Every week from May through October, parking lots and park meadows across the Fraser Valley transform into open-air markets where the distance between field and table shrinks to a handshake. Farmers stack crates of just-picked strawberries beside jars of honey still warm from extraction. Bakers pull loaves from coolers that were in the oven three hours earlier. The air smells like basil and fresh bread and the particular sweetness of ripe stone fruit in the sun.
These are not farmers markets in the sanitized, urban sense -- no artisanal candle vendors outnumbering the actual farmers. The Fraser Valley markets are working markets in an agricultural region, and the people behind the tables are, more often than not, the same people who planted, tended, and harvested what they are selling. That directness is the whole point.
Here is every major market in the region for 2026, with the practical details you need to plan a visit.
Chilliwack Farmers Market
Location: Chilliwack Heritage Park, 44140 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack
Days: Wednesdays and Saturdays
Hours: Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (May through October)
Parking: Free on-site parking. Arrive early on Saturdays -- the lot fills by 10.
One of the largest and longest-running markets in the region, set against the backdrop of Chilliwack Heritage Park. The Saturday market is the main event: rows of vendors stretching across the grounds, with seasonal vegetables, berries, tree fruits, local honey, free-range eggs, baked goods, artisan crafts, and cut flowers. The Wednesday market is smaller and more relaxed -- a midweek ritual for locals who know that the best corn and tomatoes never make it to the weekend. Come for the produce. Stay for the kettle corn.
What to buy: Peak-season berries (July-August), local honey, farm-fresh eggs, sourdough from the valley's artisan bakers, and whatever vegetable the farmer behind the table is most excited about that week.
Abbotsford Farm and Country Market
Location: 2552 McCallum Road, Abbotsford (Jubilee Park)
Days: Saturdays
Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (seasonal -- check website for current schedule)
Parking: Free parking at Jubilee Park. Street parking also available on surrounding roads.
Abbotsford's farm and country market has been a community gathering spot since 1995, bringing together local growers, bakers, artisans, and entertainers in a park setting. The market draws vendors from across the valley -- expect tables piled with local produce, farm-fresh eggs, artisan cheeses, preserves, handmade jewelry, and local artwork. The atmosphere is community-oriented and family-friendly, with live entertainment on many Saturdays. It is the kind of market where you run into everyone you know.
What to buy: Local cheeses (especially from the valley's small dairy operations), artisan bread and pastries, preserves, and seasonal produce.
Agassiz Farm Fresh Market
Location: Pioneer Avenue, Agassiz
Days: Saturdays
Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (June through September)
Parking: Free public parking along Pioneer Avenue and behind the market area.
Agassiz is about twenty minutes past Chilliwack on Highway 9, and the drive alone is worth it -- the road follows the Fraser River through increasingly dramatic mountain scenery. The market itself is small and charming, reflecting the tight-knit community it serves. Vendors are almost exclusively local: fresh vegetables, berries, herbs, baked goods, homemade jams and preserves, and seasonal flowers. The Harrison-Agassiz area has a microclimate that is surprisingly warm, and the farms here grow things you would not expect this far up the valley. If you are making a day of it, Harrison Hot Springs is fifteen minutes up the road.
What to buy: Fresh herbs, homemade preserves, seasonal vegetables from the area's small growers, and baked goods from local kitchens.
Mission Farmers Market
Location: 7337 Welton Street, Mission
Days: Seasonal (check locally for current schedule)
Hours: Typically 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Parking: Free street parking throughout downtown Mission.
Mission's market is smaller than Chilliwack or Abbotsford, but that is part of its appeal. The pace is slower, the crowds thinner, and the vendors know most of their customers by name. Located in the downtown core, it showcases the best of Mission's growing agricultural community: seasonal produce, local meat and poultry, honey, baked goods, handmade soaps, and artisan crafts. The surrounding downtown has enough cafes, shops, and character to make the trip worthwhile even beyond the market.
What to buy: Local honey, seasonal produce, and baked goods. Check out the handmade soaps and crafts for gifts.
How to Get the Most Out of a Market Visit
- --Do a lap first. Walk the entire market before you buy anything. See what is available, compare prices, and figure out where you want to spend your money. The best item might be at the last table.
- --Bring cash. Many vendors accept cards and mobile payments now, but cash is still king at farmers markets. It is faster, simpler, and some smaller vendors -- the ones with the best stuff -- are cash-only.
- --Bring your own bags. A sturdy tote or two and a few produce bags will serve you well. Better for the environment, easier to carry, and you will not end up juggling six plastic bags on the walk back to your car.
- --Arrive early for selection, late for deals. The best produce goes first -- if you want those perfect strawberries, be there at opening. But vendors who do not want to pack up unsold produce will sometimes offer end-of-market deals. Both strategies have merit.
- --Ask questions. "What is good this week?" is the most useful question you can ask a farmer. They know what is at peak ripeness, what is coming next, and how to cook the thing you have never seen before. Most vendors genuinely enjoy the conversation.
- --Explore the neighbourhood. Many markets are located near cafes, shops, and other attractions worth discovering. Make a morning of it.
What is in Season When
May-June: Asparagus, lettuce, radishes, rhubarb, herbs, spring onions, early strawberries
July-August: Blueberries, raspberries, cherries, corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, beans, peaches
September-October: Apples, pears, plums, squash, pumpkins, root vegetables, late tomatoes, grapes
Year-round (at select markets): Eggs, honey, preserves, baked goods, artisan cheeses, meats
Whether you are stocking up for the week or simply want to spend a Saturday morning surrounded by good food and the people who grow it, the Fraser Valley's farmers markets deliver something that a grocery store never will: a direct line from the field to your kitchen, with a handshake in between.