Dear market friends

In keeping with the tradition of extreme weather on market day, it will be quite cold today -- a chance to participate in the full range of Canadian winter such as one might encounter in Cobalt, Kapuskasing, Timmins, or other fine northern Ontario places.

There won't be anyone selling outside, but all will be comfortably set up in the rink house main change area and in the zamboni garage (with the heater running on high).

From market manager Anne Freeman:

"Turns out quite a few of our regulars will be setting up at the Guelph Organic Conference this weekend. (www.guelphorganicconf.ca) James (of Nijima) and Colette(of Earthly Paradise) will be absent from the market getting ready; David(Birds and Beans)and Lindsay(Firestoker Foods--our summer roti maker) will be there (but they'll be at our market today too), and some of the farmers will be visiting or participating in panel discussions and workshops. If anyone is curious, there's lots to see at the free exhibition portion of the conference.Mojdeh (of Camros) is still away, so you'll find Jonathan Forbes in her spot this time with his wild-crafted foods."

From Birds and Beans Coffee:

"Don't forget about our exclusive line of Rainforest Alliance Certified Chocolate for Valentine's Day. The Rainforest Alliance and Vintages Chocolate worked extensively with the cacao producers in Ecuador to produce this chocolate. Not only is it classified as a "Fine Flavour Cocoa", it is produced in Ecuador, thus shifting the high value activities from the 1st world to Ecuador." www.birdsandbeans.ca

A quick word from Lorenz at Greenfields: he'll be bringing red leaf lettuce for $1.50, and many other good fruits and vegetables from the ever-more-prolific global organic bounty.

Various people have sent in a number of new food-related articles, accessible through the sidebar of the slightly re-organized market web page on the park web site: www.dufferinpark.ca/market

And (the final link offered in this market news), the "Topfree Equal Rights Association" has weighed in on the subject of our much-discussed rink house dress code. Their "letter to the editor" is posted on the editor page of the park web site: www.dufferinpark.ca/editor. A link to that association's own web site is at the bottom of the letter. As the world turns, at Dufferin Grove Park.....

See you at the market!

P.s. Don't forget -- Anne arranged with the councillor's office to get the parking rules along the north border of the park (across from St.Mary's Catholic High School) changed for Thursdays -- so don't believe the signs (they'll change them soon) -- you can park there legally from 2 p.m. on Thursdays, and then it's just a hop and a step to the market.