Indoor Farmers Market at Kal Tire Place (Submitted photo)

By Pete McIntyre

Councillor calling for end to ban at farmers markets

Feb 17, 2021 | 12:10 PM

A Vernon city councillor is calling for B.C.’s Health Ministry to reconsider its ban on non-food vendors at farmers markets.

Scott Anderson said in a news release, the change made on Jan. 8 to only allow food vendors, which are considered essential, has been “catastrophic” for farmers markets, lowering attendance by both vendors and customers.

Anderson, a former interim leader of the B.C. Conservative Party, will try to get support for his motion from Vernon council at its Feb. 22 meeting.

“This is another example of the discriminatory policies that are killing small businesses, promoting large businesses, and generally distorting the economy in favour of the large chains, while achieving very little to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Anderson said.

The councillor stated the ban doesn’t make sense considering non-food items are sold in big box stores and indoor malls across the province, where there are often few processes to ensure compliance with the provincial health orders.

Fire spreads to house

Vernon home "significantly damaged" by grass fire

Apr 02, 2026

Youth Health Services

Youth immunization, sexual health clinic opening in Vernon

Apr 02, 2026

Displaced For A Week

Some residents still displaced from fatal apartment fire

Apr 01, 2026

“The B.C. Association of Farmer’s Markets has been given no formal reason for the ban,” said Anderson, “other than that farmers markets are arbitrarily classified as events instead of markets, and the Public Health Order (PHO) disallows non-food items at events.”

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control said farmers markets are considered an essential service under the B.C. state of emergency and are expected to comply with hygienic practices and physical distancing to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.

“Markets are allowed to sell food items for human consumption. Food items include fresh, frozen and prepared foods, take-away from food carts and food trucks, and pre-packaged liquor. This includes lower risk foods prepared at home and higher risk foods,” the agency explained.

Vendors can sell food or non-food items online for pick-up or delivery to customers, but Joanne Horvath, an organizer with Creative Chaos, said that doesn’t help the crafters much.

“Some are doing stuff online, or through buy and sell, but that’s just peanuts,” Horvath told Vernon Matters.

Horvath feels the crafters are getting “black-balled” because they’re not considered essential.

“A lot of the crafters are a little miffed. They are allowing people to go shopping in department stores, so what’s the difference? We’re not doing anything were not supposed to, but we’re not essential,” Horvath remarked.

The Vernon Farmers Market holds events on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays inside Kal Tire Place.