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The Comox Valley Farmers’ Market has been supplying the Comox Valley with recent meals since 1992. In the summertime, youngsters run round enjoying tag whereas their mother and father stroll the stalls on the exhibition grounds in Courtenay. Many who grew up within the Comox Valley could have recollections of the farmers markets right here, and their youngsters may too.
The market has additionally been a long-time participant within the BC Farmers’ Market Diet Coupon Program, which helps lower-income households, pregnant individuals and seniors to entry recent, native meals. Comox Valley Farmers’ Market is now joining a call for the Authorities of Canada to ascertain a nationwide fund that will enhance assist for current coupon packages and encourage its growth to new areas.
Twila Skinner, basic supervisor of Comox Valley Farmers’ Market stated that with the present value of residing and the excessive costs of meals, the coupons are wanted greater than ever.
“The quantity of want has skyrocketed in comparison with the quantity of funds which might be out there for this,” she stated.
Petition requires federal assist
The Discourse previously reported that the Duncan Farmers’ Market has joined a current petition to the federal authorities. The petition requires a nationwide diet program that will enhance the already current provincial and territorial farmers’ market diet packages. The petition now contains near 1,000 signatures, and can gather names till April 9.
Gord Johns, MP for Courtenay—Alberni, will current the petition to Parliament, and the federal government could have 45 days to offer a proper response.
Presently, the provincial authorities provides about $4 million in direction of the coupon program, distributed in communities throughout B.C. Recipients, who entry this system by means of neighborhood accomplice packages, can obtain $27 weekly for as much as 16 weeks with the intention to buy meals at native markets.
Final 12 months, this system reached 226 households and 642 people within the Comox Valley area. Federal assist would enable this system to assist extra individuals in a time of accelerating want.
“Like most issues proper now there’s much less funds and extra demand,” stated Skinner.
The Comox Valley Farmers’ Market has signed the petition and is encouraging its neighbours and supporters to take action as effectively.
Excessive demand for reasonably priced, nutritious meals
Vancouver Island specifically is dealing with very excessive rents and meals costs.
The Discourse previously reported that Comox Valley hire costs elevated by almost 50 per cent between October of 2018 and October 2022, in keeping with Canadian Mortgage and Housing Company (CMHC) knowledge.
Meals costs on Vancouver Island are additionally among the many highest in the province.
Whereas provincial funding for the coupon program has grown through the years, it nonetheless fails to achieve many individuals who would qualify and profit from it.
This system runs from June to mid-December and the coupons can be utilized at farmers markets all through the province. Farmers’ markets accomplice with neighborhood organizations that supply meals safety and meals literacy packages to individuals decrease incomes, pregnant individuals and seniors.
Skinner stated that because the coupons are solely legitimate on the farmers’ market, it helps farmers too.
The extra individuals who have entry to the coupons, the more cash that goes into the pockets of farmers.
“It’s a type of round issues [in] that it helps with the meals safety right here within the Comox Valley throughout.”
Presently, the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market companions with Comox Valley Wholesome Households, MIKI’SIW Métis Affiliation and the Higher Island Girls of Native Ancestry to distribute the coupons.
Farmers’ market seeks extra neighborhood companions
Skinner stated that they’re all the time in search of extra funding for the coupon program and new partnerships with area people teams.
If there’s a group that has its personal supply of funding, it will probably buy coupons and turn out to be a accomplice. These teams will be quite a lot of totally different neighborhood organizations that work to assist neighborhood members, equivalent to seniors’ associations.
For the winter season, the farmers’ market occurs on Saturdays on the Native Sons Corridor in Courtenay. The winter market runs till April, after then the market will happen on Saturdays on the normal spot off Headquarters Highway.
In the summertime, the market additionally operates in downtown Courtenay on Wednesdays, and in downtown Cumberland on Sundays.
Madeline Dunnett, Native Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Discourse
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