Spring arrived early this year in Northern B.C. and that means farmers markets and gardens are popping up once more and it has communities talking about the perennial issue of food security.

This past weekend Skeena Region hosted the first markets of the season in Smithers, Terrace and Prince Rupert. Smithers and Terrace were full of vendors and a few early vegetables, definitely a sign of what’s to come, according to Layten Harder, market manager for the Bulkley Valley Farmers Market.

"Today we have at least a half-dozen vegetable vendors, with some new faces," explained Harder. "But this is just the beginning, in about a month there will be twice that many, definitely looking forward to seeing more vendors out this year."  

Farmers markets aside, food security and backyard gardens have been taking on new meaning, flowing the panic buying and sometimes bare shelves at groceries stores during the covid years. 

Now, growing your own vegetables just seems like a smart plan for most, with dozens if not hundreds of gardens popping up all over the region, an already agriculturally rich place with deep roots. 

Listen to the full episode on CICK NEWS below.