Nothing can beat the feeling of the northern summer sun beaming down on you as you munch on green, crunchy and sweet peas in the pod and ripe, juicy, tart and red homegrown tomatoes that were picked that day.

Buying food from a local farmer, whether at a farmer’s market or right from the farm is a good move for many reasons:

• The food is fresher and tastier.
• You may be able to buy varieties of vegetables and fruit that are not commonly sold in grocery stores.
• There is little or no packaging.
• The food is usually grown in ways that are kind to the earth.
• You are supporting a farmer and his/her family to live and supporting the local economy.

There are at least 100 farmer's markets in BC.  In northern BC, farmer's markets have run in Tlell, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Hazelton, Smithers, Fort St. James, Vanderhoof, Prince George, Quesnel, Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.

Pocket markets are small farmer's markets that bring locally grown and/or processed food products to neighbourhoods, workplaces and special events.

For more information on starting a pocket market, visit the Pocket Market Tool Kit.