Happy October.....

The first Saturday of the month of October and hence, the St. Thomas Public Library will be at the market this weekend. Be sure to bring your library card and take home a few timely books about fall and harvest.

We have been harvesting a bit of rain these last few days and will likely continue into the weekend. Rain at the market does not seem to be a problem – our pavilions are sheltering structures, and of course we have the indoor building which also provides shelter and blessed warmth. New inside the building this week is Carol Smith Permanent Christmas Trees. Carol is a returning vendor to the market and will be lighting up the inside this year with her crafty creations.

We continue to average 32 vendors per Saturday. That number includes various vendors finishing for the season and new vendors just beginning. And then there are those who have been here full-time from May 9th right to October 31st. New vendors this week include Quai du Vin with their Concord Sparkingly Grape Juice (non-alcoholic beverage). Sin-o-buns, RGrow Farms, and DeBackere Farms will be done on Thanksgiving weekend, so if you're like my mom and have been waiting for a special occasion to try the sin-o-buns, Thanksgiving is it!

Watch for LOCAL CELEBRITY CHEFS cooking up the Horton Breakfast Combo during the month of October. The breakfast sandwich combo has been a huge success this season. Kudos of gratitude to Sandy and Ray from Farmgate Markets (bacon, sausage, juice, water and all the other fixin’s including the cooking!), Amber from Frisa Farms (eggs of the combo), and the gals from Coffee Cultures (the coffee of the combo). We are proud to include the Horton Breakfast Combo as a ‘feature’ for the Doors Open Campaign which runs in St. Thomas October 17 & 18th. The Horton Farmers’ Market is a part of the tour on the 17th only so we hope to see extra visitors to the market that day!

We do not yet have the final details approved for the season-end Harvest Fest. When that happens, you will be the first to know. As I finish up this writing, the sun is shinning brilliantly - perhaps a sign of tomorrow's weather - I have been called the eternal optimist before!

See you at the market!

Cheers,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

Happy Autumn, Harvest, & September.....

This is the time of year to savour. The weather, your time with family, and those autumn soups made with fresh veggies from the market. I love this season and it always seems to go faster than the other 3 - already, October is upon us. This leaves just 5 Market days remaining. Five more Horton breakfast sandwichs, 5 more opportunities to shop direct from the farmers, 5 more Saturdays to savour.

With October comes Thanksgiving weekend. Oegemas Turkey Shoppe will be at the market that weekend and will have fresh turkeys - please check with Annie to place your order ahead of time to avoid disappointment. They will only have a limited number of whole turkeys available at the market and of course, plenty available at their home shop in Talbotville.

What's your favourite part of the market? Something to think about as I will be collecting this type of data in the off-season to help us sustain the growth and viability of the market. The process will be easy and pain-free! You can send me an email or chat with me at the market. The official stats will be collected via survey. There is a large majority of you who are silent type - this will be an opportunity to share your thoughts.

Then there is those whom I have heard so much positive feedback from and I am very grateful for that. The information is shared with everyone who is involved in making the market possible. That list is long and includes the Board of Management, City Council, the vendors, community fans who promote the market just because they love it, and you the customer.

We will have one new vendor at the market this weekend - Mother Natures Kitchen will be bringing handmade granola to be eaten alone or in a variety of other meals. And as a side note, there are a few vendors who had originally planned to be finished by now but have enjoyed and benefited from the market so much that they are staying until the end of the season (Oct 31).

A few more vendors are winding down for the season including Mark Wales Produce and DeBackere Farms and a few vendors will be at the market perhaps once more like Susi Q jewelery (this weekend) and the St. Thomas Public Library (next weekend).

And we have music planned for this weekend. Centre Piece Marketing presents Jim Macdonald. A performer at heart; his passion for music and his obsession to entertain have been a driving force behind his dynamic songwriting and live performances. His diverse musical influences provide a backbone to his creativity that captures the listener with intimate and powerful images that are straight from the heart. His strong descriptive lyrics carry with them the integrity of universal experiences and emotions, woven together with a blend of metaphor and realism. Now at the of 31, Jim and wife Sandy are the very proud parents of 3 sons Jonas, Remy and Jude. His children offer new inspiration for his creativity, and desire to pursue his dream. Jim is currently promoting his new CD produced by Don Kerr in Toronto released last year. The original music of Jim MacDonald is a fresh and poignant sound that is paying its dues and will always leave the listener wanting more.

Invite friends and family to meet you at the market, plan to stay awhile and listen to the music, enjoy your breakfast and finish your shopping.

See you at the market!

Cheers,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

And the market grows...

....... continuously, although, not due to any rain we have had lately. This lack of water from the sky has seen a continued delay in some of our fall harvest. The sweet potatoes aren't sweet yet and the watermelon are just bursting now in time for our beautiful late summer. Try RGrow's Watermelon Salsa this weekend - you can get the recipe on our blog.

The ladies from the Senior Centre are back the week, this time with Apple Pies. You can also pick up a pie or apple crisp, or pasturized cider at Gredig's booth. Tammy Gredig works in conjunction with the cluinary class from Arthur Voaden Secondary School to bring the fresh baked apple goods to the market each week.

Welcome to Peter of SWGardens who will be bringing a variety of asiatic lily bulbs and potted hostas for you to take home and plant. The weather has certainly been cooperative for fall garden cleanup. And to add a seasonal touch to your garden, the fall mums are in bloom at Hertiage Greenhouses and Erie Gardens.

Kim McCarvel of Green Leaf Pastry is away this week as she is participating in the London Doors Open program as part of the working artist team at the Eldon House. Watch for her return on Sept 26th with several gluten free products and lunch bag treats for little (and big) kids.

New vendors this week include Canados Mini Doughnuts. Fresh mini doughnuts made right before your eyes. They will be inside the market building. Take home a dozen for only $3.

Nikki from TipToes Body Care Products will be returning indoors for her second week at the market.

Also new to the market, but certainly not to our community, is Big Brothers Big Sisters. September is Big Brothers/Big Sisters awareness month and they double-dare you to be a kid again. My 'little sister' lives in another city but recently reminded me that she is now the age that I was when she and I were matched. There are little and big ways to volunteer for this agency that can make a world of difference.

The Horton Market Harvest Fest will be held at the market this year on November 7th. Tickets will go on sale for this event starting next week. The venue is slightly different this year as we wanted everyone (particularily the vendors and their families) to be able to socialize and enjoy themselves - stay tuned.

Short and sweet (because the potatoes aren't) this week.

See you at the market,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

Can you 'can'?

Last week at the market was a record-day! We had 38 vendors at the market. Wow! Thank you for coming out in droves.

It was one of those days where I couldn't tell what time it was as there wasn't a lull at any point in the day. Our vendors were busy right up til closing time. The beautiful weather combined with a shift in our schedules - back to school, back to work, back to cooler, shorter days- kept everyone close to home.

Our canning display this weekend will give you a starting point - the basics of canning and preserves. We will have a mini display set up inside the building with a quick reference sheet for you to take home. Several of our vendors have their canned goods for sale and sample.

McSmiths Organics are bringing cases of pickled beets and some for sampling too. Kim McCarvell of Green Leaf Pastry will be sampling her 'Sugar Plum Fairy Jam'. She also has a special on her organic Italian Antipasto & handcrafted organic Sundried tomatoe and Herb Focaccia bread. Purchase these together for $7.25 (a savings of $1.25) - you might want to see her first as she has sold out on the bread for the last two weeks before 10am!

If canning isn't for you, there are plenty of preserves at the market for you take home, ready-made!

Gredig's Orchards are returning with two varieties of apples - the cider is not ready yet but possibly next week. And some of you may be planners and thinking about a season coming up that includes sparkling lights and wrapped gifts - Carole Smith is returning with her beautiful handmade miniature christmas trees.

Look for a new vendor - TipToes Body Care, a local business with natural skin care products for Baby & Mama and special products for Seniors. They will be located indoors.

This will be the last week of the season for some vendors. Birdman on the Marsh with his handcrafted birdhouses will be done for the season. Birdhouses make awesome gifts for the hard to buy for person on your list - you can never have too many (in my opinion) and they keep on giving year round.

Have you heard about Doors Open Ontario? This province wide program is sponsored by the Ontario Heritage Trust and has several participating communities opening their doors to heritage sites for a self-guided tour of history and heritage. St. Thomas is new to the venue this year with our dates of October 17 & 18th. The St. Thomas Horton Farmers market is on the venue for Oct. 17th. It will be business-as-usual that day with market hours from 8am to noon but then the building will remain open until 4pm for participating tourists. Please visit the Doors Open booth at the market for more detailed information and other sites in St. Thomas.

One other record high this past weekend - the Horton Breakfast Sandwich Combo! Sandy Lyle and the combo team (his family) were hopping last week, making over 140 sandwiches in 3 short hours. I did my share of keeping them busy by having two! I am up at 5am so for me its one for breakfast and one for lunch!

And the winners are..... last week Sears St.Thomas had a booth at the market handing out the Christmas Wish Book and signing folks up for a free draw. I have drawn the names and made the calls - Christmas every week for me I keep saying. And the customer appreciation draw is always a highlight of my week. Congratulations to all our lucky winners - see me on Saturday to collect your prize!

We have been dicussing a 'Friends of the Market' idea in our meetings. This would be an informal group of volunteers who would like to help out with the market in any capacity. There are always little things that need to be done that can contribute in larger-than-life ways. If this might be of interest to you please see me at the market or email me.

I could keep writing as there is always so much to talk about when it comes to the market. Someone asked me last week how much coffee I had - what? Was I chatting too fast to keep up? This is not a bad thing - the growth and support of the market in the past 3 years has been amazing! I have jokingly mentioned that we might need a support group for the months of Nov-April to keep everyone connected in the off-season - also not such a bad idea!

See you soon,

Cheers,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

Jam-Packed Weekend Starts at the Market...

It is Labour Day Weekend and for St. Thomas and surrounding community that means MANY activities to chose from. After your trip to the market, why not take in the dowtown sidewalk sale? Many merchants are having fantastic bargains for this one-day only event on Saturday. From there, you can take a free bus shuttle to the Fire Muster Days at Pinafore Park and /or a Mens Fastball Game at the Doug Terry complex.

Although the market is always a fantastic place to bring the kids as they experience first-hand what it means to buy fresh and local, this weekend is especially about and for the kids!

Razzle Dazzle Jam! Do you know what is in this special concoction? Me neither! A great way to involve your kids in your shopping: plant a little seed with your children to find the vendor who produces this jam and bonus points if they kids can find out what the ingredients are. Here's a hint: this vendor is in the South Pavilion and has the initials BHFF. Be sure to find me on Saturday and let me know what you find out!

Kids Kraft Korner & Erie Gardens are back this weekend! You may have noticed Mary Joicus' picture in the Super Shopper this week. The girls are back with a fun craft for the kids to make and take home. The girls have been doing a fantastic job of running the kids kraft korner on a donation basis only to help off-set the cost of supplies. We have missed them the last few weeks as they finished up soccer and vacation and are happy to have them back to the end of the market season (October 31st).

Perhaps your 'kids' are of the four-legged, furry kind? Dogs We Love is a new vendor located inside the building. They produce REAL FOOD for your dogs using only fresh, local, human grade ingredients. Be sure to stop by Ashley's table and take home a order form and a few specialty cookies for the 'kids' waiting at home.
The St. Thomas Public Library will be back as it is the first saturday of the month with books for sale and books to check out with your library card. No worries if you don't have a card - they can sign you up on the spot!

And for the kids of all ages, you will surely love the special 'treat' Farmgate Markets has in store for you; or actually, on the street for you.

Last week, I mentioned the literature about My Pick vendors, which is displayed in the back lobby of the building. The Horton Farmers Market currently has 3 vendors on-site that are verified or in the verification process. Please visit Empire Valley, RGrow Farms, or McSmiths Organics to find out more information about this new process from Farmers' Markets Ontario.

This will be the last week for Belmont Village Pantry and their variety of gluten free products. Christine Noble has been successfully balancing two businesses and has sold the Village Pantry. Look for her to be returning to the market in a few weeks with products from her other business, Guided Balance Hypnotherapy.

I love this time of year. The signs of fall are showing up in the returning vendors to the market. Watch for Gredigs Apple Orhcard to be returning shortly with the first of the apple harvest and fresh, pasturized cider. And Christmas trees by Carole Smith - permanent, already decorated, minature displays - Carole will also be returning to the market as a seasonal vendor.

We are making plans to celebrate the market season with our now annual Fall Family Harvest Dinner for November 7th, 2009. Stay tuned for details such as menu, location, and ticket sales.

Enjoy the settling back into routine. Enjoy the beauty of what Mother Nature has to offer. Look forward to seeing you at the market.

Cheers,

Tricia Herbert
Market Manager

Is Summer really over?....

The forecast for this weekend is rain, so I have heard, as I do not follow the weather reports. There, I have said it for the record - I choose to let the day surprise me. If I really want to know what it is going to be like that day, I just look outside OR if need be, I actually step outside and test the air.

Rain has not affected the crowds or the spirit at the market. It has delayed the crops by a few weeks, and gave us a storm to contend with at FreshFest last Thursday evening but regardless, the market is well attended, rain or shine. Thank You all for that!

Currently in-season produce includes beets, peppers, sweet corn, melons, peaches, pickling cucs, eggplant, and tomatoes. The first few apples are starting to show up (Paula Reds) and a few things are winding down - mostly the blueberries and raspberries. Learning to blanche is one of the easiest methods of extending the bounty of summer/fall harvest into winter. One year I decided to double up on almost everything I purchased from the farmers market and froze half of what i bought to extend into the winter. We enjoyed stuffed peppers (freeze as halves on a tray and store in ziploc bags; stuff frozen and bake- yummy!), fresh sweet corn, brocoli, green beans, and blueberries(also freeze on a tray, no blanching, and store in ziploc bags) through the entire winter season. I also made freezer tomatoe sauce, and froze leeks, onions, and 1 cup serving sizes of kidney beans and black eyed peas to make a quick crock pot of warming chili. These are just a few of my quick, easy methods of continuing to support local through the winter and make meals work for busy families. We are having a canning and preserves demonstration at the market on Saturday, September 12 - come with your questions and see how easy it is to preserve. I just finished off a jar of pickled green beans that was from my first attempt at preserving which we did with beans and dill from the market - they were delicious!

We are having some local talent performing this weekend so bring your chairs and prepare to stay a while. Centrepiece Marketing will be presenting the talented Siobhan O'Neal.

Born and raised in London, Ontario, Siobhan O’Neal stepped onto the local music scene an ex-band geek with a book full of songs and an electric keyboard. Finding her passion in a performing arts school and her church youth band, she began writing songs at the age of 12 and performed her original work for the first time at her high school talent show. Her musical style has grown and developed over the years, incorporating her childhood influences of classic rock and classical training to a range of folk and indie traits. Her songwriting is deeply introspective, exploring thoughts on disappointment, truth, hope and love.

Please visit Centre Piece Marketing to keep up to date with what's happening on the local music scene.

Have you heard about My Pick? There is information inside the market building about this new program from Farmers' Markets Ontario. My Pick vendors are verified local farmers audited by a representative of Farmers Markets Ontario. The My Pick logo is a way to ensure that the farmer is local, is the grower of what they are selling and that it is produced on their farm. Please note, if a farmer is not 'My Pick' verified, it does not mean that they don't qualify but rather that they have not done the verification process. Please continue to talk to the vendors about their produce, if they are the growers of all that they bring to the market, and where they source their additional produce if they do bring other produce.

This is the last Saturday in August but far from the last Saturday of the season (Market Season Ends October 31st ). Just like I don't follow the weather, I try not to get in on the famous saying of "Where has the time gone?" But sometimes, like this month of August, I just can not believe how the month has disappeared! My how time flies when you're having a social gathering every week! There are groups (ie. Doors Open & ACO of Ontario, Summer Blast, and IPM2010) at the market promoting other community events happening into September, October and later. Be sure to stop by their booths for tickets and details!

Look forward to seeing you soon,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

Peach Pies at the Market...

Have you ever had peach pie? I haven't. For those of you who have not (including myself) and for those of you who love peach pie - this saturday at the market is your day! The folks from the St.Thomas Seniors Centre will be back with peach pies. Although they bring plenty (50 or more pies), they always sell out before end of market day. You know what that means.... early birds get the pie!

I attended Fresh Fest last night at the CASO station here in St. Thomas where I had an information booth set up for the market. There were more than 300 people in attendance and I saw many of you there. We also added new members to our e-letter mailing list. If you are aware of anyone who is interested in joining this group, please pass along a copy of this letter and have them visit the blog for details of the 2009 Market season. This is one of the major resources that ties our market community together.

The market seems to have taken on a life of its own. The energy is positive, the tables are overflowing, and the community spirit is palpable. People look forward to coming to the market, rain or shine. There's withdrawal symptoms for everyone when one of our regular customers can't make it for a week or two. We wonder if they are okay; if they are away on holidays; if something came up that interupted the regular routine? Sometimes, I miss seeing or chatting with a few people due to some mission that I am on during market hours. They reassure me the next day that they saw me but that I was busy - Thank you for that!

As we do have new members joining this group weekly, following is a brief summary of the market vendors by location. (note: some vendors do move each week as some booths are pre-allocated to season vendors who start at different times during the market season)

Indoor Vendors include:

Farmgate Markets Inc.

Oegema's Turkey Shoppe

Frisa Farms Eggs

Coffee Cultures

Aunt Cin's Baked Goods

Susi Q Jewelry

Devrati Jewelry

Jaydancin

St. Thomas Public Library (first Saturday of Every Month)

Doors Open & Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (Elgin Branch)

South Pavilion Includes:

McSmith's Organics

Janis Smiths Flowers

Berry Hill Fruit Farms

Beaverbrook Culinary Herbs

Palmers Maple Syrup

Paul's Woodworking

DeBackere Farms

Janssens Farms

Erie Gardens / Kids Kraft Korner

Green Leaf Pastry / Green Fusion Arts

Ethel Mitrovic Potery

Boonie Doone Beachglass Artistry

Village Pantry Restaurant

Lindsay Farms Mushrooms

En Fleur Lavender in Bloom

North Pavilion Includes:

Kosciks Greenhouses

Ann Grace Designs

Bluegroves Fruit Farm

Gibson's Honey

John Martin Produce

Empire Valley Farm

RGrow Farms

The Bonsai Guy

Birdman on the Marsh

Lotus Thai

Moments Jewelry

Mark Wales Farms

And, we often have community fund raiser groups such as the Panthers Girls Hockey, the Fingal United Church, and several others. There is also room for the one or two time vendor who wants to come and try promoting their product at the market. The vendor mix is always a little different, with something for everyone.

With the busiest part of our season under way we have noticed the parking lot shuffle. I have heard several gentle reminders that when parking in the lot, please all park in the same direction and please allow room for your neighbour to manouver in and out. Parking lot painting is on our list of improvements for next season- this is a good sign of the growth of the market!

Remember to sign up for the customer appreciation draw, bring a friend to the market, and enjoy these last few days of August.

See you tomorrow!

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

Fresh Fest this Thursday....

FreshFest is fast approaching.... what are you doing for dinner this Thursday August 20th? Why not come down to the CASO train station (behind Giant Tiger on Talbot Street) for this local event? Nine local chefs (from the likes of Windjammer, M.E. & Suzies, Garlic's, and Lakeview Gardens) using our local produce (MANY of whom are vendors at the Horton Farmers Market), providing delicious samples for you to experience.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Over 200 tickets have been sold so it promises to be a great social event with a silent auction later to support the CASO station.

The Horton Farmers Market will have a booth there also to support and promote our vendors and to enjoy the market atmosphere of this event. Visit FreshFest site for last minute details.

Hope to see you there,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

Muskmelon or Cantalope?

One thing I have truly loved since I was a child is Muskmelon. My mom used to buy it for us all the time and I always thought the term Muskmelon was a 'slang' name - like a nickname for Cantalope. (although I am not sure how those two names come even close to each other?) I also thought that my mother must be wrong because she was the only one I had ever heard call this melon a muskmelon.

Monika Rastapkevicius from R-Grow Farms of West Lorne has FINALLY set the record straight. (Sorry Mom - you were right all along!) Following is some information about the orange melon that you might also find useful. Visit Monika and her kids Anita and Joe this weekend at the RGrow stall in the North pavilion, for free samples of Muskmelon.

Most often what people refer to as a cantaloupe is actually a muskmelon. True cantaloupes are not netted , have deep grooves, a hard warty rind and orange or green flesh. These true cantaloupes are grown only in Europe. The muskmelons that most of us call cantaloupes have a distinct netted or webbed rind. Muskmelons have been masquerading as cantaloupes in our stores for many years. Did you know the muskmelon is so named because of the odor of the ripe fruit? Musk is a persian word for a kind of perfume and melon is french.It's interesting to watch people decide whether or not a muskmelons is ripe......they smell it, they squeeze it, they push on the end of it, they shake it next to their ear.....but actually they rarely look at the stem end of it. I try to explain to as many people as I can, what they need to look for. I ask them to look at the "belly button" of the melon. This is the point of attachment between the fruit and the vine it has come from. If the melon was picked ripe the vine lets go of the fruit easily. This is called being picked at " full slip." When a melon is picked at "full slip" and the cirlce of the "belly button" is complete. If the cirlce is incomplete or some of the stem from the vine remains attached the melon was forced of the vine before it was truly ripe. This info always generates the reaction " hey , I learned something new today". I think as vendors we need to teach our consumers the things they need to look for.

A few other melon facts.....

1. Always store a ripe melon in the fridge to maintain internal fruit quality

2. Melons can be frozen...great with other friut to make smoothies ( strawberries and melon are my personal favourite) just chop them up and put into a freezer bag or container

3. Melons are one of the top 10 antioxident foods. The bright orange colour of the muskmelon is a dead giveaway that they are loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. Muskmelons are alos high in vitamin C and a food source of potassium and folate.

Now that summer is in full swing, enjoy a healthy, flavourful and satisfying snack. Think melons.

Thanks Monika for the extremely useful information - I learned a few new things today!

This weekend at the market promises to be a warm one! We will have fans a blowing in the main building. Visit the FRESHFEST booth in the main building as this is their last weekend at the market. Purchase your tickets for this funfilled event happening August 20th at the CASO station. The Horton Farmers Market will have a booth at this event and some of the farmers from the market are also participating. Tickets are $25 each in advance or $30 at the door. For more info visit their site.

We have a few more 'sample' days planned and will be posting information on the boards inside the building at the back. Your input and ideas are always welcome! I have received so much feedback and have been able to see positive change at the market directly from your input. Many Thanks to you all who are reading and attending the market.

See you soon,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

Thank You Community!

The Market's 131st Birthday Celebration was a great event! We had cake, we had presents (I have contacted all the prize winners to pick up their presents at the market this weekend), and we had singing! We had a record day all around for customers, vendors and vendor revenue! I would also add that Mother Nature played her part and gave us a beautiful day - everyone's spirits were joyful. It was a memorable day and was so because of all the help that went in to preparing and coordinating to help the day run smoothly. Many Thanks to all the folks who contributed prizes for the singing contest, for the Board and Committee members who planned behind the scenes, to the Senior Centre for the delicious birthday cake, to Centrepiece Marketing and Sam Hurrie for providing ambience with a little blues singing, and to all the city officials who participated in the ceremonies. Special Thanks to our MC for the day, Alderman Baldwin-Sands, who encouraged many a closet-singer to perform "Good Things Grow in Ontario".

This week at the market, come to sample a delicious blueberry sauce -recipe compliments of Marianne Hatch of Bluegroves Fruit Farms of West Lorne. Marianne was so excitied to have me try this recipe that she brought a batch for me to sample. I LOVE it! I have mentioned before that blueberries top the list of favourites at my house and this new recipe is right up there at number one. I am finding many new things to try it on, but vanilla icecream is tops so far. Since we expect a little heat this weekend, vanilla waffers will be the sample partner of choice. Find the sampling set up at Bluegroves' table.

Ray & Sandy from Farmgate Markets will have fresh, local (from Shedden, ON) roaster chickens available. These chickens are hormone & antibiotic free and retail for $4.39 a pound. Great for crock pot cooking!

Look for some new crop at McSmiths Organics as they will have peppers, a variety of eggplant, salad & cherry tomatoes and fingerlings. Janis & Mark's flowers are a big seller every Saturday. They have been filling their coldroom all week to prepare for market day and still they sell-out. See them first for snapdragons, sunflowers, and glads (& much more!).

And Frisa Farm eggs will be ready this week for a larger crowd. They sold out early last week. Look for their 'new hen' eggs.

We have a well rounded mix of vendors including produce vendors, fresh meat & turkey, woodworking, jewelry, and body care products vendors (look for photos posted in various spots in the main building). As we are a producer-based farmers market we require our vendors to also be the producer (grower or manufacturer) of their product. From time to time, vendors may need to supplement their produce with produce from another farm. We do have regulations in effect that require this supplemented produce to be no more than 25% of that vendors entire product, that it come from a neighbouring or family farm within the 60km radius guideline, and that the produce be clearly labelled at the market so that the consumer can make an informed decision. If this is a concern of yours, please check the vendor labels and talk to the vendors to learn more about what they grow and if and where they source their supplemental produce. You can also direct any questions to me as I am always interested in feedback and using it to grow the market.

I may have said this before (you can check through previous posts on the blog), and most of us would agree that there is a cyclical nature to all things. I seem to recall a graph in economics class that showed the cyclical nature of business. It ebbs and it flows. The 'business' of the market defintely follows the cycle of Mother Nature. Enjoy the peak wave of nature's bounty through August into September and October. The market season runs until October 31st so be sure to plan your meal times in harmony with nature's harvest. This is a key factor in creating a more sustainable cycle with nature: not only for our local economy but also for our own personal health.

Look forward to seeing you at the market!

Cheers,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager