Make it, bake it or grow it.
It’s those rules manager Erin Trainer said makes the Penticton Farmers’ Market so popular.
Like many of the crops this spring, the market is ahead of schedule, beginning Saturday, two weeks early in the 100-block of Main Street.
“Once the market opens at 8:30 it feels good, we can relax and do what we all like to do, meet the customers, eat the food, taste the wine, that’s what it’s all about,” said Trainer. “It’s this really great vibe, you can’t make this up. I love it and I think it’s the high standards that makes it so good.”
Last year’s overwhelming response to the first Saturday of season is the reason for the early opening. In 2015 the market celebrated its 25th anniversary and in March, received the B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets best medium-sized market award. The Downtown Penticton Association’s Community Market which operates just up the street is scheduled to start May 7. The current construction work in the 200-block of Main Street, Trainer advises patrons to be patient and leave extra time. In addition to growers, vendors will include crafters, wineries, distillers and those selling prepared foods.
“A lot of our regular farmers who have been coming for years are coming back,” said Trainer. “They have built relationships and people love to come and see their favourite vendor every year.
“I think the unique thing about this is people get to meet the person who actually grew their food.”
One of those growers is Lisa Yang, who has been selling her home-grown produce and flowers with her mom and dad, now in their 80s, for about 10 years.
“My parents don’t speak English and we like to keep them busy and they really enjoy the market, especially my mom,” said Yang with a laugh. “We like to see the people and they really like our produce, one lady even brought us thank you cards.”
So dedicated to her customers, instead of using spray, she goes out in the garden at night with a headlamp and scissors to dispatch the bugs.
“They (customers) come first to us,” said Yang.