With summer upon us, Farmers' Markets throughout the province are in full swing. Bustling markets, filled with delectable foods, are the perfect place to seek out SPCA Certified meats, cheeses and cage-free eggs.

“Buying direct at Farmers' Markets is a great way to source SPCA Certified products,” says Alyssa Bell Stoneman, SPCA Certified program supervisor. “It’s also the perfect time to meet the farmers and find out more about what they do.”

Many SPCA Certified producers are at Farmers' Markets this year, including:

• Celista Springs Ranch (beef, lamb, pork)

• Ladybug Manor (turkeys)

• Little Qualicum Cheeseworks (cheese)

• Rehoboth Farm (eggs)

• Rockweld Farm (eggs and chicken)

• Vale Farms Grassroots (beef)

First Nature Farms, Sunworks Farm and TK Ranch will also feature multiple products at markets in Alberta. 

SPCA Certified brings animal welfare scientists, farmers, consumers, and retailers together with the same goals in farm animal welfare. It is designed to recognize and reward farmers as well as transition conventional farm practices to a higher animal welfare standard. 

The program takes current research in animal welfare science and encorporates it into practical protocols. Farmers are independently inspected to assure consumers animals are raised to a high standard of animal welfare. Nearly two million farm animals have been raised to these high standards since the launch of the program in 2002.

SPCA Certified products are available across B.C. and Alberta from the farm gate, more than 100 retail locations and Farmers' Markets happening across the province on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

For more information, learn how farms are validated to BC SPCA standards, where to buy SPCA Certified products and discover ethical recipes examples featuring SPCA Certified products.

The Monty Fund for Community Education & Outreach supports the SPCA Certified program dedicated to improving farm animal welfare standards in Canada. Your gift can help millions of animals live a healthier, happier life. Please donate today.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.