MAY 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


Farmers market splits over question of “local”


Democratic process undermined as long-time vendor axed


Stories by PETER MITHAM REVELSTOKE – Consumer


interest in local products has meant boom times for farmers markets. But in Revelstoke, the question of what constitutes a local product is spawning yet another venue for small- scale producers as the society that runs the city’s main summer market focuses on purity. Revelstoke has long had


two farmers markets: a summer market operated by the Revelstoke Farm & Craft Market Society, and the Revelstoke Winter Market, which Hermann Bruns of Wild Flight Farm in Mara launched in 2008 to give local residents a place to continue buying such product as could be sourced locally through the winter, supplemented with a small amount of imported product. “We decided to have a separate winter market so it wouldn’t create a conflict with a different approach,” Bruns told Country Life in BC last month as the winter market approached the end of its season. Now, however, a third


market is in the works following the unilateral termination of Bruns’ membership in the Revelstoke Farm & Craft Market Society. Bruns was one of the society’s oldest members. Society representatives


didn’t respond to an interview request from Country Life in BC but in a statement provided to local media, society directors claim that Bruns has repeatedly requested permission to sell imported produce at the market it operates. “This has created a clear split in operating values, philosophy and resulted in conflict,” the directors state. “Wild Flight Farm operates as a retailer elsewhere in other communities and including the Winter Market in Revelstoke, reselling imported produce from wholesalers, which in part is in conflict with the concept of farmers markets supporting local BC farmers.” Bruns, however, told


Country Life in BC that he sells only what each market allows. While he receives


permission on a year-to-year basis to offer organic produce from other BC farmers at Revelstoke’s summer market for approximately six weeks at the beginning of each season, it’s always been with the society’s blessing. “We were really open and


up-front about it,” Bruns said. “If you have a producer-only market but there’s nothing much there at a certain time of year, then why not make an exception to that and extend the ability to bring in some other things from other farmers who might not be able to make the trip themselves?”


Bruns sold his own


produce and acted as the agent for other producers whose produce appeared alongside his but with its origins clearly marked. “Customers knew exactly


where it was coming from; it didn’t exceed 20% of our table, which is a general guideline that’s suggested by the BC Association of Farmers Markets (BCAFM),” he said.


Membership refused This winter, however, the


society didn’t request his annual membership dues and refused them when he sent a cheque.


The society did so to avoid losing its BCAFM membership and associated benefits, according to a letter the Revelstoke society sent Bruns last fall. BCAFM bylaws mandate the termination of


Hermann Bruns arranges produce at the Revelstoke Winter Market. WILD FLIGHT FARM PHOTO


any members market that doesn’t adhere to its “make it, bake it, grow it” requirement. While the provincial association sent a letter explaining its policies to directors of the Revelstoke market society, BCAFM membership manager Georgia Stanley told Country Life in BC last month the association had yet to receive an explanation of practices at the market. She was unaware of any clear violation on the


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