Printer friendly version | help

Weekly Market Notes Library

< September 17-2015 | Notes Library | October 1-2015 >

Weekly Market Notes for September 24, 2015

Hello Market Friends:

So, why do we have a farmers' market that focuses not only on local foods, but local organic ones?

Well, you can scold me for preaching to the choir (if you're a member), but Canadian Organic Week (September 19-27) seems like a good time to review some of the reasons that matter most close to home:

Local Knowledge.

We are privileged to have some of the most expert organic growers in the province coming to Dufferin Grove, to support young people who are courageous enough to choose organic farming as their careers, and to work with thoughtful and innovative food entrepreneurs. We need these people; they contribute to a sustainable agriculture knowledge bank in Ontario, for now and for the future.

Local Pollinators.

Neonicotinoids, glyphosphate, loss of biodiversity...all are problems in our region, not just in the newspapers.

Local Watersheds.

Let's be sure we're supporting farming methods that don't lead to algae blooms or contamination of the lakes and rivers around us.

Local Health.

The fresh, delicious produce coming in to our market is produced without chemical pesticides or fertilizers; that's better for us as eaters, and healthier for farm workers, too.

Organic certification requires high environmental standards of soil, water and pest management, and careful recordkeeping, too. You can read more about reasons for choosing organic products on the http://www.organicweek.ca website. There's a contest to enter, too, for chances to win organic gift baskets! Just take a picture of the Canadian Organic logo this week (you'll see the logo round the market on our certified organic vendors' tables) and share your photo on social media, using the hashtag #SpotCanadaOrganic

The Stirling Creamery 'Butter Bike' will be visiting us to offer free tastes of their new organic butters. The creamery, which has been around for about a century, is located not far from Jenny Cook's Knuckle Down Farm in the bustling metropolis of Stirling Ontario.

This is the last week of the season for Evelyn's Crackers, better stock up!

Ying Ying Soy will be absent. Ming and Christy are getting ready for a big move. Faiza Vassanji from Mylko will be in Ming's spot with more tastes of her fresh almond milk.

Many of the farmers are so busy bringing loads in from the fields that they haven't had time for correspondence, but Jessie Sosnicki sent in a quick note:

"Red Sweet Peppers! Broccoli! Leeks! Celery! Carrots! Sweet Onions! Potatoes! Cabbage! Romas! Heirloom Tomatoes! Beets! Kale! Swiss Chard! Yep, that's it!"

There will be eggplants, zucchini, melons, fresh flowers, all the greens you could wish for, mushrooms, sprouts, and much, much more on the produce tables, and of course, many other delights as well.

We've passed the equinox, and sunset is getting noticeably earlier by the day. Next week, it's time for us to make our annual move up to the rink, so that we can use the hockey lights at the end of the market. It's going to be a fun, full, fall at the market!

A REQUEST TO ALL FRIENDS OF THE MARKET: Please help to spread the word about the October 1st market move through all channels! With tables groaning under the weight of great harvests, we want to be sure everyone (and their uncle) knows where to find us.

See you at the Organic Week market!

Anne Freeman

Vendors this week:

• Afri-Can Food Basket (organic produce)
• Akiwenzies' Fish (fresh, frozen and smoked Georgian Bay fish)
• Ali Harris (fish sandwiches, fritters, hemp pesto, beverages, salads)
• Bees Universe (honey and bee products, eggs)
• Beretta Farms (natural and organic meats)
• Best Baa/Ewenity Dairy (sheep's milk, cheeses, yogurt and ice cream)
• Brixton Grill (vegan barbeque and ice cream treats)
• ChocoSol (coffee and chocolate, tortillas cooked at the market)
• Country Meadows (olives, oil, eggs, cheese)
• Culture City (fermented condiments, tempeh)
• DeFloured (gluten-free baking)
• Dufferin Park Bakers (wood-fired oven breads, soups,and snacks)
• Earth and City (raw foods, smoothies, rice bowls)
• Evelyn's Crackers (baking made with ON whole grains) (LAST DAY!)
• Everdale Organic Farm (organic produce)
• Floralora Flowers (organic, farm-grown cutflowers)
• Forbes Wild Foods (wild veggies and mushrooms, nuts, maple syrup, preserves)
• JK Fries (fresh-cut french fries with choice of mayos)
• Kind Organics (sprouts, salad mixes)
• Knuckle Down Farm (organic vegetables)
• Marvellous Edibles (organic vegetables, meats, poultry, baking, fruits)
• Pine River Organic Farm (organic vegetables)
• Plan B (organic produce)
• Shared Harvest (organic vegetables and herbs)
• Sosnickis' Organic Produce (organic vegetables)
• Spade & Spoon (jams, pickles, soups, maple syrup)
• Tapioca Gourmet (gluten-free Brazilian pancakes with seasonal fillings)
• Ted Thorpe (veggies and herbs)
• Urban Harvest (plants, seeds, body care, soil amendments)
• VQA Wine (Tawse this week)
• Waymac Farms (oyster and shiitake mushrooms)

hosted by parkcommons.ca | powered by pmwiki-2.2.83. Content last modified on September 23, 2015, at 09:15 PM EST