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West End Farmers Market
Category: Food Farmers Market Farmers Market [Edit]
Comox St & Bute StVancouver, BC V6E
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 879-3276
- Hours:
Sat 9 am - 2 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
10 reviews for West End Farmers Market
10 reviews in English
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Review from Kate S.
Vancouver, BC
11/6/2011
Oh, West End Farmer's Market, how I miss you so!!! You've only been gone for the season for 2 weeks now and I don't know how I will survive.
Okay, okay...I'll survive by going to Nat Bailey. I trekked out to there today for the winter market, and I'll go back, but damn, it was sooo much easier to walk out my front door. ;)
In terms of prices - you get what you pay for.
I actually don't find the prices in DOLLARS to be too much higher than in the grocery store - the price our environment, your health, the Canadian economy pays is SO much higher when buying from other countries, etc., than the few extra cents you might pay at the Farmers Market. 100% worth it. It's amazing how much of a difference eating local, and preferably local AND organic, makes. For me, my piece of mind in knowing the environment my food was grown in and that it's bringing an income to a LOCAL FARMER is so worth every penny.
I DARE you to go buy cherry tomatoes from the grocery store and also from the Farmers Market and tell me which tastes better! (Carrots too!)
PS - local food always lasts longer in my fridge than imported produce - it's fresher, therefore lasts longer...if you can keep it around long enough without eating it! :) -
Review from Melissa E.
Vancouver, BC
10/15/2011
How could I not have reviewed the Farmer's market yet!?!? This is one of my favourite things to do on saturday...stroll up the street with a coffee in hand. Sometimes I meet up with friends but mostly I like to saunter solo. I've definitely got my favourites but even after 7 years there is always some new stall or veggie to discover and cook up. Are the prices higher than your regular fare? Yup. But that's the true cost of good, organic local food.
Some girls spend their money on shoes...i spend mine on fresh kohlrabi. -
Review from Rich R.
Vancouver, BC
8/16/2010
Maybe I'm just biased since I live in the Westend, but I love this farmers market!
It's great to buy organic food at a grocery store. But buying local organic food directly from the farmer is soooo much better! Organic food is fantastic because it doesn't have the hazardous chemicals all over it. But when you choose to buy organic AND local, you are getting a lot more health benefits. Organic food that is important is usually harvested prematurely in order to sustain the shipping. When you buy from a place like the West End Farmers market, you are getting extremely nutrient-dense foods that were likely picked that day or the day before!
Mmmm. So good.
So why isn't the Westend Farmers market busier? C'mon peeps! Check it out! -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
6/12/2010 7 Check-ins Here
I remember when I fist moved to the West End and discovered the farmers market. It was small and uneventful with a few tables, a politician or two shaking hands and a coffee truck.
But now... You've come a long way baby! Tents line comox, full of life, with veggies of all shapes and sizes (organic, local), breads, honey, jewelry, street performers... Even Bon Chaz is there with their buns 'o goodness! The highlight for me though is the flowers: 3 bunches of lilies for $5, peonies, tulips... All fresh, cheap and most certainly cheery!
It's my favourite way to spend a Sat morning! I hope next years will be even better!Listed in: A Guide to Vancouver's Dining…
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Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
11/8/2009
The West End's Farmer's market is one of the few farmer's markets in the downtown area - with the gastown going through trial this year.... so I decided on the last day it was going to be open this year... I've come to like this place a lot.
Compared to the Kits market.. it's probably 1/3 of the size.. with vendors lined up between thurlow and bute on comox street. There are still the coffee and crepe trucks.. in addition to your usual produce, cheeses, honeys and pastries.
This being the last day - a survey was being held about what age group you fell in.. I was quite surprised to be in a huge minority (twenties)... I guess there are a lot of individuals between the ages of 30 - 40 who either live in the DT core or come by to get the goods.
Apparently the Tuna Sashimi grade lady was selling her goods but I missed out! I tried it once when one of my friends bought it and it was absolutely amazing.. and the vendor may not heavily promote all their items.. so always go and ask.
I managed to try one of my 101 Vancouver's Best Eats - Matsasuke Mushroom... a rare delicacy that doesn't sell cheap... either $18 or $22/ lb.. it has a very strong smell to it... very interesting... but different and an acquired taste. I went home and sauteed them lightly with oil and salt and pepper.. it was juicy and had good textures... glad I got to check it out!
Matsusake mushrooms -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
12/5/2008
I've been spoiled by the world's best farmer's market in Halifax. Since every farmers' market I now visit is a paltry comparison I'm going to stick to facts over opinion on this one.
The market includes about three dozen vendors who line up on Comox St. between Bute and Thurlow. That's just west of St. Paul's and by Nelson Park for you landmark-loving folk.
There are the usual range of farm-market products: local and organic produce, cookies, honey, eggs, flowers, jams, meat, fish, and gift items. The setting is pretty with the residential houses on one side and the green-grassy park on the other. Plus there is a coffee stand.
If you are downtown on a Saturday between June and late October, are tired of the Robson consumer-strip and you'd rather not buy coffee at Starbucks or...er...Starbucks, venture south a few blocks and stroll this cute local oasis instead. -
Review from Steve L.
Victoria, BC
I'm a bit ashamed to admit that in eight years of living in the West End, this was my first visit to the West End Farmers market.
I guess I might have had my expectations a little too high because I wasn't really blown away by my experience. I thought that the market was pretty small, and there was not a large variety of goods to be had. But in all fairness, my only frame of reference for Farmers Markets is coming from the prairies, where the markets are usually huge and bountiful in comparison.
The foods all looked fresh, and delicious but since we were on more of a recon mission than a shopping trip we really didn't buy much of anything, but we did walk away with a jar of Grand Marnier honey from Vlad Apiary and amazing pastries from Whistler's Purebread including a macaroon the size of my fist. Next time we will certainly buy some gigantic organic mushrooms, which put supermarket fare to shame.
Now that I've broken the eight year farmers market drought, I'll be sure to try and make it more of a regular summer weekend activity. -
Review from jenny m.
Vancouver, BC
7/2/2009
I really appreciate having several farmer's markets around Vancouver that feature local, organic produce. It's hard to come by. Having lived in California my whole life, I'm now experiencing a bit of a lack-of-produce-shock. There are a few things I'm willing to spend a little more money on and one of them is healthy food from local businesses. The West End market is small (but close by) yet they do a good job at trying to represent variety. Shopping at a local farmer's market helps me appreciate what's seasonal and the value of having organic available. I look forward to it riding my bike to it every Saturday. I just wish it could be held year round!
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Review from Kat D.
10/9/2010
What a pleasure it is to know the people you buy food from and to have this cornucopia of flavours right in my area! This summer, Whistler's Purebread came to sell at the market some Saturdays and quickly generated a lot of fans who anxiously asked market organizers when they would return so we could get more of their bread, pastries, cookies and brownies. At the Whistler market I waited in a sizeable line to get some of their fantastic wares. Their almond croissants are so full of butter, nuts and an almond (paste?) filling that the flavour reminds me of Amaretto. I discovered that their Paesano or Rustic Italian bread, is even more amazing with luscious organic cherry tomatoes from Delta's Celyddon Farms. These little mouthfuls of summer sun will make it hard to go back to any other kind of tomatoes. I have served the tomatoes to friends and family who all asked me how they could get more. From Jobst-Hof Orchards mouthwatering cherries, sour cherries and peaches. From Ice Cap Organics chard, small, juicy zucchini, peas and salad turnips. The best carrots I have ever had and lettuce from Langley Growers, currant curry hummus from Bean Boy, delicious bread like the baguette and sour dough bought from the charming women at A Bread Affair whose bread now is fortunately available year around at Urban Fare and the Cambie Whole Foods. I don't know how I will make it through the winter without the best pork sausage/ground pork/pork chops I have had, from Gelderman Farms and the cilantro lamb sausage from Jay Springs Lamb. From June to October, if you love food, why be anywhere else on Saturdays?
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Review from Joel C.
Vancouver, BC
6/5/2010
Open today, first day of the market this year. It's still early in the growing season but bought quality lettuce, heirloom tomato, fresh bread, etc. Crepes looked amazing but had already eaten breakfast. Go support them!
