Having a sample of the latest local batch of brew or vino has become a major part of the farmers’ market experience in the Lower Mainland, except in Burnaby.
The city is one of the last municipalities to act on provincial regulations that changed a couple years ago, allowing for liquor sales and tastings at the markets.
But that could soon change.
The city is looking at amending the current bylaws to allow producers to sell and offer samples of liquor at farmers’ markets.
The planning and building department is recommending the changes, and this week the city’s advisory planning committee also had a look at the amendments.
Under provincial rules, licensed manufacturers may sell and offer samples of beer, wine, cider and spirits at farmers’ markets, subject to approval from market management and compliance with local bylaws.
The group behind Burnaby’s farmers’ market, Artisan Farmers Market Society, expects the proposed changes, if approved, would be very popular with both vendors and customers.
Lyn Hainstock, the general manager of the market, noted she has a waitlist of breweries and wineries who want to sell their product at this year’s market.
While she personally feels the market isn’t the most appropriate place to sell alcohol, she also suggested it’s been very successful at other markets and brings in a huge number of customers,
“Everybody is doing it and we’ve been left behind,” Hainstock told the NOW, also adding the breweries and wineries are usually small businesses, which the market supports.
“They’re small business a lot of them, it’s not the big guys that are doing it.”
She noted the market will probably invite one brewery and one winery into the market for 2016.
Under the rules, markets can limit the number of vendors and the type of alcohol sold.
Some of the other rules include permitting liquor sales between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. and limiting the sample sizes at the market.
A number of other farmers markets around the region have taken advantage of the provincial changes and sell alcohol, including markets in the Tri-Cities and New Westminster.
Besides alcohol sales, the city is also looking at expanding the uses and activities at the market in an effort to recognize the festival atmosphere found at the weekly event. Some of the activities include live music and entertainment, non-profit community group information booths, book exchanges, children’s activities and wellness services.
All the changes still need to be approved by council. A public hearing on the amendment is set for Jan. 26.
