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Weekly Market Notes Library

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Weekly Market Notes for April 23, 2015

Hello Market Friends:

I'm writing this on Earth Day, in the International Year of the Soil, so I'd like to start by saying thank you to organic farmers for building the life, health and carbon-storing capacity of the earth beneath their feet. Sustainable and regenerative agriculture isn't just about tasty and nutritious food, it's about our future.

Good timing for something new that we'll have at the market for just the next few weeks: locally produced, certified organic worm castings and soil mixes, to help us build better soil in the city, too.

Tiffany Riddell of Gro4 Organics sends this introduction:

We will have 5 ltr and 20 ltr bags of screened worm castings available for purchase as well as granulated and pelletized worm castings. We will also be taking orders for cubic yard totes or bulk orders of organic soil blends and worm castings which we will deliver. We also have a compost tea service that we will take orders for as well. We offer delivery of all of our products (minimum $50 purchase required). We have the following soil blends that all contain the worm castings as the base:

• Garden Blend (Used primarily for vegetable gardens and flower beds. Introduces microbial life and contains high organic matter.)
• Pro Mix (Used for potted plants, trees and shrubs. Promotes root growth and structure and introduces essential plant nutrients)
• Lawn Mix (Designed for lawn top-dress. Improves microbial life in soil, introduces active bacteria and improves water retention.)

Behind the scenes in the market newsroom this week:

Natasha: If everything goes as planned, we will be down on Thursday. We hope to have fresh if this wind calms down. The smoker is going and smelling yum.

Anne: Great! So the ice has moved out?

Natasha: There is still a large chunk out there. We have had some winds in our favour but we are very watchful on the horizon. Also there will be a few chilly nights this week so we may get some thin plate ice if the water is calm overnight. It can be a pain for it is thick enough to drag the nets but it does melt quick if the sun is shining. We are just cautiously fishing when we can. We are waiting right now to set the nets for Thursday for the wind is really gusty right now. Hoping they will calm before dark tonight so that we can have fresh for Thursday. Smoker is on though and we have a little bit of frozen in the freezer for a plan B.

Anne: Very interesting! Please send me an update in the morning.

Natasha: Well Andrew found a little bit of fresh. I am surprised he got his nets set yesterday for the wind was horrible. Also we will have smoked fish--and not just whitefish. See you tomorrow!

We wish Andrew Akiwenzie a Very Happy "Round Number" birthday on Friday.

From Forbes Wild Foods: " We've just received some lovely seaweed from Nova Scotia, and Seth should be bringing some of: Dulse, Wakame, Kombu, Irish Moss, and Kelp Stems."

From the Sosnickis: "Ben will be absent tomorrow but back next week with our sweet carrots and other storage veg! We just wanted to say HAPPY EARTH DAY and to let everyone know that our greenhouses are green, plants are growing and this year looks fabulous!! Our workers just arrived today, so Ben will be working along side them during the next few days getting some crops in the ground!! See everyone soon for a great season at Dufferin!" Jessie, Ben, Sadie & Nate

From Plan B: "For this week we’ll be bringing lots of our own fresh dug green garlic and fresh spring onions. We’ll also have lots of great local apples, a number of imported fruits and lots of local Sleger's greens, plus a few extra import veggies to round out the offering. We may also have local tortillas and tortilla chips and a good array of our own kimchi and sauerkraut."

Last week, a sure sign of spring: the babies were back! Along with the freshly hatched, there were many returning market-goers. One girl (who held up three fingers to show off her new age) arrived looking for 'the french-fry-farmer' and luckily was not disappointed, as we had a surprise visit from Jackson and Nile Kennedy of JK Fries. They'll be back more steadily soon, maybe taking turns with their brother 'Micah, who's busy getting his new sandwich shop, 'The Dove' up and running, just north of Bloor on the east side of Dovercourt. Check it out, it looks great!

PEC Hot Sauce will come for an extra visit for people who missed them last time--or those who have already polished off their first bottle of DELICIOUS sauce!

See you at the market!

Anne Freeman

Vendors this week, and where to find them:

• Akiwenzies Fish (fresh, frozen and smoked Georgian Bay fish), Outside
• Ali Harris (fish sandwiches, fritters, hemp pesto, beverages), Rinkhouse
• Bees Universe (honey and bee products), Outside
• Beretta Farms (organic and naturally raised meats), Garage
• Best Baa (sheep's milk, cheeses and yogurt), Rinkhouse
• ChocoSol (coffee and chocolate), Garage
• Country Meadows (olives, oil, eggs, cheese), Rinkhouse
• Culture City (fermented condiments, tempehs), Outside
• DeFloured (gluten-free baking), Outside
• Dufferin Park Bakers (wood-fired oven breads, soups,and snacks), Rinkhouse
• Earth and City (raw foods and warm drinks), Garage
• Forbes Wild Foods (dried mushrooms, nuts, syrup, preserves), Rinkhouse
• Gro4 Organics (worm castings and soil mixes), Outside
• Kind Organics (sprouts, salad mixes, teas, chocolate), Rinkhouse
• Marvellous Edibles (organic vegetables, Berkshire pork, baking), Rinkhouse
• PEC Hotsauce Company (farm-produced hot sauces), Outside
• Plan B (organic fruits and veggies), Garage
• Spade & Spoon (jams, pickles, soups), Rinkhouse
• Urban Harvest (seeds, body care, soil amendments), Rinkhouse
• VQA Wine (Tawse Winery this week), Outside
• Ying Ying Soy (tofus and miso from ON organic soybeans), Rinkhouse

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