Bring your own container, get a free meal at farmers’ market

Yellowknife’s farmers’ market returns for the season on Tuesday, promising free meals to residents who keep using their own containers.

For years, the market has operated a program whereby meals at the market are served with compostable plates and utensils. The market says 90 percent of its waste is now diverted to compost.

Bringing your own container for the meal takes the initiative a step further.

If you turn up with your own container for five separate markets – which takes place each Tuesday, from now until September 17 – you’ll earn a $15 voucher to be spent on dinner at the market’s eateries or goods at any vendor.

Make sure you pick up a loyalty card the first time you arrive with a container, so each appearance can be registered as you work toward a voucher.

The most dedicated market attendees could, theoretically, earn $45 in vouchers by bringing a container each week throughout the season.

Julie Downes, the market’s on-site manager this season, said vendors are reimbursed and money to fund the loyalty program comes from grants.

“We’re very lucky here in Yellowknife to have a volunteer board who spends a lot of their time through the winter putting together grant proposals,” said Downes, “looking for funding and getting little pieces together to help put on the market.”

New vendors for the season ahead include an apothecary, a craft stall selling what Downes termed “adorable crocheted little stuffed animals,” and jeweller Mermaid and Moon.

The market runs from 5:15pm till 7:15pm each Tuesday at the Somba K’e Civic Plaza, outside City Hall.