'Huge uptick': Tariff war drives new shoppers to Island farmers markets

'Huge uptick': Tariff war drives new shoppers to Island farmers markets

Waves of new shoppers arrived with cash in hand, and patriotism top of mind at Nanaimo’s Farmers Market on Wednesday. Island vendors said they have never seen as many local shoppers at any previous markets held in March.   “We’ve noticed a huge uptick and we have really noticed huge numbers of new faces at the market,” said Michele Greene, manager of Nanaimo Farmers Market-Island Roots Market.  “As soon as the tariffs kicked in, we noticed there…