VILLAGE FAMILY MARKET

We led the group on our now famous Grapevine Wild Goose Chase down Johnson to Quadra and arching back along Pandora, while people wrongly guessed all the places we might be going. When we finally entered the door of Village Family Marketplace it took Grapevine members by surprise.

Walking through the brightly lit and well-appointed store to the counter, we handed our purple balloon bouquet to two owners – Dustin Pierson and Justine Kerkham, who are also partners in life. Other owners not in attendance are Cosmo Meens and his wife Leah, former owners of Mo:le and Cafe Bliss, Jon and Myki Swift, and Brian Lingard.

Dustin said the Village Family Marketplace is a collaboration of different ideas contributed by individual partners. Cosmo realized most Victorians are unaware of the bounty of food grown on Vancouver Island and he envisioned one place where it could all be accessed at a single location.

Cosmo found the Pandora venue in January, acknowledging it was a downtrodden neighbourhood that needed help but one he felt could be assisted toward revitalization by launching a store offering the best fresh local food. With a highly supportive landlord who was excited by that vision, the market opened on July 15, 2009.

Dustin was a Mo:le chef for several years before deciding he wanted to produce his art without the never-ceasing demand that exists in a high-volume restaurant. He built the market’s kitchen and deli to provide healthy food to customers working nearby.

City Guide 2009 quotes Cosmo saying, “With vegetables, fruit, meats, seafood, eggs, cheese, nuts, vinegar, honey and whatever else we can find that is produced here on this bountiful island that we live on, we will make preserves and pre-made dinners, soups, sauces and other foods – fresh, frozen and canned.”

Since that interview, dairy products like the Cowichan Valley’s Udder Guys Ice Cream and organic butter from Avalon Dairy have been added, as well as free-run and organic chicken eggs. On our “graping” day, there were cherry and heirloom tomatoes, corn on the cob, potatoes, chard, a variety of fresh berries, Salt Spring organic Shitake mushrooms ($14/lb.) and cheeses, as well as some herbs.

There’s a nice choice of local teas (i.e. roasted green tea priced at $10.25 for 120 ml.) and coffee, including Discovery Coffee, (“graped” in June 2006). We spotted Goji-Hemp Buckwheaties cereal from Home Grown Living Foods in the Cowichan Valley ($13.50) – a sprouted, raw, vegan and gluten-free product. Who knew that Babe’s Honey made balsamic honey vinegar ($21.50)? Or that Saanich Peninsula’s SeaCidery produced vinegar (375 ml. for $15.95)?

Fresh bison, chicken, pork and duck are available (chicken is $5.10/lb.). In the freezer there’s a choice of bison, hand-peeled BC spot prawns ($20/lb.), BC smoked candied Albacore tuna ($13.75/lb.), non-medicated ham ($11/lb.) and non-medicated bacon ($19.90/lb.).

While Cosmo works diligently behind the scene sourcing local products, Dustin produces delicious light lunches, salsas and jams. Be sure to ask about his already famous Dijon mustard! Justine is General Manager, working in the shop and behind the scene, while Myki and Leah assist customers at the counter.

Speaking of counters, it’s worth a visit just to admire this gorgeous piece of furniture designed and built by partner Jon. Justine told us the arbutus wood was salvaged from her parents’ cabin and the black hemlock, fashioned like tree trunks inserted into the base, came from a friend’s carport. The counter top has a row of exposed trunks cut and laid flat, giving the appearance of intricate tile.

Village Family Marketplace has a zero-waste operation, says Justine. For example, Dustin can make creative use of produce that is not fresh enough to sell but perfect for soups and sauces, etc.

The market currently delivers products direct to six downtown restaurants and hopes to grow that end of the business to nurture the farmer/restaurateur relationship. Chef Dustin says “fresh and frozen take-home dinners are planned soon for people who dislike cooking, have no time to cook, or don’t know how to cook.” By next summer Village Family Marketplace envisions a pleasant outside seating area and perhaps an open-air market where customers can meet local farmers.

If you haven’t got a car that allows you access to neighbourhood farms, it’s now possible to get it all in one central location. If you enjoy eating fresh and healthy local foods in season, perhaps participate in the 100-Mile Diet, here’s a way to do it easily and feel pride in supporting small businesses in your own community!

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