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First Time Ever: Farm to Long Table Dinner in the Park

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The park

Join us in the beautiful surroundings of Tipperary Park as we host, for the first time ever, a long table dinner full to the brim with local vendor products. We’ve partnered with local catering company Fiesta Creative Catering to offer an evening to remember. Tickets are just $45 and include a three course meal served family style at our long table under the big tent in the park. The table decor has been generously provided by The Bloom Bloom Room.

Menu

Salads

Caprese Salad featuring locally grown vine ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a balsamic reduction
Hundred Mile Salad with kale, spinach, beets, goat cheese, and candied pecans

Entrées

Char-grilled wild caught BC salmon with a roasted pineapple salsa
Mushroom-hunter grilled Rockweld Farm chicken breasts
Mozzarella-ricotta stuffed agnolotti with a roasted garlic or mild spiced tomato sauce

Served with two sides:

Roasted in-season local vegetables and grilled corn on the cob from Fraser Valley

Desserts and Beverages

Assorted tarts from Sweet Thea or gluten free brownies from Delish Gluten Free Bakery

Our three course meal will be accompanied by non-alcoholic mixed drinks featuring shrubs from Mixers and Elixirs and a glass of white or red wine from Pacific Breeze Winery

This farm-to-long-table meal is a part of Feast on the Fraser, a Tourism New West multi-day celebration of foods produced along the fertile Fraser Valley. Many of our vendors are situated in the Fraser Valley, and their livelihoods depend on it. As well, the Fraser River is an integral part of New Westminster’s identity. We are so pleased to be able to offer this special dinner in conjunction with so many local producers and hope you’ll join us to experience a one-of-a-kind type of picnic.

Tickets and Event Info here.  

market-tomatoes

September 15th Market Day

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Red Barn kale 3

With the weather looking promisingly hot for this upcoming Thursday Market it is sure to be one beautiful, and comfortable September day. Take a stroll through Tipperary Park and fill up those baskets. Enjoy the last of those summer days with fresh fruits and veggies while they are still in season.

What’s happening at the market this week?

Entertainment

 For the Kids
  • Have fun in our Mini Farmers Market play area (free)
  • Fun crafty craft with Music Box (free)

For information on where our market is located, how to find parking and transit directions visit our Summer FAQ page.

Download the Ultimate Farmers Market Shopping List to help with your meal planning and purchases for the week.

Farm Fresh Produce

  • Ripple Creek Organics –swiss chard, kale, beets, kennebec potatoes, zucchini, fresh garlic, leeks, cucumber, baby lettuce mix, eggplant, arugula, specialty mix, cherry tomatoes. (Certified Organic)
  • Ossome Acres – kholrabi, german butter potatoes, legacy garlic, zucchini, celery, bulb fennel, cucumber, cilantro, bartlett pears, italian plums, raw walntus, eggs, green curly kale, dino kale, collard greens, swiss chard (Certified Organic)
  • Bose & Sons Family Farm – Broccoli, carrot, green kale, celery, zucchini, corn, lettuce (green butter, red butter and green leaf), green pepper, tomatoes, norchip and chieftain potatoes
  • Harvest Direct Farms – Peaches, plums, nectarines, apples (McIntosh, Ambrosia & Gala), pears, grapes, nectarines
  • Zaklan Heritage Farms – Dahlia, watermelon, cantaloupe, beets, leeks, sweet peppers, tomatoes (slicing, roma), cucumbers, zucchini, onions, beans, carrots, cayenne pepper, jalapeno, eggplant, salad mix, arugula, kale, parsley, cilantro, dandelion, mustards, hazelnuts, garlic, gala & mcintosh apples, bartlett pears
  • Snowy Mountain Organics – tree fruits (Certified Organic)
  • Country Village Market – frozen blueberries, corn
  • Nutrigreens – microgreens, potatoes, zucchini, cucumber
  • RCFM Merchandise Stall – Dried morel and porcini mushrooms

Cheese & Dairy

  • Golden Ears Cheesecrafters – Cheddar-Aged Medium, Brie, Jersey Blue, Cultured Butter, Havarti-Aged (Flavoured), Gouda-Aged Medium (Flavoured), Feta (Plain, Cranberry, Garlic Scape), Curds, Neufchatel (Plain, Herb & Garlic), Quark (Plain, Cranberry), Emmental, Velvet Blue
  • The Local Churn -hand churned gourmet butter

Beef, Eggs, Poultry and Seafood

  • Rockweld Farm – BC SPCA Certified frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs, dog and cat food
  • Wild West Coast Seafoods –  flash frozen fillets of Rock Sole, Petrale Sole, Rockfish, Ling Cod, Pacific Cod, Sablefish, Chinook/Spring Salmon, Coho Salmon, Sidestripe Shrimp, Halibut, Albacore Tuna Loin.
  • Wheelhouse Seafoods – seafood pasta and crab cakes, frozen salmon and spot prawns
  • Vale Farms – Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Beef Broth, Pork all 100% grass fed (Certified Organic)
  • Local Beef & Eggs – wild blackberries, purslane, onions, chives, rhubarb, eggs, kale

Artisan Breads

  • A Bread Affair – breads, baguettes, ciabattas, rolls, scones (Certified Organic)

Gluten Free Breads & Baking

  • Delish Gluten Free – bread, scones, muffins, brownies and cookies
  • Marie’s Guilt Free Baking – bread, cookies, pizza dough and snacks

Bakery

  • Sweet Thea Cakes – tarts, pies, cookies and cakes
  • Feeding Change – decadent raw treats
  • Simply Scones – traditional English style scones
  • Sweet Thea Cakes – tarts, pies, cookies and cakes

Coffee & Snacks

  • Handworks Coffee Studio – pour over iced coffee
  • Gary’s Kettlecorn – kettle corn (traditional and caramel)

Food Trucks & Eat On Site

  • Disco Cheetah – Korean fusion tacos and rice bowls
  • Gypsy Trunk Gourmet Fare – vegan burritos sausages and more!
  • Wheelhouse Seafoods – salmon burgers
  • Country Village Market – yummy pakoras!

Prepared Foods (Pantry Staples)

  • The Salt Dispensary – salted caramels, smoked salts and pepper mixes
  • Sidney’s Smokehouse – locally made jerky
  • Muy Rico – salsas, mayonaise, mole sauces, tortilla chips and corn tortillas
  • James Lewis Foods – granola bars packed full of good stuff
  • Jam Shack Preservery – savoury spreads and jams
  • Old Country Pierogi –frozen perogies (gluten free and vegan options available)
  • HoneyBee Zen Apiaries – honey made from New West hives

Jewelry & Artisan Crafts

  • Ildiko Jewelry – handforged sterling silver jewelry
  • Quality Oak Accents – hand crafted cutting boards by Louie
  • Out Designs – hand made local jewelry

Wine, Beer & Spirits

  • Odd Society Spirits – small-batch craft distillery in the heart of East Vancouver

Special Thanks to our Music Stage Sponsor Roland Kaulfuss:

rolandkaulfuss logo

September 8th Market Day

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Garlic 1

With the temperatures dropping a little it sure feels like fall is well on its way! Take advantage of this comfy pre-sweater weather to pop on by the Farmers Market and fill your basket with tons of school lunch items and snacks for the littles! Grab dinner at one of our Eat on Site vendors or food trucks, enjoy a nice cuppa and browse our aisles for meal inspirations.

What’s happening at the market this week?

Entertainment

Parkinson Society British Columbia

 

Did you know that New West has a Parkinson’s Support Group and some Parkinson exercise specific programs? Stop by the Parkinson Society British Columbia (PSBC) booth and see what resources are available for people affected by Parkinson’s disease such as educational and research information and support services. www.parkinson.bc.ca

 

For the Kids
  • Have fun in our Mini Farmers Market play area (free)
  • Fun crafty craft with Music Box (free)

For information on where our market is located, how to find parking and transit directions visit our Summer FAQ page.

Download the Ultimate Farmers Market Shopping List to help with your meal planning and purchases for the week.

Farm Fresh Produce

  • Ripple Creek Organics –swiss chard, kale, beets, kennebec potatoes, zucchini, fresh garlic, leeks, cucumber, baby lettuce mix, eggplant, arugula, specialty mix, cherry tomatoes. (Certified Organic)
  • Ossome Acres – kholrabi, german butter potatoes, legacy garlic, zucchini, celery, bulb fennel, cucumber, cilantro, bartlett pears, italian plums, raw walntus, eggs, green curly kale, dino kale, collard greens, swiss chard (Certified Organic)
  • Bose & Sons Family Farm – Broccoli, carrot, green kale, celery, zucchini, corn, lettuce (green butter, red butter and green leaf), green pepper, tomatoes, norchip and chieftain potatoes
  • Harvest Direct Farms – Peaches, plums, nectarines, apples (McIntosh, Ambrosia & Gala), pears, grapes, nectarines
  • Zaklan Heritage Farms – Dahlia, watermelon, cantaloupe, beets, leeks, sweet peppers, tomatoes (slicing, roma), cucumbers, zucchini, onions, beans, carrots, cayenne pepper, jalapeno, eggplant, salad mix, arugula, kale, parsley, cilantro, dandelion, mustards, hazelnuts, garlic, gala & mcintosh apples, bartlett pears
  • Snowy Mountain Organics – tree fruits (Certified Organic)
  • Country Village Market – frozen blueberries, corn
  • Rancho Los Andes – tomatoes
  • Your Wildest Foods – foraged mushrooms
  • Nutrigreens – microgreens, potatoes, zucchini, cucumber
  • RCFM Merchandise Stall – Dried morel and porcini mushrooms

Cut Flowers

  • Rancho Los Andes – expertly made bouquets for you to enjoy

Cheese & Dairy

  • Golden Ears Cheesecrafters – Cheddar-Aged Medium, Brie, Jersey Blue, Cultured Butter, Havarti-Aged (Flavoured), Gouda-Aged Medium (Flavoured), Feta (Plain, Cranberry, Garlic Scape), Curds, Neufchatel (Plain, Herb & Garlic), Quark (Plain, Cranberry), Emmental, Velvet Blue
  • Greendale Herb & Vine – goats cheese

Beef, Eggs, Poultry and Seafood

  • Rockweld Farm – BC SPCA Certified frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs, dog and cat food
  • Wild West Coast Seafoods –  flash frozen fillets of Rock Sole, Petrale Sole, Rockfish, Ling Cod, Pacific Cod, Sablefish, Chinook/Spring Salmon, Coho Salmon, Sidestripe Shrimp, Halibut, Albacore Tuna Loin.
  • Wheelhouse Seafoods – seafood pasta and crab cakes, frozen salmon and spot prawns
  • Local Beef & Eggs – wild blackberries, purslane, onions, chives, rhubarb, eggs, kale

Artisan Breads

  • A Bread Affair – breads, baguettes, ciabattas, rolls, scones (Certified Organic)

Gluten Free Breads & Baking

  • Delish Gluten Free – bread, scones, muffins, brownies and cookies
  • Marie’s Guilt Free Baking – bread, cookies, pizza dough and snacks

Bakery

  • Sweet Thea Cakes – tarts, pies, cookies and cakes
  • Feeding Change – decadent raw treats
  • Guilt Free Gluttony -guilt free allergen friendly desserts

Coffee & Snacks

  • Handworks Coffee Studio – pour over iced coffee
  • Gary’s Kettlecorn – kettle corn (traditional and caramel)

Food Trucks & Eat On Site

  • Nellie’s Vietnamese Cuisine – fusion of flavours from Vietnam & Vancouver
  • Community Pizzeria – fresh made wood-fired pizza
  • Wheelhouse Seafoods – salmon burgers
  • Country Village Market – yummy pakoras!

Prepared Foods (Pantry Staples)

  • BobAli – your favourite dips and spreads
  • Sidney’s Smokehouse – locally made jerky
  • Chanthorn Orchids and Thai Sauces – curry, pad thai sauces and satai
  • Seedibles -all natural seasoning that boost nutrition in meals
  • Growing Fresh -granola and raw vegan foods
  • Mixers & Elixirs -shrubs perfect for drinking on a summers day
  • Ostro Organics – cold pressed oils 
  • Anne’s Gallery -jams, chutneys and preserves and Spiced Peach Jam!

Health, Beauty & Services

Jewelry & Artisan Crafts

  • Anne’s Gallery – gorgeous sweaters with fun new colours for fall
  • Bits & Keys – funky jewelry and fun crosstiches
  • New World Felting -beautifully made felted scarves & hats

Wine, Beer & Spirits

  • Dragon Mist Distillery – locally made vodka and gin

Special Thanks to our Music Stage Sponsor Roland Kaulfuss:

rolandkaulfuss logo

Farmers Market Challenge: Best Laid Plans

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Pierogies, pierogies, where for art thou my pierogies?

This week we had a definite plan. This week we wanted pierogies. But, this week the pierogies didn’t want us. After weeks and weeks of walking by the Old Country Pierogy table, hemming and hawing about whether to buy or not, we definitively decided to dive in to Pierogyville this week.

But this week, they weren’t there!!!

Sad face: no pierogies this week
Sad face: no pierogies this week

We did NOT have a plan B. Dear market goers, take it from me, always have a plan b. Because if you don’t, your will of health may falter to your husband’s bedazzled Rocky Point Ice Cream eyes.

Happy face: Rocky Point Ice Cream handcrafted “with love.”
Happy face: Rocky Point Ice Cream handcrafted “with love.”

Then again, it was 31 degrees out. It was Rocky Point ice cream. It was a market vendor. It was nearly perfect with our remaining budget. Surely the clouds were aligning. And really, how could I possibly say no to blackberry sage ice cream?

Couldn’t do it.

This week’s loot:

Zaklan Heritage Farm:

• 1 head red-leaf lettuce: $3
• Mustard greens: 2 for $5
• radishes: $2.50
• purslane: $2
• leaks: $1.20
• 4 roma tomatoes: $2
• basil: $0.80

Outwest Ranch:

• 6 pears: $4

Rai Produce:

• 5 gala apples: $5

Fresh Quality Produce:

• 4 husked corn: $2
• 1 zucchini: $1

Ossome Acres:

• Rainbow chard: $3

Ripple Creek Organics:

• 1 cucumber: $1.25

Rocky Point Ice Cream:

• 1 pint blackberry sage ice cream: $8

Total spent was $40.75. Before the ice cream we had $7.25 remaining. With last week being under budget by 75 cents, we are now back to even. Like I said, the clouds were totally aligning.

FMapples
Apple season is here my friends and the galas keep calling my name!

With pierogies off the menu, we needed to adjust our meal plan somewhat to incorporate a proper good market meal. We opted for one of our recently discovered go-to market meals of Shrimp and Chard stir fry, which used up the rainbow chard, roma tomatoes, and onion from two weeks ago.

We also picked up leeks, which neither my husband or I have ever cooked with. As soon as I saw them, I remembered the leek-filled quiche my cousin made for us when we were visiting her in Belgium, and thought, maybe I could do the same.

I separated the stem from the dark green leaves at the top (which I froze for a later soup date) and cut them lengthwise, then chopped just as you would an onion. Exactly like an onion, tears and all.

The leeks gave me leaky, or should I say, leaky eyes!
The leeks gave me leaky, or should I say, leaky eyes!
Art of leek… kind of looks like a pineapple.
Art of leek… kind of looks like a pineapple.

I sautéed the chopped leaks and then threw them into a cheesy, tomato and basil filled quiche.

For the quiche I used my base Cook’s Country recipe (link: https://princessofpavement.com/cooking-challenge-2/impossible-ham-and-cheese-pie/), but altered it slightly due to missing ingredients and ingredient mishaps. I used spelt flour instead of all-purpose flour, and omitted the ham due to it going bad, and instead added a half cup of basil and several slices of tomatoes, along with the entire leek stalk.

Quiche: Market ingredients: leeks and basil
Quiche: Market ingredients: leeks and basil

Pretty sure it was the best quiche I’ve made to date!

What new market-fresh ingredient did you discover this week?

Introducing Valérie – Operations Manager

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IMG_0774The Royal City Farmers Market Board of Directors is very pleased to announce Valérie Tessier Lee as our new operations manager. Valérie has served as our assistant market manager since April and will be taking on the role effective September 1.

As a new resident of New West, and a new mother, Valerie has developed a greater desire for community. Be it between residents, mothers or fellow foodies and art lovers, she was easily able to find her village here, in our little area of the Fraser. Originally from Montreal she has made multiple pit stops before ending up in BC. A locavore, Valerie aims for a more compassionate, kind and simple life.

Royal City Farmers Market has been very fortunate to have experienced a number of enthusiastic and passionate market managers since we began just over nine years ago. Our most recent market manager, Melissa, has done an exemplary job in helping Royal City Farmers Market evolve, and has been a major catalyst for professionalizing our organization. She has helped to introduce a number of behind the scenes systems and processes that make our organization stronger and more efficient and has been an enthusiastic community builder. Melissa has bid adieu to the market and is moving on to exciting, new challenges and while we are sad to see her go, we wish her all the best.

We are very excited to have Valérie step up into this role, and we encourage you to say hello at your next market visit!

 

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Land Acknowledgement

Our market is grateful to operate on the unceded land of the Qayqayt, Kwikwetlem, and other Halkomelem speaking Peoples. We acknowledge that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. We acknowledge the incredible gift this land is to our market and BC Agriculture. We commit to the ongoing work of decolonization and allyship.