has become known as the place to go on Saturdays throughout the summer for fresh produce and home-crafted goods.
It doesnB次元官网网址檛 look like this is the year where youB次元官网网址檒l also be able to get a freshly-brewed beer or locally-vinted wine.
Luxton Station Market Society, which operates the market, recently requested permission from Langford city council to add a three-hour market on Wednesday evenings this summer. They were also hoping to add craft beer to the menu of offerings available. Langford is allowing the former, but not the latter.
Last June, the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch changed its rules and began letting manufacturers sell their products at farmerB次元官网网址檚 markets. Since then there has been an ongoing debate amongst many municipalities across the province over whether to allow the practice.
Langford proved no exception to the trend of municipalities hesitating to allow liquor sales at these types of venues, voting down the prospect at a recent council meeting.
Currently, the only alcohol permitted in a city park is that covered under a Special Occasion License, issued by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch. The type of license that would be required for the market to incorporate craft beer or other alcohol sales, however, would be a B次元官网网址淢anufacturers License.B次元官网网址� As such, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 parks bylaw would need to be amended in order for sales and tastings to not contravene both city bylaws and the licensing branchB次元官网网址檚 directive.
Council is unwilling to do that at this time.
Jane Waters, park planner for the City of Langford, says that although she canB次元官网网址檛 speak for council as to why the bylaw amendment was rejected, one of her concerns is simply the aspect of overcrowding.
B次元官网网址淲e feel that the park is pretty darned overcrowded already,B次元官网网址� she said. With the marketB次元官网网址檚 growth over the years, and the recent playground and splash park upgrades, there is a risk of the park becoming B次元官网网址渙versubscribed,B次元官网网址� she said, if an additional facet of community business was to join in.
Since itB次元官网网址檚 also a memorial park, with a major cenotaph and various military and commemorative plaques, council must give consideration to all community groups who utilize the park, some of which may find alcohol sales as disrespectful, Waters said.
B次元官网网址淚 guess Langford doesnB次元官网网址檛 feel it lives up to some kind of vision they have about families and being family-friendly,B次元官网网址� said Kate King, president of the Luxton Station Market Society.
B次元官网网址淏ut I also donB次元官网网址檛 think they have a good idea about how it would be set up and arenB次元官网网址檛 considering the benefits to the local economy.B次元官网网址�
She uses the as an example of how alcohol sales can be incorporated successfully. On a trip there to check out what they were doing, King said, B次元官网网址渢here were at least seven vendors selling everything from beer to wine to spirits. And it was not only incorporated seamlessly, but everything was being monitored very well, everybody was getting carded (asked for identification) properly and it was just a really good vibe.B次元官网网址�
Andy Johnston of Averill Creek Vineyard, who sells product at the Duncan Market, was shocked when informed of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 decision.
B次元官网网址淲hy on Earth would they do that?B次元官网网址� he asked. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a natural extension of the market. If itB次元官网网址檚 a locally farmed and produced product being sold at a local farmerB次元官网网址檚 market, itB次元官网网址檚 exactly the reason farmerB次元官网网址檚 markets exist.B次元官网网址�
Johnston said visibility of their wines at the market has dramatically increased both direct sales and indirect ones, by boosting awareness of their products.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of the patrons of our market arenB次元官网网址檛 from the Cowichan Valley at all, but they come down from up Island or up from Victoria, so the exposure is really important, and itB次元官网网址檚 working,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 also an extremely cost-effective retail outlet. It costs me $15 to get a table there, so itB次元官网网址檚 very good from a business perspective, and itB次元官网网址檚 great for the community, as well. If you asked anybody here, both vendors and patrons, they will all say itB次元官网网址檚 been a very good addition to the market.B次元官网网址�
Jenny Garlini of Cowichan ValleyB次元官网网址檚 Blue Grouse Estate Winery agreed.
B次元官网网址淚 realize IB次元官网网址檓 a bit biased, because I sell at the market, but I have nothing but positive things to say about it. WeB次元官网网址檝e had nothing but great, positive response from customers and vendors,B次元官网网址� she said.
Fellow vintner Sarah Cosman of Unsworth Vineyards added that theyB次元官网网址檝e had B次元官网网址渨onderful feedback from the locals and tourists with comments such as how nice it is to have the local wine so accessible.B次元官网网址� The positive responses often come from people happy to be able to get everything they need in one place, she said.
B次元官网网址淗aving craft beverage producers at the markets is yet another great reason for shoppers to come out and support local vegetable growers, sausage makers, cheesemakers, bakers, florists, artists, and more B次元官网网址� at all once.B次元官网网址�
King said the resistance may be coming from people with preconceived notions about alcohol in general and the perceived atmosphere vendors would bring to the market.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not like these are drug dealers,B次元官网网址� she said, laughing. B次元官网网址淭hese are responsible business people that are selling products theyB次元官网网址檙e making here and are totally legal. Supporting them supports the local economy and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 better than catering to huge corporations, personally.B次元官网网址�
While disappointed by the decision, King still hopes to eventually incorporate craft beer sales into the market.
B次元官网网址淲e just have to do more research, gather more information and get testimonials from places that are already doing it,B次元官网网址� she says, B次元官网网址渢hen bring those back to council again to show them the benefit itB次元官网网址檚 providing for other communities B次元官网网址� and get them to reconsider.B次元官网网址�
