecorn and fresh apple juice at the end of the parade.

As well, we’ll be hosting a few organizations and groups dedicated to bikes and other wheeled things. The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, an amazing two day bike ride through the Pacific Northwest, will be on hand to provide info about the 2012 Ride. The Tour de Coast team from Cops for Cancer, with representation from New Westminster police officers, will be there spinning, spinning, spinning, hoping to make their donation goal before they head out on the big ride to support pediatric cancers. We’re also excited that New West Cycle, long a supporter of the farmers market, will be there to offer guidance on how to do some basic bike maintenance on your steed, and Fraser River Bike Tours will be on hand to provide info about what sort of tours they offer. As well, the New Westminster chapter of the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition will be available with info on bike routes and how to make cycling a larger part of your life.

Our musical guest this week is popular favourite Ron Ulrich. Our music at the market is sponsored by the great people at the Heritage Grill. Be sure to check out the kids area with crafts sponsored by local realtor Derrick Thornhill, and stop by to see our facepainter Allyson to get your arm or face painted. Stop by to see what the folks from the Royal City Gogos are working on. And don’t forget about the cookbook swap! It was so popular when we introduced it a few weeks ago, we’ve decided to include this as a regular fixture at all non rainy markets for the rest of the season. Look for it up at the info table and feel free to bring your unwanted cookbooks to swap for cookbooks from our stash. It’s a book for a book of approximate equal value, or you can buy a book for a minimum $2 donation.

You can reach the market via transit by taking the 106 bus or the Skytrain to Columbia Street Station and walking to the market at 4th and Royal. Parking is available in the neighbourhood for free along Royal Avenue, Queens Avenue, or at City Hall’s lot after 4:30. Please respect our neighbours. Cyclists can drop bikes off to the fine folks at our info desk at the top end of the market for safekeeping. Don’t forget to check out our cool new merchandise – we are now selling reusable produce bags made locally by the people at Carebags.

A list of all vendors attending the September 15th market is below, but remember to check back for cancellations and updates! This list is current as of September 13th.

Eat On Site

• Eli’s Serious Sausage – handmade pork sausages grilled to perfection
• Gogo Java – Coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
• Mollie’s Minis – delightful and yummy mini donuts and other treats
• Ovenmonkey Bakery – selling fresh Langos – Hungarian fried flatbread
• Rizalina’s Juice – fresh made juice to order
• Samosa Guy – hot vegetarian samosas and pakoras, as well as frozen take home samosas

Produce

• Apple Barn Pumpkin Farm – Peppers, tomatoes, apples & pumpkins
• Celyddon Farms – Certified organic produce from Delta
• Felix Farms – Guichon Farms – assorted locally grown produce by Fifth Generation Farmers in Delta
• Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
• Glen Valley Organic Farm – certified organic produce from a farm located only 50km from New Westminster
• Golden West Farms – Okanagan fruit grown in Summerland, many certified organic
• Maan Farms – assorted locally grown produce
• Nature Village Farm – Asian produce, potted herbs, and mushrooms grown in Richmond
• Red Barn Plants and Produce – assorted locally grown produce

Dairy

• Greendale Herb and Vine – Cheddar cheese, cheese curds, herbs, nut butters and honeycomb
• Little Qualicum Cheeseworks – High quality cheese from Vancouver Island

Meat & Fish

• Port Hardy Seafood – BC caught fish and prawns
• Rockweld Farm – BC frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs

Bread & Baking

• A Bread Affair – Breads
• Blackberry Hill – squares, cinnamon buns, and old fashioned yummies like crisp rice squares
• French Made Baking – French-from-France baking.
• Sunrise Pita Company – pitas, chips, dips, baklava and and banana bread
• Sweet Thea Cake Company – tarts, pies, cookies, and cakes

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
• Gourmet Savories – antipasto and pesto
• Maples’ Sugar Shack – maple syrup products
• Take a Fancy Chocolates and Sweets – handmade chocolates right from scratch

Local Crafters

• Alma Valle Fine Silver Jewelry – handcrafted sterling silver original jewelry
• Ildiko Jewelry – hand forged sterling silver jewelry
• The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential & fragrance oils, room sprays, body products

Gardening

• Agnes Warmerdam – daffodil bulbs
• i-Dig Gardening – soil amenders and compost additions

PS: You should know we don’t get compensated to mention Foodtree to you. We just think it’s fun and love looking at pictures of food. 🙂