Tomorrow, the Lethbridge Farmers’ Market returns to the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free and it’s Lethbridge’s only Alberta-approved farmers’ market.
“At least 80 per cent of what’s being sold is made, baked or grown in Alberta,” says Paul Kingsmith, director of community engagement at Lethbridge and District Exhibition. “It is a way for people to shop local, support local vendors and give back to the community, while getting healthy, interesting and unique options for food, crafts and baked goods.”
Shoppers are encouraged to park in the south lot of the Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre and visit vendors both indoors and outdoors, outside of the venue’s south entrance.
“It’s something we’ve done for decades. It’s something we know our community looks forward to every year. The feedback we get from vendors and guests is we know people are ready to get in there and get their shopping done,” notes Kingsmith.
For the second year in a row, vendors at the Saturday Lethbridge Farmers’ Market can donate leftover produce and food to Drive Away Hunger, which distributes the collected food to Interfaith Food Bank and the Lethbridge Food Bank.
“Our Farmers’ Market vendors have been contributing to local food banks for years, but our partnership with Drive Away Hunger has really helped to solidify the program and ensure the maximum amount of food is making it to our local food banks,” says Kingsmith.
Farmers’ Market vendors, Kingsmith adds, are very generous to donate their leftover produce. “We’ve seen the impact.”
In 2023, vendors donated 6,317 pounds of produce to local food banks. According to Drive Away Hunger, that is the equivalent of more than $22,000 in donations and equates to more than 6,300 meals for those in need in our community.
“Demand for our services has increased exponentially over the last two years and we’ve been having a difficult time maintaining our supply of fresh options lately,” says Danielle McIntyre, executive director of Interfaith.
This partnership is vital to community support, adds McIntyre. “We’ve been awaiting for the return of the Lethbridge Farmers’ Market and are looking forward to our weekly pickups to help keep our pick rooms stocked over the growing season.”
