This presentation was given at the November 13-14, 2008, symposium of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance in Vancouver, BC, Canada.This presentation reported on the results to date of BALTA research project B5 which is exploring the current and potential role of farmers’ markets in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, as social economy drivers for local food systems.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC