About Our Market
The Penticton Farmers’ Market is run by a non-profit society with a simple mandate: The purpose of the society is to promote and conduct a market in the City of Penticton at which small-scale agricultural producers and craftspeople may offer their wares directly to the public.
From its humble beginnings in Gyro Park in 1991, the market has grown into one of the most vibrant and successful “farm to city” food micro-systems in BC.
Today, the market is held every Saturday on the 100 Block of Main Street in downtown Penticton, from mid April until the end of October. Traditionally the society also hosts indoor Spring and Winter Markets and we have been fortunate in recent years to have secured space in Cherry Lane Mall.
The PFM society is made up of 45-50 annual members who are mostly local farmers, plus some bakers, prepared food vendors and crafters. There is also a pool of 60-70 casual vendors to fill the remaining vendor stalls every Saturday. All vendors make, bake or grow their own products.
There is a board of seven to nine volunteer directors who govern the society, and the market employs one full-time manager, Linda Van Alphen, and a seasonal assistant manager, Philip Solman.
The Penticton Farmers’ Market is a long-time member of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets and actively participates in the Farmers’ Markets of BC Nutritional Coupon program every year.
The PFM society is very grateful for the support from the City of Penticton, and is proud to be part of the movement in this province and around the world that works to protect and enhance local, small-scale food systems.
