Welcome to the Pender Islands' Farmers' Market where everything is made, baked, or grown on Pender Island! We would be happy to have you as a vendor. Our Market is outside at the Pender Islands Community Hall every Saturday in the summer from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and is managed by the Pender Islands Farmers' Institute. The Market runs from May long weekend to Labour Day weekend. We give the community a common meeting place for local producers to promote their businesses and provide local food to the community. These products include produce, baking, specialty food products, meats and eggs, as well as a variety of local craftswork. This weekly event supports our community's farmers and producers as well as serves as a major attraction for inter-Island visitors!
All farmers and food producers are also welcome to participate in the Wednesday food-only market that takes place in the Farmers’ Institute barn behind the Hall. Hours are 3-6 through the summer, 3-5 in the fall and we also run a Farm Food Hub out of the barn on Saturdays 9:30-1 through most of the year. Vendors are charged 7.5% of sales, and are not required to be present. Items are sold by the market manager and volunteers on the producer’s behalf. Both markets are members of BC Farmers’ Markets - vendors only pay one registration fee and can attend one or both markets. During winter, the Wednesday market will be closed (January on), until June. But the barn will be OPEN on Saturdays during the winter.
All vendors are required to complete the following annually before their first time attending the Market to vend:
1. Annual Vendor Application: This can be found at this link . This online application site contains documents and general information about how the Farmers' Market runs as well as a list of rules that vendors agree to follow. Please fill out the vendor information, including photos of products to be sold, and your information will go into a searchable directory, and an interactive market map. Please email penderislandmarket@gmail.com if you need assistance with your application. At the top of the page there are links to both the online application and the pdf form.
Please click the following link for a PDF version of the Farmers’ Market Handbook: This has been updated for 2024. It is also in the documents section of the online system.
2024 Pender Island Farmers’ Market Handbook
2. A photocopy of your Food Safe Level 1 or Market Safe Certificate: This requirement is for food and food product vendors only. You must have a current Food Safe Level 1 or Market Safe certificate and have read the BC CDC Guidelines for the Sale of Foods at Temporary Food Markets if you are a food vendor. A copy of your Food Safe certificate should be submitted with your Application Package. It can be uploaded into your application or emailed to the market. Note that Island Health is requiring that those vendors selling high risk food products must apply to Island Health using the following form. Please consult the guidelines to determine if your food is high risk. Plus, Market Safe is necessary for lower risk products at our market. Food Safe is required by the health authority and our market for high risk foods. A Food Safe or Market Safe certificate are good for five years. Link to online courses is here
The link to the BC CDC Guidelines.
3. A Membership fee to the Farmers' Institute and a $25 Administration Fee: Together these equal $30 (the Membership fee for 2024 is $5). These fees are due once annually. The administration fee can be paid on the ManageMyMarket site, or by etransfer, or you may pay in person to the market manager. The membership becomes due on December 31 and the form is here.
That's it! Please submit your Application as soon as possible, or email penderislandmarket@gmail.com if you have questions or require assistance.
We appreciate vendors who bring their own tables and canopy tents. The Market fee is payable each time you attend the Farmers' Market and is $10 for a 10x10 ft spot if selling agricultural products, and $12 for non-agricultural vendors. A canopy tent may be rented from the Farmers' Institute for an additional $15 and tables 8’ and 6’ long can be rented for $5. During the winter market season we ask that you bring your own tables and tents, pay only the spot fee, or sell out of the barn for 7.5% of sales.
We look forward to seeing you! Please note that your Application is subject to approval by the Pender Islands' Farmers' Institute Board of Directors and the market manager. For inquiries, please email the Farmers' Institute at penderislandmarket@gmail.com