(Image courtesy of: www.reupbbq.com)
There’s good news for Vancouver’s street food scene. On Thursday, city council unanimously approved expanding the number of street food vendors. Sixty new locations will be phased in over the next four years with 30 downtown and 30 spread throughout other parts of the city. There will also be a trial from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012, where up to 20 mobile food vending permits will be issued that allow for a greater variety of food offerings from mobile vendors.
In June of 2010, the City of Vancouver began a pilot program to take street food beyond the pre-packaged, non-perishable items it was previously limited to. Seventeen new street locations were added to the existing 60 with the proviso that the menu offer items other than hot dogs and packaged foods. Existing vendors were also eligible if they changed to more nutritious and diverse food offerings.
The pilot attracted 400 applicants, from which 17 were chosen via the City’s existing lottery process administered by Engineering Services. Fourteen vendors are currently operational, with the remaining three expected to start up early this year. Six existing permit holders also converted to healthier, more diverse offerings.
As a result of the 2010 pilot, a number of changes to the City’s street food vending program are anticipated:
- permit holders will be required to operate the site themselves
- street vending hours may be extended to 4 AM on case by case basis
- vendors will be encouraged to source local ingredients where possible
- economic development opportunities for low income populations will be explored
The City will also evaluate guidelines for a limit on the number of times a permit can be renewed, as well as minimum requirements for the operation of sites.
An alternate selection process for street vendors is under development to ensure that food nutrition, origin, and diversity requirements are met. Applications will be evaluated according to experience, qualifications, business plan, readiness, nutritional content, menu diversity, innovation, use of local/organic/fair trade food, and green waste management practices.
City staff will undertake an initial screening of applicants. Final selection will be determined by a panel consisting of chefs, a food critic, a member of the public, a food blogger, a nutritionist, a sustainability expert, and representatives from business improvement associations, the BC Food and Restaurant Association, the Vancouver Food Policy Council, the Vancouver Economic Development Commission, and the Farmers Market Society. Applicants will be scored, which will determine the order in which winners can choose their preferred location. Tied scores will be resolved by a draw.
In the coming years, Vancouver’s street food scene may grow beyond even these choices. City staff will be studying street food vending on private property. It is anticipated they will report back to Council in early 2012, including options for a pilot program.
~ RG
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