New West Farmers Market

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This week is our second to last week and marks our entry into October! We still have a full market of over 30 vendors selling fresh food, homemade goodies, and handmade crafts. Take time to visit “Art in the Park” while you’re there – our free artist showcase in the park, which is still ongoing because the weather has held out. This week’s musical guest is Jinhee Park, our talented young violinist, and also marks the return of Allyson, our very talented face painter. See you there!

Facepainter Allyson Grant, working her magic at the Royal City Farmers Market. Photo: Harry Pehkonen
Facepainter Allyson Grant, working her magic at the Royal City Farmers Market. Photo: Harry Pehkonen

New vendors this week: Cranberry Meadows and Grow Your Own Mushrooms, offering shitake, oyster and button mushrooms, as well as growblocks to grow your own!

Vendors at this week’s market:

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The Royal City Farmers Market Board publishes its monthly meeting minutes online, to better empower and inform RCFM members and supporters. RCFM board meetings are open for members to attend. Upcoming meetings are listed in the RCFM online calendar. Please note: the public version of meeting minutes will not include detailed notes on finances, employee relations or in camera discussions out of respect for individuals’ privacy.

In Attendance: Jen Arbo, John Ashdown, Andrew Murray (Chair), Marjorie Staal, Jane Wark (Recorder)

  • Motion to accept agenda made by John, seconded by Marjorie. Passed.
  • Motion to accept minutes from meeting of August 22, 2009 Board Meeting made by John, seconded by Andrew. Passed.

President’s Report:

  • Grants – Andrew has been working on the application for grant from the City and it is nearly complete. Due to City by Wednesday September 30, 2009. Andrew and Marjorie created a budget for application.
  • BC Farmers Market Association Meeting – Andrew attended in Surrey in several weeks ago, where challenges and ideas to success of markets were discussed. At that meeting Andrew brought up the issue of land being removed from ALR, and suggested that BCFM take on position on this issue. Board discussion around importance of ALR to farmers and markets, and also around issue of farmers markets getting involved in politics. Andrew will put his thoughts into writing and bring it to the next BCFM AGM in January for discussion.

Operations Manager Report:

  • Final Two Markets of Season – Jen continues to get phone calls from new Vendors wishing to attend the final two markets of the season. We have three new vendors booked for the last week. Musicians and Korki the Clown also attending. Korki has offered to attend for free and busk; Jen has suggested that due to the popularity of Corky with visitors, we pay her anyway, which was agreed.
  • Surveys – We have 200 customer and 25 vendor surveys completed. Results very positive. Several requests to open market later, i.e., till 8:00 pm.
  • Cups for water – Jen has ordered cups made from corn from Bio-cup company.
  • Queensborough Fall Fair – Jen attended. Our table was next to New West Environmental Partners. Good response, although our table was inside the building and weather was beautiful, so people tended to stay outside.
  • Coupon Program – Jen reports it is running well, with minimal administrative work necessary. Redemption rate down slightly in September, likely due to school being back and parents not able to attend. We seem to be getting more tickets redeemed in last half of month.

New Business:

  • First Aid and Lost Child Policy – Agreed that this is important however there is not enough time to organize for final two markets. Plan is to get these items organized for opening of next season’s market.
  • Jen Arbo’s contract – Jen explained that there are tasks that need doing in the off season, such as marketing the market, first aid and lost child policy, and others. Jen proposed to the Board that she remain employed during the off season for 5 – 10 hours a week. Jen left the room for Board to discuss proposal. The Board discussed and felt that Jen has done a wonderful job of running the market, and that indeed there is additional work that needs to be completed in the off season.
  • Motion: “To retain Jen Arbo’s services beyond October 8, 2009 for up to 10 hours a week, with additional hours by Board approval.” made by Marjorie. Seconded by John. Passed.
  • Winter Market – Jen gave update on what Will has been working on. Looking for venue with possibilities including Grace Hall, St. Barnabas church, Olivet church and others. Marjorie will make some contacts regarding location. Peter Julian has offered to look into the Armories. Discussion over size (how many vendors will fit, including some outside tables), location (want to be near where our customers live, and want visibility) and vendor access (stairs, parking, etc.). Jen will look at how many vendors will fit at various venues and take these factors into consideration when choosing a location. Jen and Will looked at Saturday dates which would not conflict with Vancouver nor Port Moody markets. Andrew suggested limiting it to one Saturday a month as a trial for this year and Board agreed this is reasonable. Also, need to determine if a Winter Market is financially viable, given that we expect 10 – 15 vendors. Marjorie noted that we currently have a very good reputation as a market and we want to keep it up, therefore we need to ensure that if we do a Winter Market, we do it well, and have it enough vendors and a good location.

Meeting adjourned.

Next meeting is October 28th.

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Apples at the Royal City Farmers Market. Photo: brittbak
Apples at the Royal City Farmers Market. Photo: brittbak

Week 13 of the market season features a full house of 35 vendors selling fresh food, homemade goodies, and handmade crafts. We’re starting to see lots of fall harvest fruits and veggies and we are proud that we are still adding new vendors, and this week is no exception.

This week also features the return of Korki the Clown – the reigning queen of balloon twisting. We’re also pleased to present Jasmine Harvey on guitar from 3-5 and Chris Mesotin on accordian from 5-7.

Also, remember to enter for your chance to win a tote full of goodies worth $50+ by filling out our customer survey. Don’t forget to bring your camera either – we still have the monthly photo contest running all season long. Ask for details at the RCFM tent. See you at the market!

Vendors at this week’s market:

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I’m a little late getting this one up. It’s not that I didn’t want to, it’s that there are so many amazing photos being taken we had a tough time making a selection. In the end though, the August Photo Contest Winner is local New Westie Harry Pehkonen (@harrypehkonen) for this shot of two of the A Bread Affair employees.

Bread Affair by Harry Pehkonen
Bread Affair by Harry Pehkonen

There is something about the lighting in this shot that makes it seem so well defined. I know its hard to get a good shot when photographing people’s faces from the front angle – and the composition of the bread, the signs in the back, and the nice contrast of purple and red really work. Harry has been a regular at the market this season, and this isn’t the first great shot he’s taken. But this month, it’s the winner.

Honorable mentions this month (because there are lots) go to:

June’s winner, Graham Ballantyne for these two:

Tribal Markings by Graham Ballantyne
Tribal Markings by Graham Ballantyne
Crepe Making by Graham Ballantyne
Crepe Making by Graham Ballantyne

 Briana Tomkinson for this amazing macro shot of blueberries:

Blueberries by Briana Tomkinson
Blueberries by Briana Tomkinson

 

Honorable mention should also go to Brittbak for this  fun shot of a lively market full of smiling faces:

Market View by Brittbak
Market View by Brittbak

And to Jamila for this great capture of Allyson Grant painting faces (or in this case, an arm):

Face Painting by Jamila
Face Painting by Jamila

And last, but certainly not least this shot of a flower vendor by Miho Shimamura:

Flowers by Miho Shimamura
Flowers by Miho Shimamura

 We want to thank everyone for entering our little contest. For his winning picture, Harry receives a RCFM t shirt and is entered to win a limited edition market tote bag full of $50 worth of market goodies. You can enter too! We have a monthly winner and all you have to do is either upload your picture to Flickr and use the tag rcfm2009 and we’ll find it, or you can email the pictures to us at info@newwestfarmers.ca.

 

 

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The Royal City Farmers Market Board has decided to begin publishing its monthly meeting minutes online, to better empower and inform RCFM members and supporters. RCFM board meetings are open for members to attend. Upcoming meetings are listed in the RCFM online calendar. Please note: the public version of meeting minutes will not include detailed notes on finances, employee relations or in camera discussions out of respect for individuals’ privacy.

Attending: Andrew, John, Marg, Matthew, Sheila, Jen
Guests: Will and Briana Tomkinson
Regrets: Jane

1. Introduction of Will Tomkinson to the board

Andrew introduced Will and Briana to the group and Will described his background, commitment to New West and interest/activities with the market.

MSC: that we nominate Will Tomkinson to the RCFM Board for the remainder of the year. Will accepted.

2. Housekeeping

MSC: adoption of the agenda; MSC adoption of the July 22 minutes.

3. President’s report (Andrew):
– the August 13 “Get Active” market was deluged with rain; but guest organizations stayed on
– August is usually a doldrum period for most markets. Promoting the market continues. Last year visitor numbers increased in Sept.
– The Nutrition Program is now maxed at 50 families. The “stage 2” group of our New West partner called “Baby & Me” (based in Burnaby, but many New West mums) is now our 2nd partner group. The future of this program may be in jeopardy with the Min. of Health cuts.
– Andrew visited Jaimie McEvoy and Shiloh United Church as another potential partner just as this 2nd group joined the program.
– Art in the Park continues and artists seem very pleased with the opportunity to show; also adds to our sense of community found at the market.
– Andrew attended the biweekly Ladner market last Sunday. This market has great support from Ladner businesses
– Andrew will be attending a mtg called by Surrey market on Sept. 1 to look at current issues such as visitor attendance, sites. Other markets have heard good things about the New West vibe!

4. Treasurer’s report (Marg)

5. Operations Manager report (Jen)
– the 150 Market was a success, band was great, vendors happy. Jen sent the city 150 committee a thank-you letter. We ran ring toss at the City’s 150 celebration event.
– Sept 10 will be a Youth Sports market – several city groups and leagues will have registration/information tables. We will provide space for their own tables & tents in the grassy area.
– Vendors have been at capacity at every market even with a couple of cancellations. Vendors are still calling and Jen is trying to accommodate. Crafters are about 12-15% of the tables.
– The photo contest has gone well the last 2 months. At the end of the year there will be a random draw with a prize winner.
– Need more hot food vendors

6. Old Business
– Discussion on storage and vehicle to tow the RCFM trailer. Will & Briana offered storage space at the bottom of their yard. We may be to use a side-mounted canopy on the trailer for our market table.

– Code of conduct (from last meeting). Marg reported hard to find such things from other organizations.

– Marg distributed a draft Board Job Description. Discussion and suggestions. To review again at next meeting.

7. New Business

a) Winter public market.
The Newsleader last week had a story on a possible winter RCFM market. We have not looked at or decided to yet, but there is a question on winter market on our customer survey. Key item to consider is location. City has nothing, so would need to look at private sites. Dates and more marketing are also important.

MSC the Board research the idea of a winter market including dates, times, location, vendor issues and survey results, with a report back to the next September board meeting. Will, Andrew and John volunteered to work on this.

b) Membership communication
Briana had offered constructive feedback to Andrew earlier. We could do a monthly or quarterly summary of progress/highlights to members, offer more volunteer opportunities, offer member recognition such as Christmas cards. Jen offered to do a monthly newsletter for members.

c) Promotion
We have 1,500 cards left. Last year we mailed them to targeted neighbourhoods. As meeting time was running out, Andrew will send out a motion by email.

d) Vendor representative
John resigned board vendor rep position.

MSC: We create a vendor liaison board position; Will volunteered for this role for the rest of the season.

e) Visitor survey and web site report

Briana provided board with written reports on survey results to date (both at the market & online). The survey will continue into Sept & October. Feedback overall very positive.

Briana also provided a report on web site visits and use of Twitter and Facebook to promote market dates etc. Board noted all much improved with Briana’s work. Thank you!

Next meeting: September 16, 7:00 pm – RCFM members welcome to attend. For location information, please contact the board.

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Land Acknowledgement

Our market is grateful to operate on the unceded land of the Qayqayt, Kwikwetlem, and other Halkomelem speaking Peoples. We acknowledge that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. We acknowledge the incredible gift this land is to our market and BC Agriculture. We commit to the ongoing work of decolonization and allyship.