newwestfarmers – Page 62

FYI: Home Grown Photo Contest

July 9, 2010 By newwestfarmers

Home Grown is having a contest for people who enjoy snapping photos around their local farmers markets. Next time you head to Royal City Farmers Market be sure to have you camera in tow as your picture could be selected to win some fantastic prizes.

The Home Grown!Photography Contest offers a grand prize of $500 worth of Vancouver Farmers Market token that can be redeemed with all merchants at all Vancouver Farmers Market locations. The winning photograph will also be displayed at the “Home Grown” exhibition, opening August 2010 at the Museum of Vancouver. You will also receive 2 tickets to the opening of the Home Grown Exhibition Opening Party. The winner will be announced July 20th.

Four runner’s up will receive Farm Folk / City Folk 2011 calendar and one year free FF/CF membership.

For more information on rules and prizes please visit this page.

Eat Simple. Eat Happy.

July 7, 2010 By newwestfarmers

As soon as Summer Solstice comes along, my inner hostess has been sending me to the farmer’s market for fresh treats to feed friends and family. There is nothing like preparing a spread to nosh on over cocktails and chatter during these long summer evenings. Most people think that entertaining can be time consuming and costly but with a quick trip to the farmers market it can actually be quite the opposite.

My mother has always taught me to cook simply and cleanly. Never one to make overly-spiced fares, she has always opted for palette cleansing tastes like the zest of an orange in a salad dressing or fresh mint cooked with baby nugget potatoes. Her simple recipes and love of “backyard farming” has turned me into a green machine when preparing food. I believe that the best things in life are health and delicious food and when you shop local you can incorporate both.

Both vegetables offer unique, yet versatile flavours that can be translated into a number of dishes. I prefer an artichoke, especially when the hearts are marinated in oil and lemon with a hint of cilantro. When accompanied with a sweet Riesling from Blasted Church Vineyards it makes me think of being in the Mediterranean.

Here is a recipe for my mother’s delicious artichoke and spinach dip. Most of the ingredients can be found at the market and can be made in a pinch if you have unexpected guests. This dip is always a party favorite and only takes about 20 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients:
– 1 large lemon
– 1 cup of artichoke hearts (plain or marinated in olive oil)
– 2 tsp of chili flakes
– 1 package of cream cheese
– 1 cup of fresh spinach (make sure you boil it first!)
– a couple pinches of fresh cracked pepper to taste
– You can also add a bit of mayonnaise if you like a creamier texture

Directions:
1. Chop spinach and artichoke hearts into small pieces
2. In a large bowl combine spinach and artichokes with cream cheese and mix well
3. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into the mixture
4. Add chili flakes and pepper to taste

This dip has a creamy consistency with a citrus taste. The artichokes add a bit of texture as does the spinach. You can try grating some fresh parmesan into the dip and pairing it with a fresh loaf of artisan bread. Remember that this dip is best served hot so toss it in the microwave for a couple minutes right before you serve it. Enjoy!

July 8th – Summer Lovin’

July 2, 2010 By newwestfarmers

We’re pleased as punch that you seem to love us. This week is about sharing the harvest with over 30 vendors, including ten local farmers to choose from. This week is also about sharing the summer lovin’ because it’s Bring a Newbie week! We want as many people as we can to understand the love of a farmers market and to see why it’s good for us all! Bring a friend who’s never been to our market and join us for one of two guided market tours with Operations Manager, Jen Arbo. Get the inside scoop on some of our many amazing vendors and meet the people who grow your food! Learn how to select purchases from the experts themselves. Market tours start from the RCFM tent at 5:00PM and 6:00PM. Pre-registration not required. Those of you who do the friend-bringing can enter to win a gorgeous 100% recycled cotton, washable, sturdy, made-in-Canada RCFM market tote.

Here’s what else is on this week:

Entertainment:

Community Group:

Fraser River Discovery Centre – info about their interpretive centre on the Fraser River, as well as crafts for kids!

Vendors This Week : (not all vendors come to every market, so check this list if you’re looking for someone special – they are arranged categorically. Want a complete listing of all the vendors, even the ones not here this week? Here it is!)

Eat On Site

Beer Brats – Beer. Brats. Brilliant.
Copeland Foods – hot and tasty samosas, take and bake frozen meat pies and frozen ready-to-eat dinners
Gogo Java – Coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
Maluma Health Foods – Bison hot dogs, bison smokies, bison chili and bison ribs and take home packages too!

Produce

Apple Barn Pumpkin Farm – Peppers, tomatoes, apples & pumpkins
new this week! Canwest Farms – blueberries!
Celyddon Farms – Certified organic produce from Delta
Dream Farm Natural Growers – produce grown in Burnaby
Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
Glen Valley Organic Farm – certified organic produce from a farm located only 50km from New Westminster
Maan Farms – assorted locally grown produce
Misty Mountain Specialties – fresh wild and cultivated mushrooms, dried mushroom products
Nature Village Farm – Asian produce grown in Richmond
new this week! Red Barn Plants and Produce – assorted locally grown produce

Dairy

Farmhouse Natural Cheeses – cow’s milk cheeses, goat’s milk cheese, goat’s milk yogurt, cow milk butter
Little Qualicum Cheeseworks – High quality cheese from Vancouver Island

Meat & Fish

Fresh Off the Boat – Fresh fish
Gelderman Farms – Pork
Outwest Ranches – beef raised locally and fresh eggs

Bread & Baking

A Bread Affair – Breads
Blackberry Hill – Baked Goods
Eat It Up – Gluten free and no-sugar-added fruit pies, cookies and green tea

Delectable Treats

Amber’s Choice – baked madeleines, soups, salad dressing
Bean Boy Creations – Organic hummous
Con Amore Foods – handmade fresh pasta and vegan spreads and dips
Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
JJ’s Country Cookin’ and Diabetic Foods – sugar free jam and many varieties of pickled vegetables
Jane’s Honey Bees – honey and other bee products
Momma Nellie’s Goodies – Salsa

Local Crafters

Black Bamboo Artisans – hand made glazed pottery and knitting
Mod Argent – hand forged sterling silver jewelry
The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential and fragrance oils, room sprays, body products
Pomomama Designs – wire crochet jewelry and accessories, fused fabric and metal art
Quality Oak Accents – Fine wood creations

Gardening

Petals & Butterflies – Perennials, shrubs & planters
Secret Garden – cut flowers

Services

Harmony Works Chair Massage – on site chair massage

Coupon for Canada Day Market!

June 30, 2010 By newwestfarmers

We’re pleased to offer you this coupon for a free bell pepper at tomorrow’s market! Please print it off and present it at the Applebarn when you come tomorrow.

rcfm_coupon_07.01 — Coupon! Click for full size

July 1st – Canada Day Party

June 25, 2010 By newwestfarmers

This week, we’re putting aside our two favourite colours, purple and khaki, to show our other favourite colour combination as we hoist the Canadian flag and wish our fellow neighbours a Happy Canada Day.

4381430122_aa0df33bb4_o — Canada Flag at Dawn Photo by waferboard

And there is much to celebrate! The rise in popularity at Farmers Markets means that people are more and more interested in eating locally produced, more nutritious, craft-made foods. The connection between farmer and shopper is getting stronger and we are so proud that we are able to help connect the two. If you are what you eat, then knowing what you eat is pretty important!

Here in New West there is much to do on Canada Day. Check out the annual celebration at Queens’ Park from 11:30-3:30 and then wander on down to the market. Bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic in gorgeous Tipperary Park. We’re featuring a kids’ fishing derby and scavenger hunt, as well local favourite dixieland jazz trio Razzmajazz. We’re also bringing some lawn toys, and weather permitting, we’re hoping to start the (completely informal) annual RCFM Bocce tournie!

After we pack up at 7PM, you can saunter over to City Hall lawn or even further to the Quay to watch the annual fireworks put on by the Hyack Festival Association at dusk. Who needs to go away for Canada Day when a day of fun, free, family friendly festivities are right here?

Here’s the details about this week: