|
|
|
WHAT'S NEW
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Alberta's farmer's markets
|
|
|
Make this the summer of fresh food, starting with these listings of the best grocery shopping from those who "make it, bake it, grow it."
|
|
|
By Dee Van Dyk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
St. Albert Farmers Market
Photo courtesy of Travel Alberta
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Do you remember that small sweet strawberry from your childhood -- the way the flavour burst in your mouth? Recapture that intense flavour by visiting a local farmer's market, where "fresh" means locally grown and produced.
A virtual sampling of farmer's markets in Alberta
Calgary Farmer's Market
www.calgaryfarmersmarket.ca
Located in the former Currie Barracks (Hangar 7) in southwest Calgary, the Calgary Farmer's Market also includes foods and products from British Columbia.
You'll find organic options here from Blush Lane, Hoven Farms Organic Foods and Lund's Organic Farm, as well as produce and goods from area Hutterite farms.
Check out bison products such as sausage and jerky from Valta Bison Farms, elk from Wapiti Ways, and locally produced cheese from Sylvan Star Cheese. Take home a loaf of fresh bread from the Rustic Sourdough Bakery Ltd. or a strawberry rhubarb pie from Simple Simon Pies.
My personal favourite: an Italian hot dog (garlic butter, bruschetta, sharp asiago cheese, and sweet, fresh basil) from Le Chien Chaud and a decadent strawberry shortcake cupcake from The Buttercream Bake Shoppe.
Old Strathcona Farmer's Market/Edmonton
www.osfm.ca
With more than 130 regular vendors, the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market pulls in an average of 10,000 shoppers every Saturday. Located on the east side of 103rd Street and 83rd Avenue, this farmer's market pushes a "you make it, you bake it, you grow it, you sell it" mandate. Vendors include Four Whistle Farms (try the lamb merquez sausage), and Menno's Sausage (Mennonite sausage, German sausage).
Stop for a take-home focaccia pizza from Bella Crusta or samosas and vegetable roti from Lipsmackers.
More links to Alberta farmer's markets
Strathmore Farmer's Market
www.strathmorefarmersmarket.ca
Lethbridge Exhibition Farmer's Market
www.exhibitionpark.ca
Millarville Farmer's Market
www.millarville.ab.ca
Find a farmer's market in your area:
Under the Alberta Approved Farmers' Market Program, Alberta Agriculture and Food administers a "make it, bake it, grow it" system, encouraging customer access to locally produced foods and crafts. For an interactive map of approved Alberta farmer's markets, click here.
Want to expand the experience? Visit some of the farms you see represented at the farmer's market. Many have "u-pick" options and onsite sales.
Dine Alberta
www1.agric.gov.ab.ca
This Alberta Agriculture and Food initiative promotes restaurant dining based on locally grown food that supports the culture, geography and history of the province. There's currently a list of 110 Alberta restaurants on the list with such memorable eateries as the River Café in Calgary, The Bison Mountain Bistro & General Store in Banff, The Bavarian Inn Restaurant in Bragg Creek, and the Blue Chair Café in Edmonton.
See the entire range of Homemakers.com's Canadian farmer's markets series, mapped out with Microsoft's Live Search Maps by clicking here.
Page 1 of 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 more articles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
