COURTENAY – Community engagement and involvement are hallmarks of the Comox Valley Farmers Market, its vendors and partners, garnering them the lion’s share of awards at the BC Association of Farmers Markets annual awards ceremony on March 4.
The market and its vendors were nominated in seven of the 10 award categories and took home five prizes.
“It’s quite the honour,” says Comox Valley Farmers Market general manager Twila Skinner. “We work hard all year to make sure that our market is the best that it possibly can be. There’s always trial and error, but we try and do what we can to make sure that the farmers market is a place that our community wants to be, that our community can celebrate, that our community can enjoy. Our vendors and our customers are the ones that make that happen.”
The annual BC Farmers Market Awards recognize outstanding farmers markets, vendors, partners, volunteers and municipalities that are exemplary in adding value to their communities and the BC farmers market sector. Nominees are chosen by the public and then judges choose the top three candidates in each award category.
This year, the Comox Valley Farmers Market was named market of the year (small), with two vendors also awarded for their community impact. The market was also recognized for its contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The year-round Saturday and seasonal Sunday markets are food-only and farmer-first, Skinner says. Over the last few years, market staff and vendors have enhanced DEI efforts through regular land acknowledgements, lunar and Persian new year events, Indigenous ceremonies, voluntary pronoun labels and Pride Day activities.
In addition, Comox Valley Farmers Market vendors Forest Valley Acres and The Cure Hot Sauce Company won the two most outstanding community impact vendor awards.
“Saturdays became our favourite day of the week,” says Selena Lawrence,
co-owner with her husband Matt of Courtenay’s Forest Valley Acres. “[It’s] that connection, of being appreciated, and that [customers] are returning and we’re making such a positive impact in their lives that they make time out of their week to come down to see us at the farmers market.”
The couple runs a 2,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse and specializes in lettuce and living herbs.
“It shows that we’re filling this gap that even we didn’t realize existed,” Matt says of winning the award.
After a year of commercial sales, the Lawrences switched to direct-to-consumer sales in 2024 through farmers markets and a farmgate stand. The couple also market their products through independent grocers.
The best live entertainment award also went to Comox Valley Farmers Market performers Easy Street Duo.
The Sicamous and Duncan farmers markets received market of the year awards in the medium and large categories, respectively. Leah Stoltz of the Haney Farmers Market received the most outstanding market manager award. Volunteer of the Year went to Cathy Nakagawa of the Coquitlam and Port Moody Farmers Markets.
The Helen Fathers Partner of the Year, which recognizes an outstanding municipality or community organization for their support of BC farmers’ markets, was awarded to Smithers Community Services.
Denman Island’s Gather Farm and Kitchen was later awarded the 2025 Mary Forstbauer grant.
The evening concluded with BCAFM announcing that next year’s conference and awards ceremony will be in person in North Vancouver, March 6-8.
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