Wouldn’t it be great to know exactly where to find the best prices for produce every week without the hassle of shopping around yourself? The team at The Old Farm Market thought so, too, so each week they check the prices at all their local competitors. That means they can say with confidence that they have the most affordable produce on Vancouver Island at all three of their locations at all times.
“Keeping our produce as affordable as possible for our communities is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle we’re trying to solve,” says Chris Steel, General Manager at The Old Farm Market. “Another piece of the puzzle is buying as much of that produce as possible directly from Island farmers.”
Keeping it local is the name of the game
“Our primary goal is simple: keep as much money as we can, right here in our local economy. In doing that we can all remain stronger and more resilient,” Steel says. “We also want to give proper recognition to our farmers by making it easier to spot Island-grown produce in-store.”
Inspired by old-school, road-side, family farm stands, The Old Farm Market is installing farm-specific ‘mini-farmstands’ at all three locations this summer. Steel says they’ve put out a ‘call to arms’ to local farmers big and small, as they continue to grow their Island-first initiatives.
“We’re actively looking for more farmers to help fill our shelves with as much Island produce as we can,” Steel says, encouraging interested farmers to reach out at csteel@theoldfarmmarket.ca “The demand is out there, people are actively seeking easier access to local products and we want to help farmers meet that demand.”
Supporting local artisans with a Summer Artisan Market
The Old Farm Market hasn’t forgotten about Island artisans, food vendors and entertainers either. This past weekend they launched a Summer Artisan Market at their Duncan location to help showcase local artisans, entertainers and creators. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, through-out the summer, shoppers can browse artisan and food vendor stalls while enjoying live music.
“The artisan market series gives us a chance to broaden our reach with Island products, lets shoppers browse the artisan goods outside and complete their weekly shopping with Island-grown products inside,” Steel says. “We’ll have a rotating mix of vendors, live local entertainment and will also be offering buy-one-get-one-free ice cream at the coffee shop.”
Local artists are encouraged to fill out an online application form if interested in participating in the summer market series.
Find The Old Farm Market in Duncan at 5164 Francis Street, online at theoldfarmmarket.ca, and follow them on Instagram for the latest updates on how they’re supporting their Island neighbours.
