We let everyone know a few weeks ago that we were in the process of hiring a replacement Operations Manager since Jen Arbo has announced she is moving on after this summer. We are really thrilled to introduce you to Jodi Appleton!

 She’ll be transitioning over the summer season to take the lead as Operations Manager.

“I’m very excited to be taking on the Operations Manager position for the Royal City Farmers Market over the 2012 summer season,” says Jodi.

She brings to the market years of administrative and program management experience, her love for running special events, and her passion for gardening and community building.

Currently residing in Kitsilano, Jodi spent several years as a New Westminster resident in the late 90s and is happy to be back working in the area using her skills to help continue the great work RCFM has already started.

In addition to gardening and hiking, Jodi loves cycling and is planning to make the trek to the market by bike several times this summer and encourages other market goers to try to do the same. [editor's note: do I smell a challenge?]

“Jodi is a really great addition to the RCFM team. I’m really looking forward to working with her,” says Jen Arbo.

“She has all the skills to seamlessly take over from me, and I have every confidence she will do as good or better job than I. I can’t wait to see what she brings to the market. This is such an exciting season for RCFM.”

To get in touch with Jodi this season, email her at assistantmanager@rcfm.ca. And don’t be afraid to say hi!

 

At our recent RCFM Board Meeting, the members of the Board unanimously passed a motion to declare our market a GMO Free Zone.

We feel the expansion of GMOs into our mainstream food supply without labeling denies consumers the right to know what’s in their food and we felt it appropriate to make a statement on what our position was on this matter.

Of the three main GMO crops (canola, corn, and soy) we are only aware of GMO corn being grown in our region, and we will be monitoring the origin of any corn that appears at our Market as well as soy and canola products should a BC vendor apply that sells those.

There are some exciting developments in the struggle to achieve truth in labeling. In California,  volunteers are frantically collecting 500,000 signatures in order to force a referendum in the fall to have GMOs labeled. Polls indicate strong support for this initiative. In Guelph, Ontario, the research project to introduce a GE or “Enviro Pig” into the marketplace has been abandoned and hopefully the same fate will befall the genetically engineered salmon the company AquaBounty has been trying to get approval for.

We are joining other British Columbia communities: Powell River, Saltspring Island, Rossland, Nelson, and soon, Richmond, in making this declaration. Declaring ourselves a GMO Free Zone is more a reflection of our values than a heavy handed enforcement tool. We believe that one of the main reasons consumers are supporting farmers markets in record numbers is a lack of trust in the products being offered by conventional retail outlets. Declaring ourselves a GMO Free Zone is a commitment to the trust our customers have placed in us that we will do everything in our power to ensure the products being offered at our Market are GMO free.

 

Sincerely,

Andrew Murray

President

Royal City Farmers Market Association

I’ve been the Operations Manager for RCFM since 2009 and have really enjoyed being a part of such a supportive and happy community. I feel thankful to have had such a unique perspective on local food and to see neighbours coming together each week.

In late 2010, I co-founded a digital strategy consulting business with a friend of mine, Briana Tomkinson, called Hyack Interactive. Our business has been steadily building and we recently received the Best Home Based Business of the Year Award from the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce. We’re really proud of our success and I love the work I do with Hyack Interactive.

With success comes a price, and that price has been a tug on my time. As a work from home parent, there are a limited number of hours in a day I can set aside for completing my work and doing it well. As a result, I’ve made the incredibly difficult choice to make this summer my last with RCFM. I will miss my market life terribly, but for my family, it’s the right choice. I hope to continue to contribute to the market as a volunteer. I am grateful for the trust and opportunity afforded to me by the Board of Directors, current and past, and know how valuable RCFM is to New Westminster.

We’ve started our search for my replacement early so we may find just the right person to replace me and to give them the chance to be introduced to all aspects of the position with on-the-job learning over this summer season. An Operations Manager requires a huge degree of organization, juggling, patience, and flexibility. For most weeks of the market, I have back up plans on top of back up plans and rely on the Board of Directors and valued volunteers for support to make the market happen.

It is critical to all of us at RCFM that we make this transition seamless so the community that has supported us since our inception in 2008 sees no hiccups and continues to enjoy the weekly summer market. If you or someone you know is a suitable candidate, and is interested in part time work, we’d love to hear from you. A detailed job description with instructions on how to apply is here. We are accepting applications until March 16.

Finally, I want to say thank you to the market shoppers and supporters for making my job so much more than a plain old job, and for all of the positive comments I have received since first announcing my intention to hand over the reins to someone new.

 

Last week was the official half way point of our market season, and the end of the season brings the end of our photo contest! Any market goers who consider themselves shutterbugs (amateur or expert!), snap away at the markets and send your pictures to us via Twitter, Flikr or email (links below)! Remember the last market is October 6^th and we need your pictures by then!

And guess what?!?! With your photo submission you will be entered to win a fabulous gift basket! Hurray! Included in the basket will be:

• A private tasting for 4 to our favourite local New Westminster winery Pacific Breeze Winery, valued at $100
• Tea for two every month for a year at Great Wall Tea Co, located in River Market, valued at $72
• Two annual subscriptions to Edible Vancouver Magazine: be greedy and have two years all for yourself, or be generous and have one for yourself and one for a lucky friend! Valued at $62.72

And there could be more surprise prizes coming!

For more information check here: http://rcfm.ca/market-photos/

To submit photos via: Twitter

Flickr

Email – marketmanager@rcfm.ca

Thanks so much to our sponsors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postal Strike Update: We really appreciate that many of you are signing up at the markets to be a member in the 2011 season. We have benefits for members – check them out!

We wanted to let you know that we have your membership cards at the Info Desk at the market until the postal strike is over, at which time we will mail the letters.

 

RCFM is thrilled to be able to announce that we are funding the Nutrition Coupon Program for the 2011 Summer Season thanks to a City Partnership Grant from the City of New Westminster and working with our friends at The Hospitality Project out of Shiloh Sixth Avenue United Church. This program provides 50 families with $15 in coupons to be spent on fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs, seafood, unprocessed nuts, bread, and honey at the market, as well as a skill building and educational component for the participants so they can learn how to utilize all of the amazing foods available to us here in beautiful British Columbia.

The provincial government funded this program on a provincial level with the BC Association of Farmers Markets in the 2009 season, and RCFM was grateful to be selected as a participant market, but sadly, the funding was cut with only a few weeks to go before we started in 2010. We were not able to fund it ourselves in 2010 and so the program lay dormant last year.

But 2011 is a new year! We are very grateful the City of New Westminster approved our funding application and can’t wait for this program to begin. If you’re interested in helping the program to share your food knowledge with program participants, or can help us secure funding for future years, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at info@rcfm.ca

Also: Check out the recent article in the Record or listen to the News 1130 interview with RCFM’s Jen Arbo about the 2011 Nutrition Coupon Program.

We’re recently put the finishing touches on our 2010 Annual Report. Please have a look to find our what we did this year, and what we’re looking forward to in the future.

We are thrilled to announce the details of our Annual General Meeting. It will take place Saturday February 5th at Holy Trinity Cathedral located at 514 Carnarvon Street – it’s the same place as our winter market. Doors open at 5:30PM and light refreshments will be served.

Memberships for the 2011 season will be available for $10. In order to vote or stand for election for our Board of Directors, you must be a member. Cash and cheque are accepted. The AGM will be called to order at 6PM. All are welcome to attend and we encourage you to bring a friend to come and see what RCFM is all about. Get involved!

From 7-7:30 we’ll have an intermission and social in the lounge, and at 7:30, for the first time in New Westminster, a special public screening of The Clean Bin Project will take place. The Clean Bin Project was originally a contest between three friends to live waste free for a year. It has since become a highly acclaimed documentary and valuable resource for info on lowering your waste.

Admission for the film screening is a very special price of $3 for 2011 members of RCFM, and a sliding scale of $5-$10 for general admission. This is a must see documentary 76 minutes in length. Jen and Grant will be on hand to present their film and will be available afterward for questions and answers.

Any questions, please don’t hesitate to email us at info@rcfm.ca

We are very thrilled that Translink has donated a number of goodies that you can enter to win! All you will have to do is show proof that you took transit to the market (a transfer or your monthly pass) and you will be entered to win great fleece jackets or a 3 zone monthly pass for whatever month you choose! There are different prizes every month, and there is one prize per month. Winners will be notified after the market.

The winter market is located right next to Columbia Skytrain station and is easy to get to. Simply exit the station via the Church Street exit, and you’ll run right into Holy Trinity Cathedral.

We are also very excited that The City of New Westminster has once again sponsored our winter market and is allowing free parking all day at the Downtown Waterfront Parkade. The parkade is located only a short distance from the market site. To get to it, enter off Columbia Street at 4th Street. We encourage you to carpool! Bring a friend and introduce them to the market.

***

The winter market starts November 13th and runs once a month on the second Saturday of the month from 10AM to 2PM until April at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

We are very pleased to announce that RCFM will again be putting on a once-monthly winter market for this upcoming 2010-2011 winter season! You told us you loved being able to get market goodies all year long and we’ve heard you!

Winter market will take place at the same location as last year – at Holy Trinity Cathedral’s hall, located at 514 Carnarvon Street. The Hall is near Columbia Skytrain Station and is only a short distance from our summer spot.

Winter Market will be on the second Saturday of the month from November to April – November 13, December 11, January 8, February 12, March 12, and April 9 – from 10AM to 2PM.

We will be sure to bring you music, entertainment, and as many kids’ activities as we can cram in there!

If you’re a vendor interested in applying, please download the guidelines, application form, and if necessary, the Fraser Health Authority’s applications here. We encourage you to get your forms in as soon as possible. Last year, table spaces did sell out quickly. Craft panel will take place in September – dates TBA.

PS: Here’s a movie about last year’s winter market, courtesy of Emerson Eve Productions.

RCFM – Winter Market from Royal City Farmers Market on Vimeo.