What have we done to deserve this brush off by Squamish Farmers’ Market management who have taken away the vendor who provided the widest range of farm fresh food?
He was a founding member of the market and the first farmer who supplied our local community with fresh farm food from some eight years ago. He used to have to get up at 4 a.m. to pick the crops for sale at the market and yet always had the cheeriest disposition. Rightfully, he was regularly voted the “top vendor.”
Squamish’s weather is a problem for gardeners. My arugula, spinach and kale plants are already showing signs of going to seed. Surrey must have better weather because he always had a widest range of vegetables and fruit.
Yet farmers as far as Pemberton and Osoyoos are still regarded as “local suppliers.”
His absence reduces our ability to buy a full range of healthy and affordable food and this is the opinion not only of the local low-income customers who receive food vouchers.
The decision to cut the market’s most popular farmer has a disproportionate impact on children’s health. Single mothers can’t afford the cooked food from the array of food trucks – they want a full basket of a variety of fresh vegetables.
This disempowerment doesn’t look like “food justice” to many in the local community – not only single mothers but also pensioners.
There is a strong call from all those who support the Farmers’ Market to bring our favourite vendor back. Yes. Bring KC back to our market!
Heather Gee
Squamish
