Hi mamas!
This week’s Out & About offering is all where to buy local and in season fruits and vegetables for your growing family in our lovely city. I’m talking really fresh like right off the tree and into your reusable shopping bag kind of fresh. I give you, the latest love child of eatlocal.org, the Kerrisdale Village Farmer’s Market.
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining a media tour of the Kerrisdale Village Farmer’s Market, located between 37th and 41st Avenues on East Boulevard. It was a fun and informative look into the story behind the farmer’s market ‘movement’ in Vancouver and a chance to sample the offerings from vendors and a chance to meet all of them.
Pate and Chocolate and Food Trucks, oh MY!
I was impressed by the variety of specialty foods from vendors like Pate Pastiche, which offers out of this world delicious vegan and gluten-free pates, handmade to-die-for chocolates by Levni Chocolate and gluten-free offerings from Delish Gluten Free Products Inc.
Blue Comet Seafoods had freshly frozen fish products on offer, including salmon candy. Rockwell Farms Specialty Chicken drove their truck right into the market so you can walk right in to the back of the truck, make your purchase and admire the family photos hung inside. A nice touch, don’t you think?
The abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables seems especially wonderful this year. Blueberries are bursting at the seams, along with strawberries, cherries and well just about everything you can grow at local farms. The lettuces are massive by any standard. You can even buy basil by the handful for $3.50.
The Aussie Pie Guy was there serving up a mean Lentil Pie that is sooooo good you won’t mind the steep-ish price of $8.00 per pie.
And then there was Le Tigre, a well know food truck around town. It’s the one with the guy who wears the Hello Kitty glasses (they’re on sale too) and he’s been on Top Chef Canada. Apparently a character, and an amazing chef.
The food trucks use fresh local ingredients from the farmers when possible too. I like that they work together to deliver the freshest food on the street.
What impressed me most was the price of the quality fresh foods available. They were reasonable, in fact, better than the supermarkets when you consider quality. There is no doubt that buying fresh from the farmer is the way to go, and you get to meet the face behind the fennel, so to speak.
Plan Your Shopping Trip Ahead
Before you leave home, plan your shopping trip by checking the fridge for what you might need and then go on the web to eatlocal.org. It will give you some ideas about what to buy as it lists all the fruits and vegetables that are in season. And don’t forget your shopping bags.
So, there you have it. When you’re out and about in our lovely city, consider dropping by one of the four farmer’s markets that are open on the weekend. You can do your shopping for the week, enjoy the weather and take in a new cuisine experience at one of the food trucks.
Support our local farmers markets and your families best health with fresh produce and other products brought to you with pride by our local farmers.
2013 Market Locations
The following information was taken directly from eatlocal.org website.
Our locations are all unique and different and reflect the diverse neighbourhoods that host them. Each one has a different style and character – visit all of them to see for yourself!
Trout Lake Farmers Market Saturdays, May 11 – October 19, 2013
9am – 2pm each week
North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake
Between Templeton and Lakewood south of the 13th Avenue Alley
Please note: There is no parking in the North Lot and no parking on 13th Avenue. Please park away from the area & walk in. Or better yet: walk, cycle or take transit if you can!
Kitsilano Farmers Market, Sundays, May 12 – October 20, 2013
10am – 2pm each week
2690 Larch Street at 10th Avenue, Parking Lot of Kitsilano Community Centre
West End Farmers Market, Saturdays, June 1 – October 19, 2013
9am – 2pm each week
1100 Block of Comox Street across from Nelson Park at Mole Hill
Main Street Station at Thornton Park, Wednesdays, June 5 – October 2, 2013
3pm – 7pm
1100 Block Station Street along Thornton Park across from the VIA Rail Station and near the Main Street Skytrain Station
Kerrisdale Village Farmers Market, Saturdays, June 15 – October 12, 2013
10am – 2pm each week
East Boulevard between 37th and 41st Avenue – near Kerrisdale Arena
Yaletown Farmers Market, Thursdays, August 15 – September 26, 2013
2pm – 6pm each week
Mainland Street between Davie and Helmcken at the Yaletown-Roundhouse Canada Line Stop.
We’re partnering with the Yaletown BIA and VIVA Vancouver to run a short-season market in the heart of Yaletown. Mainland Street will become a bustling street market with produce, meat and seafood, baking and preserves offered up at the base of heritage brick buildings and steps away from the city’s best restaurants. We hope this market becomes an annual event like our other locations.