By Jennifer Gauthier
The Tri-City News
For the sixth year in a row, Coquitlam smoke-eaters fired up the grill for their annual sockeye salmon charity barbecue at the Coquitlam Farmers' Market on Poirier Street.
The Port Hardy-hooked fish was served up last Sunday to shoppers looking for local produce - just as organizers also launched the market's 15th year in Coquitlam.
Terri Evans, chair of the Coquitlam Farmers' Market Society and market co-founder, said the local stall was the second farmers' market established in the region - and it has remained robust as foodies search for the latest and freshest nosh.
As well, Evans said, "They get to meet the producers and learn more about how they grow the food, what the labour costs are and how the weather can impact everything."
Diversity is the key to a thriving market, she said, pointing to the seafood, poultry, beef, jam, veggies, bread and honey for sale by vendors.
August's feature food will be blueberries, she said.
As for the 15th anniversary celebrations, Evans said the official kick-off will be next month and will be followed by community events in the fall at both the Poirier and Spirit Square locations.
The Spirit Square venue - a new addition to the society, which runs on Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m., south of Coquitlam city hall - "is beautiful.... We get a lot of customers that walk to market or use public transit. It's a higher-density area and reflects the diversity of contemporary Coquitlam. I really enjoy seeing that space come to life," she said.
Visit makebakegrow.com/our-markets/.
