2023 BC Farmers’ Market Economic Impact Study

 

SUMMARY

The BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM), in collaboration with Dr. David Connell of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), completed a large, province-wide study in 2023 to measure the economic impact of farmers markets in BC. The results of this project show that farmers markets in BC have grown over the past decade, despite unprecedented social, political, and economic challenges, including the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Quantifying the economic contributions of farmers markets encourages long-term support for local BC agriculture and food sectors, along with the thousands of farm and food businesses who sell at farmers markets across BC. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the role of farmers markets as integral low-barrier, direct sales channels for local BC producers and shoppers to connect, while showing us their essential role in local food security and food systems.

The 2023 BC Farmers’ Market Economic Impact Study builds upon the success of similar projects completed in 2012 and 2006, which were also led by BCAFM and Dr. David Connell. By using comparable methods, we are able to assess changes over time. This study measures market spending and spending at neighbouring local businesses, both of which contribute to the economic impact of farmers markets in BC. In total, 70 farmers market assessments were completed across the province between May and September, 2023. The provincial economic impact assessment includes both assessed and unassessed BCAFM member markets . Survey results represent participating markets where an assessment was conducted by a trained research associate.


2023 PROVINCIAL STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Annual economic impact of BCAFM member markets: $232.9 million
    • 28% growth from 2012 to 2023
  • 4.95 million visits and 3.7 million shoppers annually
  • Annual direct sales at BCAFM member farmers markets: $155.3 million
    • Average shopper spending per market visit: $42.50
  • 17% of study participants self-identified as tourists or day-trippers
  • Shopper spending at other local, neighbouring businesses: $118.51 million
    • 61% growth from 2012 to 2023
  • 80% of study participants said that they would spend $47.17 shopping or eating at other local, neighbouring businesses in the farmers market area
  • 87% of businesses interviewed report that their neighbourhood BCAFM member farmers market has a positive effect on their business

The overall growth of BCAFM’s economic impact can be attributed to an increase in:

  • Number of BCAFM member farmers markets
  • Number of large markets with more vendors
  • Number of people shopping at farmers markets
  • Number of market operating days

2023 BC FARMERS’ MARKET ECONOMIC IMPACT SNAPSHOT

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2023 BC FARMERS’ MARKET ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY REPORTS

Abbotsford Farm & Country Market

Ambleside Artisan Farmers Market

Armstrong Farmers’ Market

Bulkley Valley Farmers’ Market

Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market

Campbell River Farmers’ Market

Cedar Farmers’ Market

Comox Valley Farmers’ Market Wednesday

Comox Valley Farmers’ Market Saturday & Fall-Winter

Comox Valley Farmers’ Market – Sundays

Clearwater Famer’s Market

Coquitlam Farmers Market

Cranbrook Farmer’s Market

Creston Valley Farmers’ Market

Daajing Giids Farmers’ Market

Downtown Vancouver Farmers’ Market

Downtown Salmon Arm Farmers’ Market

Duncan Farmers’ Market

False Creek Farmers Market

Fernie Mountain Market

Gabriola Agri Co-op Saturday Farmers’ Market

Grand Forks Farmers’ Market

Haney Farmers’ Market

Hazelton Farmers’ Market

Houston Farmers’ Market

Island Roots Market Co-op

Kamloops Regional Farmer’s Market Saturday & Winter

Kamloops Regional Farmers’ Market Wednesday

Kaslo Saturday Market

Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Downtown Market

Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market – Summer

Kitsilano Farmers’ Market

Kweltsetken Farmers’ & Artisan Market

Ladner Village Market

Lillooet Farmers’ Market

Masset Market

Mission City Farmers’ Market

Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market

Nelson Farmers’ Market Saturday

Nelson Farmers’ Market Wednesday

New Westminster Farmers’ Market

Pemberton Farmers’ Market

Pender Island Farmers’ Market Saturday

Pender Island Farmers’ Market Wednesday

Pitt Meadows Farmers’ Market

Port Coquitlam Farmers’ Market

Port Moody Farmers’ Market

Powell River Farmer’s Market

Prince George Farmers’ Market

Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market

Quesnel Farmers’ Market

Revelstoke LFI + Farm & Craft Market

Riley Park Farmers’ Market

Salt Spring Farmers Market

Sechelt Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market

Skeena Valley Farmers’ Market

Sooke Country Market

Sooke Night Market

South Cariboo Farmers Market

Spirit Square Farmers’ Market

Squamish Farmers’ Market

Surrey Urban Farmers’ Market

Tlell Farmers’ Market

Trail’s IncrEDIBLE Farmers’ Market

Trout Lake Farmers’ Market

UBC Farm Saturday Market

Valemount Farmers’ Market

Vanderhoof Farmers Market

Vernon Farmers’ Market

West End Farmers’ Market

White Rock Farmers’ Market

Williams Lake Farmers’ Market

METHOD

The study was centered on completing market assessments across the province. The one-day, on-site assessment was based on the method used successfully in markets throughout British Columbia previously completed in 2006 and 2012. By using the same methods, we were able to compare results with these previous studies.

Dot survey:  The flip-chart survey method engages consumers in friendly interaction through multiple-choice questions posted in large print on flip charts. This approach has a high response rate, thereby increasing validity and accuracy. Five questions were asked.

Crowd count:  During a short period (e.g., 10 minutes) during each hour a market is open, members of the assessment team stood at each of the major entry points to the market and counted people entering.  The total number of attendees is then estimated from these systematic counts.  This estimate is then used to calculate a seasonally-adjusted annual crowd count.

Customer survey:  The customer survey is a more detailed, one-on-one survey with market customers. These interviews provided insight to customer shopping preferences and behaviours.

Business surveys:  The assessment also involves surveys of business owners.  The data collected included information about the importance of the farmers’ market to nearby businesses.


HUMAN RESOURCES

The project was carried out by the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets in collaboration with Dr. David Connell, a professor at the University of Northern British Columbia. Financial assistance was provided by the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

CONTACT

If you have any questions about the 2023 BC Farmers’ Market Economic Impact Study, please contact BCAFM office at info@bcfarmersmarket.org.

 

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