The Prince George Farmers’ Market has wrapped up another year, and researchers say they have further information to confirm the positive impact it has on the City of Prince George in general and the downtown in particular.

The researchers say on the day they attended to survey customers, (September 9^th) there were about 1,938 people attending the market.

Three hundred people at the market agreed to take part in the survey. The survey responses support information gathered in previous years.

Those who attend say they spend a total of $794 thousand dollars a year at the farmers’ market. Most of the people surveyed had made the trip to downtown specifically to attend the market (84%).

More than half (54%) said they visit the market regularly, at least two or three times a month and 64% said they would also visit neighbouring businesses while downtown for the market. The researchers say the spin off economic impact for neighbouring businesses was just over $400 thousand dollars.

Nearly every survey that has been done on the revitalization of downtown has mentioned the positive impact the farmers’ market has on the area. Those studies have urged the City to incorporate some sort of farmers market in any revitalization plan.

This report will be incorporated into a larger study of the impact such markets have on 26 communities throughout B.C.