The New City Market is a multipurpose building that will meet Vancouver’s future demands for local food by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure for BC food producers. With a thriving year-round, indoor/outdoor farmers market at the heart of the facility it is a triple win for our economy, environment and community. Designed for maximum impact with a minimal footprint, New City Market will improve efficiencies all along the food chain.

When completed, New City Market will be a centrally located, energy saving, local food security hub with multipurpose functions including:

Farmers Market
Since 1994, Vancouver’s farmers markets have grown from a single seasonal East Vancouver Market with 18 vendors to 7 city-wide markets with 10 times as many vendors operating year-round.

Annual revenues to farmers are nearly $4 million, yet farmers markets in Vancouver are still considered a “special event.” We need permanent spaces and a larger, permanent space for our winter market. New City Market will provide a permanent indoor/outdoor year-round farmers market for wholesale and retail.

Cold/Frozen Storage Warehouse
Farmers, fishers and wild harvesters who sell at multiple farmers markets in the same week will be able to preserve the freshness of their product in this temperature controlled storage facility. Beyond the hours of the farmers market, distribution will increase vendor revenues through additional selling opportunities in the wider Vancouver market.

A consolidated source of locally produced food products means increased access for larger distributors, grocery stores and restaurants who are unable to buy from individual small-scale producers. Chefs who want a more hands-on buying experience will be able to shop onsite during early morning chef markets.

Processing Centre and Incubator Kitchen
Here, behind glass windows, the public will be able to trace the process from raw agricultural product to finished jams, salsas, juices and frozen items. For food processors, increased access to a commercial processing and product development services will boost profitability. A priority will be micro-business development.

For growers, New City Market provides another revenue stream. Where cosmetically imperfect fruit and vegetables are currently land filled or composted, within the new facility, they will instead be redirected into quality products destined for our grocery shelves. For the public, the processing centre provides additional opportunities for cooking demonstrations and food preservation workshops.

Retail and Café
Throughout the week, locals and tourists alike can visit, taste and purchase the best of British Columbia. Buying direct from the New City Market distribution facility, these businesses will showcase B.C. products and serve as an example of financial success in supporting our food producers.

Event, Meeting and Office Space
New City Market will provide space for food-related initiatives and organizations. With an onsite kitchen and rentals of tents, tables, chairs, linens, and dishes, New City Market will offer more affordable alternatives to community groups shaping and celebrating our food future.

Research and Development and Support For Vancouver’s Neighbourhood-based Food Precincts
New City Market will provide a home to Local Food First, providing research and development of initiatives that strengthen our food system and provide support to a diverse network of integrated neighbourhood and community markets (NCMs) that will feed a growing appetite for local food. These NCN food precincts will utilize existing community centres, neighbourhood houses and schools, as well as help residents access food and fundamental education, including:

• Pocket markets
• Food growing (community gardens, edible landscapes, green rooftops, etc.)
• Food buying clubs
• Skills, education and training in growing, processing, handling and cooking of food
• Emergency food response centers for natural or human-caused disasters