Visitors to the RCFM get the opportunity to see and visit many vendors with a variety of goods ranging from food to knick knacks. On top of enjoying the park, listening to live music and hearing stories behind the people and community, special events take place every week.

This last Thursday we were excited to celebrate Father’s Day with a tie dye craft table complete with cut out paper ties and food colouring. And as the sun came out that afternoon, kids were able to get creative and decorate the market walkway with their own chalk creations.

Rain or shine, the market is open and running so make sure you drop by this coming Thursday from 3pm to 7pm for another fun and interactive activity for the young’uns!

We are so pleased that the sun came out last week in time to help us celebrate the opening of our 2012 season. If you missed last week, why not join us 3 – 7 this Thursday in beautiful Tipperary Park where about 40 vendors will be offering fresh produce, hand made one of a kind crafts, amazing delicious foods, and lots of fun!

Music this week is crowd favourite Ron Ulrich. Our music at the market is sponsored by the great people at the Heritage Grill. Be sure to check out the kids area – this week we are offering tie dying – a fun Father’s Day themed craft that experiments with colour mixing.

As well, as we are pleased to host a very special guest this week: local author, JJ Lee.

Just in time for Father’s Day, JJ Lee, fashion columnist and author of critically-acclaimed work of non-fiction, The Measure of a Man: The Story of a Father, a Son, and a Suit, will be setting up a Sartorial Help Booth at the market. For a donation but no less than a nickel, of course, JJ will help you with your menswear conundrum. You’ll get the same quality advice he prescribes every month to readers of The Vancouver Sun. Proceeds go to our local food bank.

JJ will also read from his book and is available to sign yours. Copies of the newly released paperback edition are available to purchase.

The Measure of a Man was declared one of the best memoirs of 2011 by The Globe and Mail. Amazon.ca, Kobo, and The Globe and Mail also made it one of the top books overall for 2011. It was a finalist for the 2011 Governor-General’s Literary Award for Non-Ficiton, a finalist for
the 2012 Charles Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction, and a finals for the Hubert Evans Award for Non-Fiction presented by the 2012 BC Book Prizes.  Described by The National Post as “touching and inquisitive . . . [a] striking and accomplished blend of humour, information and pathos. . . . [a] thoughtful and intermittently provocative memoir.”

You can reach the market via transit by taking the 106 bus or the Skytrain to Columbia Street Station and walking to the market at 4th and Royal. Parking is available in the neighbourhood for free along Royal Avenue, Queens Avenue, or at City Hall’s lot after 4:30. Please respect our neighbours.

Bringing your bike? Cyclists can drop bikes off to the fine folks at our info desk for safekeeping.

A list of all vendors attending the June 14 market is  below, but remember to check back for cancellations and updates! This list is current as of June 12.

• Gogo Java – coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
• Mollie’s Minis – delightful and yummy mini donuts and other treats
• Pazzarella Auto Pizzaria – pizza napoletana
• Samosa Guy – hot vegetarian samosas and pakoras, as well as frozen take home samosas

Produce

• Celyddon Farms – certified organic produce from Delta
• Maan Farms – assorted locally grown produce
• Nature Village Farm – Asian produce, potted herbs, and mushrooms grown in Richmond
• Pitchfork Organic Farm (Glen Valley Organic Farm)- certified organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and eggs
• Sandhu Growers – produce

Dairy

• Greendale Herb and Vine – cheddar cheese, cheese curds, herbs, nut butters and honeycomb
• Little Qualicum Cheeseworks – high quality cheese from Vancouver Island

Meat & Fish

• Outwest Ranches – beef raised locally and fresh eggs
• Port Hardy Seafood – BC caught fish and prawns
• Rockweld Farm – BC frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs
• Sawmill Bay Shellfish Company – family run shellfish farm, growing oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops on the waters near Read Island BC
• Sleeping Mountain – organic turkey

Bread & Baking

• A Bread Affair – breads
• Sweet Thea Cake Company – tarts, pies, cookies, and cakes

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

• Ace Curries To Go – curry sauces
• Amber’s Choice – soups, salad dressing and cookies
• Anne’s Gallery – jams, jellies & knitting
• Chanthorn Orchids and Thai Curry Sauce –  Thai curry, satay and Pad Thai sauces and orchid plants
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – kettlecorn
• Great Himalaya Foods – Himalayan food and cereal
• Gourmet Savories – antipasto and pesto
• Injiver Ginger Crack Company – ginger syrup and candy
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs
• Smartleaf Tea – tea and tea baths
• Take a Fancy Chocolates and Sweets – handmade chocolates right from scratch

Local Crafters

• Blue Rose Designs – handmade crochet bags, jewelry and accessories
• Danielle Makes Things – hand crafted beeswax candles
• Dingolay Glass Creations – African and Caribbean fused glass jewelry
• Lily Bug Soy Candles – scented soy candles
• Nautilus Accessories – hair accessories, clutches and purses.
• Raven’s Rest Studio – trinkets, crafts, and jewelry
• Scentimental Creations – soaps, lotions, hand made cosmetics
• Uriel Black Design – ceramics

The board members and staff at RCFM are excited for this Thursday, June 7, which markets the season opener for our 2012 summer season. “One of the most memorable events last year was probably Opening Day,” says Andrew Murray, President. “You should make a trip out this year for another memorable moment to say hello and welcome the local vendors.”

The Essence of RCFM

Farmers markets are a time and place of community.  “It could go without saying that there’s an ethereal element in the food that we buy, grow, prepare, eat, feed to, and sell. A farmers market embodies that ether,” says Daniel McCash, Director. “I feel there’s something real and independent about the farmers in a Farmers Market.”

Jen Arbo, Operations Manager, is looking forward to market season as well. “I love seeing young people coming so close to their food. We love seeing families and friends come together to celebrate their passions for food and people.”

We’re also looking forward to theme days and special events this season. “I loved Silly Hat Day! We have some very creative and fun-loving people in this city!” says Hennisea Hoy, Secretary.

Looking Forward to…

The 2012 Nutrition Coupon Program. ” It was really wonderful to be able to give back in such a concrete way, and to see people at the market every week using the coupons to buy the fantastic food that our vendors produce. I’m extremely proud that RCFM and our supporters were able to make that happen,” says Marcy Koopmans, Treasurer.

“It went very well in 2011 and I am looking forward to another successful year of this very important program,” says Hennisea.

Welcoming Jodi Appleton, RCFM’s new Assistant Operations Manager. “The RCFM’s opening market on June 7^th will be my first summer market and I am really looking forward to tackling the logistics of the event with Jen, connecting with our vendors, and meeting some of the local residents.  It should be an exciting day for everyone,” says Jodi.

Wishing Jen Arbo, the current Operations Manager, a memorable last market season. Jen has spent the last few years helping the RCFM grow to the size and depth it is now, and is happy with the work she has done. as “a community, a micro-ecosystem with shoppers, vendors, and community groups. It feels very comfortable and representative of a community I enjoy being a part of, and that weekly reminder will be something I miss the most.”

“All of New Westminster should come to the farmers market at least once – when they see how awesome it is, they’ll wonder what took them so long to come in the first place!” says Brigette Mayer, volunteer coordinator.

We hope you can join for “18 sun soaked Thursdays and being able to share them with the great team we have at RCFM,” says Andrew.

See you this Thursday for our season opener!

What’s on this week

Music this week is funk band Blitzcrank. Our music at the market is sponsored by the great people at the Heritage Grill. Be sure to check out the kids area – Korki the Clown will be in attendance twisting balloons and Allyson the Facepainter will be there to add decorations to your face!

You can reach the market via transit by taking the 106 bus or the Skytrain to Columbia Street Station and walking to the market at 4th and Royal. Parking is available in the neighbourhood for free along Royal Avenue, Queens Avenue, or at City Hall’s lot after 4:30. Please respect our neighbours. Cyclists can drop bikes off to the fine folks at our info desk for safekeeping.

A list of all vendors attending the first market June 7  below, but remember to check back for cancellations and updates! This list is current as of June 5.

Eat On Site

• Chili Tank – chili from a tank! 4 varieties, including vegetarian
• Gogo Java – coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
• Juice Caboose – fresh juice, smoothies and vegan snacks
• Samosa Guy – hot vegetarian samosas and pakoras, as well as frozen take home samosas

Produce

• Celyddon Farms – certified organic produce from Delta
• Maan Farms – assorted locally grown produce
• Nature Village Farm – Asian produce, potted herbs, and mushrooms grown in Richmond
• Pitchfork Organic Farm (Glen Valley Organic Farm)– certified organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and eggs

Dairy

• Greendale Herb and Vine – cheddar cheese, cheese curds, herbs, nut butters and honeycomb
• Little Qualicum Cheeseworks – high quality cheese from Vancouver Island

Meat & Fish

• Outwest Ranches – beef raised locally and fresh eggs
• Port Hardy Seafood – BC caught fish and prawns
• Rockweld Farm – BC frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs
• Sleeping Mountain – organic turkey

Bread & Baking

• A Bread Affair – breads
• Blackberry Hill – squares, cinnamon buns, and old fashioned yummies like crisp rice squares
• Sweet Thea Cake Company – tarts, pies, cookies, and cakes
• The Flour Peddler – locally milled flour and grains

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

• Ace Curries To Go – curry sauces
• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Amber’s Choice – soups, salad dressing and cookies
• Chanthorn Orchids and Thai Curry Sauce –  Thai curry, satay and Pad Thai sauces and orchid plants
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – kettlecorn
• Gourmet Savories – antipasto and pesto
• Injiver Ginger Crack Company – ginger syrup and candy
• Maples’ Sugar Shack – maple syrup products
• Patisserie Triebow – French macarons with various fillings
• Provenance Pate – pates, dips, salsas, spreads and jams
• Rascal’s Goodies – candied popcorn and candies
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs
• The Jam Ladies – jam, marmalade, chutney and hot pepper jelly

Local Crafters

• Affera Cosmetics – vegan-friendly mineral makeup
• Blueglass Jewelry Design -handcrafted jewelry made from repurposed glass, sterling silver and freshwater pearls
• Calido Art Glass – glass beads and jewelry
• Chocolate Box Jewelry – handmade jewelry
• Gracious Gowns and Gifts – clothing and accessories for adults, children and babies
• Ildiko Jewelry – hand forged sterling silver jewelry
• The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential & fragrance oils, room sprays, body products
• Quality Oak Accents – fine wood creations
• Uriel Black Design and Ishtar Pottery – ceramics