The sixth annual dinner fundraiser of the Vancouver Farmers Markets (VFM) on October 18 promises to be a different experience.

Instead of a sit-down dinner, RIPE 2015 will feature 10 tasting stations plus beverage and desert tables at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre.

This will allow guests to circulate, talk with farmers and chefs, and sample the fare prepared from the pairing of produce from local farms and the culinary expertise of 10 restaurants in the city.

Local food will be provided by Helmers’ Organic Farm, Klippers Organics, Skipper Otto’s, Sole Food Street Farms, Northern Divine, Golden West Farms, Cropthorne, and Glorious Organics.

Chefs from the following restaurants will prepare the dishes: Burdock & Co., Forage, YEW seafood + bar, Graze Vegetarian, Nomad, West, Rangoli, Exile Bistro, Bittered Sling, and Supermarine.

“RIPE really celebrates the connections between farmers and chefs that begin at the markets,” VFM executive director Tara McDonald stated in a media release. “Some of these restaurants and producers are being paired for the first time, but others have been working together for years, using the markets as both a delivery depot and a place for exchanging ideas and collaboration.”

Wine, craft beer, and cocktails will be poured by Legend Distilling, Odd Society, The Distillery Bar + Kitchen, BC Wine Studio, and R&B Brewing Co.

The Scattered Coals will play bluegrass music.

The VFM is the non-profit organizer of nine weekly farmers markets in Vancouver.

For tickets: eatlocal.org/ripe-2015