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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!

 

September 1st Market Day

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back-to-school

It’s that time of year when kids, teenagers and adults are heading back to school!  Need some great snacks to pack in those lunches? We’ve got your covered. Stock up on these delicious snack ideas from our fantastic vendors:

  • Parents like to tuck a Simply Scone or two into their children’s lunch.  So easy and so good!
  • Visit with James Lewis to get healthy granola bars to keep tummies full til dinnertime.
  • Apples are good for teachers as well as kids. Harvest Direct can assist you with all your apple needs.
  • Looking for gluten free or nut free treats? Both Delish Gluten Free and Marie’s Guilt Free Baking can help you out.
  • Wine from Pacific Breeze Winery to celebrate the return of the school year 😉
  • Stock up on farm fresh goodness from all your local farmers!

What’s happening at the market this week?

Entertainment

Aunt Leah’s

The Friendly Landlord Network is a grass-roots solution to youth homelessness connecting youth from care with safe, affordable rental housing. Rent your suite to a youth leaving foster care and make a difference. Friendly Landlords receive market rent, ongoing tenancy support and monthly on-site check ins.
Friendlylandlordnetwork.com

Yoga

For the Kids

  • Have fun in our Mini Farmers Market play area (free)
  • Fun crafty craft with our volunteers (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 – chard, kale, beets, nugget potatoes, zucchini, brocoli, green onions, green beans, fresh garlic, cabbage, cucumber, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, onions, eggplants, carrots (Certified Organic)
  • Ossome Acres – pea shoots, eggs, raw walnuts, parsley, kale, swiss chard, rainbow chard, purple cabbage, broccoli, scallopini, scallions, sunflower shoots, wheat grass, kohlrabi, potatoes, cucumber, artichoke, plum, bartlett pears, zucchini, celery, beets, castile soap (Certified Organic)
  • Bose & Sons Family Farm – lettuce greens, carrots, potatoes, green peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, turnips, corn
  • Harvest Direct Farms – Peaches, plums, nectarines, apples, pears
  • Fresh Quality Produce Ltd – strawberries, blueberries, blackberries zucchinis, nugget potatoes, green beans, wax beans, corn
  • Zaklan Heritage Farms – Head lettuce, mini gem head lettuce, radishes (all sorts), salad mix, mustard greens, arugula, swiss chard, kale, baby cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, beans, leeks, potatoes, peppers (hot/sweet), eggplant, roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, beets, onions, garlic, flowers, plums.
  • Country Village Market – blueberries, strawberries, corn
  • Rancho Los Andes – tomatoes
  • 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

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
  • Solodko Bakery – Ukrainian bakery with sweet buns
  • Simply Scones – traditional English style scones
  • Sable Shortbread – tasty yummy specialty shortbread

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 burritos
  • Wheelhouse Seafoods – salmon burgers

Prepared Food (Dry Goods & Seasonings)

  • The Salt Dispensary – salted caramels, smoked salts and pepper mixes
  • James Lewis Foods – granola bars packed full of good stuff

Prepared Foods (Pantry Staples)

  • BobAli – your favourite dips and spreads
  • Jam Shack Preservery – savoury spreads and jams
  • KICS Lemonade Syrup – syrups and salad dressings
  • Aji Gourmet – salsas and delicious condiments
  • Old Country Perogi – frozen perogies (gluten free and vegan options available)
  • Muy Rico – salsas, mayonaise, mole sauces, tortilla chips and corn tortillas

Health, Beauty & Services

  • Scentimental Creations – soaps and personal care products
  • Purely Clean – an all natural way to clean your home

Jewelry & Artisan Crafts

  • Quality Oak Accents – hand crafted cutting boards by Louie
  • Bits & Keys – funky jewelry and fun crosstiches
  • Lighten Up Jewels – timeless pieces made by Holly

Wine, Beer & Spirits

  • Pacific Breeze Winery – wine made here in New West!

Special Thanks to our Music Stage Sponsor Roland Kaulfuss:

rolandkaulfuss logo

Farmers Market Challenge: Road Trip!

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My, oh my, how planning for road trips has changed over the years.

Back in the day – the, ahem, less healthier, less grown-up day – road trip snacks were all about the salts and the sweets: chips, chocolate, what more did I need, really… besides a bathroom, that is. Inevitably, a good portion of those trips were spent with a belly ache, not to mention blood sugar readings that had my diabetic specialist cringing.

But now, a prospective dietitian, and a mom of an impressionable youngin’, I am more conscientious of nutritional goodness. The salty, sugar-laden road trip snacks of years past are just that: a thing of the past.

This week’s $40 challenge was all about planning for the road trip.

I was off to Shuswap with my four-year-old son, and his five-year-old cousins the day after the market. Just the three of us in one car for six hours with one meal stop in between. Two of us in the car have type-1 diabetes.

I don’t know about you, but I am always extra hungry on road trips. Maybe eating is my way of passing the time, giving me something to do other than asking that age-old question: “Are we there yet?” Regardless, my mouth is in constant need of chewing when on the road.

The healthier, the better.

The market did not disappoint.

With my cooler in hand, I searched out all snacking possibilities the market had to offer.

Katie

This week’s “road-trip” loot:
• 5 mini cucumbers: $3 (Greendale Herb and Vine)
• Carrot bunch: $1.50 (Bose & Sons Family Farm)
• 5 Okanagan gala apples: $5 (Rai Produce)
• 5 pears: $4 (Outwest Ranch)
• 12 eggs: $6 (Outwest Ranch)
• Tatsoi and Pizzo mustard greens: 2 for $5 (Zaklan Heritage Farm)
• 2 salmon burgers: $8 (Wheelhouse Seafoods)
• 2 zucchini: $1.50 (Fresh Quality Produce Ltd.)
• 6 corn: $3 (Fresh Quality Produce Ltd.)
• 1 Russian garlic $2.25 (Rancho Los Andes)

Total spent was $39.25. We were 75 cents under budget, but last week we were $1.20 over budget.

FullSizeRender

The cucumbers and carrots were fantastic for the ride up. As were the apples and pears. The apples were so juicy good, my son, who normally takes a few bites of the apple before discarding it ate the entire thing right to the core, and asked for a second one right after exclaiming it was the best apple he’s ever eaten!

Sure it was a bit messier than other snacking options, but when you’ve got a toddler in the car, chances are you’ve also got wipes handy and a garbage for the waste.

And I felt a whole lot less guilty, and my belly felt a whole lot less turmoil eating subsequent mini cukes over subsequent chips and chocolate bars.

A five-day trip also required some foods at the cabin, which is where the eggs, corn, greens and zucchini came to play. The eggs were great for the mornings, and the corn and greens served us well for lunch and dinner sides.

The salmon burgers were for my husband who did not join us for the trip.

We weren’t perfectly healthy on this trip. My nephews introduced me to the world of smores, there were ice cream cones, and the grandma of the cabin did a whole lot of tasty fine baking. But, by balancing that all with the nutritional goodness of the market fruits and veggies had me feeling not only balanced, but happily satiated.

RFP: Marketing and Communications Coordinator

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The Royal City Farmers Market (RCFM) is a mid-sized, well-established farmers market in New Westminster, B.C. that operates outdoors year-round. RCFM will be entering its tenth year of operation in 2017. It is a member of the B.C. Association of Farmers Markets and registered as B.C. non-profit society. RCFM has an active seven member board of directors, as well as operational staff and a number of dedicated volunteers.

We seek a qualified candidate to join our organization and act as a communications and marketing coordinator. This is a paid, contract position.  

Duties:

  • Plan and deploy social media engagement on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, any other emerging platforms, and write for our blog, which features a weekly market preview post and various educational articles
  • Generate press releases as required by the board (usually one per quarter, occasionally more)
  • Perform basic market research and develop a good understanding of current customers, competitors and target audience
  • Work with committee members and a contract graphic designer to develop assets; collaborate with operations manager
  • Refine and maintain organization’s brand identity, including style guidelines
  • Possibly work with a student practicum placement for the summer
  • Additional duties and tasks may be assigned as needed

The work is somewhat seasonal though the expectation is that the monthly contract amount would stay the same, however the duties may change. The market from mid-May to the first week of October is weekly and from November to early April it is twice per month. During the winter months, we expect the contractor to spend more time on asset development, analysis and planning, and preparation for the busier summer months, and then switch to a more implementation-focused list of tasks in the summer.

Although a presence at the market for the entire duration of the market is not required, there is value in attending each market to snap pictures and connect with vendors for website features for a limited time. Our markets are currently Thursdays from 3pm-7pm at Tipperary Park in the summer and Saturdays 11am-3pm on Belmont Street in the winter.

Qualifications:

Experience in all established social media channels as well as an interest in emerging channels is an asset. Writing clean copy that reflects the market’s brand is also essential.

Other valuable assets for this role: experience writing online, photography experience, an interest in farmers market and food culture, understanding and knowledge of New Westminster as a community.  

To apply, submit a proposal or cover letter/resume that outlines: monthly fees, previous experience, and interest in the position to info@newwestfarmers.ca. Deadline: September 1, 2016.  

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