City Hall holds the key to booze at farmers markets

VERNON – You’ll be able to pick up your artisanal cheese, baking—and booze—with a one-stop shop to the local farmers market, as long as Vernon city council okays it.

The Vernon Farmers Market at Kal Tire Place and the Avenue Market on 30 Avenue are asking the City of Vernon to amend its policies to allow the sale, and sampling, of liquor.

Vernon Farmers Market manager Ingrid Baron says she’s been approached by breweries, distilleries, meaderies and wineries wanting to showcase their wares. 

“It’s going to be another unique product and will be good to pair with the whole foodie experience,” Baron says.

The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch already allows it thanks to recent changes, but farmers markets need to check with their municipalities to ensure they aren’t breaking any bylaws.

Vernon council will be asked next Monday, August 11,  to adopt a new policy on liquor sampling and sales at farmers markets and to amend its parks and public spaces bylaw to accommodate the proposal.

“Our only issue, and probably with the other markets as well, is going to be space. We’re already a pretty happening market,” Baron says. “Many days we are at capacity so whether we’ll have room for them or not is hard to say. We’ll fit them in if we can.”

The Vernon Farmers Market is held Mondays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Avenue Market from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The City of Penticton recently gave its support for the sale of liquor at farmers markets.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.