There are only two winter markets left this season and March 3 is coming up fast! This month we are celebrating new beginnings because spring is in the air, and our friend the groundhog has predicted it will be here soon! (well, I guess that depends which groundhog you listen to). No matter, our farmer friends are already busy in preparation of a long growing season and many are starting the work in cold frames and greenhouses.

We here at the market have started the work for summer, including seeking new vendors and also seeking a new Operations Manager. Check out the links if you’re interested.

But that doesn’t mean we aren’t excited for the last two winter markets! We are pleased this month to have Pretty Up Parties returning as our kids activity sponsor in front of the circus school, and Melissa has a really fun craft planned. We will also have balloon artist Kemal upstairs for your entertainment, and our musical guest this month is Karla Sleightholme, a jazz sax player. We are also happy to be supporting the community group this month. Lunchgroup Heavy Industries, a fun team fundraising and riding in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer (and their team captain happens to be a former board member). The community group area is located upstairs near the escalator.

Don’t forget to check out the vendors outdoors – both on the patio on the riverside and on the west end of the market. We’ve got a few new ones this month we think you’ll really like.

You can reach the market on foot via McInnes Street, Begbie Street or via the overhead walkway from Hyack Square at the foot of 8th Street. There is a bike rack on the south west end of the market. Free parking is available courtesy of the City of New Westminster on the B deck of the downtown waterfront parkade. You can enter it via McKenzie, 6th, or 4th Streets. Park on the B deck, at the southwest end and use the stairs to access Quayside Drive. And pay parking is available to the west and east of River Market for $1.50 for 2 hours.

The market takes place inside (both upstairs and downstairs) and outside (on the patio and on the west end). There are lots of yummy hot food choices as well as amazing handmade crafts, prepared delicacies, and produce – yes! Produce. Here’s what’s in season right now.

Here are the vendors confirmed. Stop by the RCFM info booth if you need help finding a specific vendor’s location. Please note not all vendors come to every market, so to stay up to date, subscribe using www.mymarketsnews.com – we’ll send you a reminder a few days before the market with a list of whose signed up to come.

Here’s who is slated for this Saturday (current as of February 27):

Eat On Site

• Gina’s Greek Food Catering – delicious Greek food ready to eat
• Ovenmonkey Bakery – selling fresh Langos – Hungarian fried flatbread
• Pazzarella Auto Pizzeria – wood fired oven baked pizza
• Re-Up BBQ – southern pulled pork, beef brisket, lemonade, sweet tea, and bacon!
• Samosa Guy – hot vegetarian samosas and pakoras, as well as frozen take home samosas

Produce

• Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
• Golden West Farms – Okanagan fruit grown in Summerland, many certified organic

• Greendale Herb and Vine – Cheddar cheese, cheese curds, herbs, nut butters and honeycomb

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

Bread & Baking

• A Bread Affair – Breads
• Blackberry Hill – squares, cinnamon buns, and old fashioned yummies like crisp rice squares
• French Made Baking – French-from-France baking.
• Sweet Thea Cake Company – tarts, pies, cookies, and cakes

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Anne’s Gallery – Jams, jellies & knitting
• Dundarave Olive Company – unique olive products
• Gourmet Savories – antipasto and pesto
• Momma Nellie’s Goodies – Salsa, crisps, and cranberry jelly
• Rascal’s Goodies – flavoured popcorns and old fashioned candies
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs
• TK Chocolates – small batch flavoured chocolates

Local Crafters

• Dingolay Glass Creations – African and Caribbean fused glass jewelry
• Gracious Gowns and Gifts – custom and unique beautiful hospital gowns
• Jolene’s Handmade Soap – cold process soaps coloured with spices
• My Secret Cravings – miniature food inspired polymer clay jewelry
• Pretty Up Parties – upcycled and unique craft supplies
• Quality Oak Accents – Fine wood creations
• Scentimental Creations – Soaps, lotions, hand made cosmetics

We’ve passed the halfway mark on our winter season and have been so busy this past few weeks! We had our AGM on January 26th and we are pleased to have had an election and voted in a new Board for 2012. We’re working furiously right now to prepare for the upcoming summer season, but we are excited we have a market this Saturday to get ready for as well.

Music this month is market favourite Ron Ulrich. We are happy that the great people from Yoyomama.ca are sponsoring our kids’ area upstairs this month. Don’t miss the ticket and info table from the Naramata Bench Spring Wine Release – an exclusive wine, food, and art event happening in April.

You can reach the market on foot via McInnes Street, Begbie Street or via the overhead walkway from Hyack Square at the foot of 8th Street. There is a bike rack on the south west end of the market. Free parking is available courtesy of the City of New Westminster on the B deck of the downtown waterfront parkade. You can enter it via McKenzie, 6th, or 4th Streets. Park on the B deck, at the southwest end and use the stairs to access Quayside Drive. And pay parking is available to the west and east of River Market for $1.50 for 2 hours.

The market takes place inside (both upstairs and downstairs) and outside (on the patio and on the west end). There are lots of yummy hot food choices as well as amazing handmade crafts, prepared delicacies, and produce – yes! Produce. Here’s what’s in season right now.

Here are the vendors confirmed. Stop by the RCFM info booth if you need help finding a specific vendor’s location. Please note not all vendors come to every market, so to stay up to date, subscribe using www.mymarketsnews.com – we’ll send you a reminder a few days before the market with a list of whose signed up to come.

Also: the first 100 shoppers to pop by the RCFM table get a special flyer with coupons for select vendors.

Here’s who is slated for this Saturday (current as of January 31st):

Eat On Site

• Gina’s Greek Food Catering – delicious Greek food ready to eat
• Re-Up BBQ – southern pulled pork, beef brisket, lemonade, sweet tea, and bacon!
• Samosa Guy – hot vegetarian samosas and pakoras, as well as frozen take home samosas

Produce

• Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
• Golden West Farms – Okanagan fruit grown in Summerland, many certified organic

Dairy

• Greendale Herb and Vine – Cheddar cheese, cheese curds, herbs, nut butters and honeycomb

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

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

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Anne’s Gallery – Jams, jellies & knitting
• Dundarave Olive Company – unique olive products
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
• My Father’s Garden – preserves and seasonal baking
• Momma Nellie’s Goodies – Salsa, crisps, and cranberry jelly
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs
• Take a Fancy Chocolates and Sweets – handmade chocolates right from scratch

Local Crafters

• Affera Cosmetics – mineral makeup made in Burnaby
• Amanda McCracken – one of a kind crocheted 3D stuffed toys
• Black Bamboo Artisans – hand made glazed pottery and knitting
• Calido Art Glass – lampworked beads and jewelry
• Hoover Crafted Jewelry – beaded jewelry made in New Westminster
• Ildiko Jewelry – hand forged sterling silver jewelry
• Jolene’s Handmade Soap – cold process soaps coloured with spices
• My Secret Cravings – miniature food inspired polymer clay jewelry
• The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential & fragrance oils, room sprays, body products
• Pretty Up Parties – upcycled and unique craft supplies
• Quality Oak Accents – Fine wood creations

Ah, the new year. Such a fresh and exciting time, isn’t it? We hope you all had a fabulous holiday season.

Our next winter market is coming up on Saturday, January 7th at River Market, located at 810 Quayside Drive from 10am to 2pm. We’ll be celebrating all things winter at this market, and if you made a New Year’s resolution to eat better, the farmers market has you covered.

Music at the market is members of the Geometric Shapes. Our music is sponsored by The Heritage Grill. We are also pleased that this month’s kids’ craft area is sponsored by Vancouver Circus School.  As well, we are happy to be welcoming West Coast Rottweiler Rescue as our community group.

You can reach the market on foot via McInnes Street, Begbie Street or via the overhead walkway from Hyack Square at the foot of 8th Street. There is a bike rack on the south west end of the market. Free parking is available courtesy of the City of New Westminster on the B deck of the downtown waterfront parkade. You can enter it via McKenzie, 6th, or 4th Streets. Park on the B deck, at the southwest end and use the stairs to access Quayside Drive. And pay parking is available to the west and east of River Market for $1.50 for 2 hours.

The market takes place inside (both upstairs and downstairs) and outside (on the patio and on the west end). There are lots of yummy hot food choices as well as amazing handmade crafts, prepared delicacies, and produce – yes! Produce. Here’s what’s in season right now.

Here are the vendors confirmed. Stop by the RCFM info booth if you need help finding a specific vendor’s location. Please note not all vendors come to every market, so to stay up to date, subscribe using www.mymarketsnews.com – we’ll send you a reminder a few days before the market with a list of whose signed up to come.

PS: Don’t miss our AGM at the New Westminster Public Library January 26th from 6-9pm with special guest speaker John Gibeau, from the Honeybee Centre in Langley.

Eat On Site

• Gina’s Greek Food Catering – delicious Greek food ready to eat
• Gogo Java – Coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
• Re-Up BBQ – southern pulled pork, beef brisket, lemonade, sweet tea, and bacon!
• Samosa Guy – hot vegetarian samosas and pakoras, as well as frozen take home samosas

Produce

• Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm – organic produce, eggs, and beef
• Golden West Farms – Okanagan fruit grown in Summerland, many certified organic

Dairy

• Greendale Herb and Vine – Cheddar cheese, cheese curds, herbs, nut butters and honeycomb

Meat & Fish

• Outwest Ranches – beef raised locally and fresh eggs
• Rockweld Farm – BC frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs
• Wild Wild West Seafood – BC caught fish and prawns

Bread & Baking

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

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

• AJI Gourmet Products – sauces made using aji spice
• Anne’s Gallery – Jams, jellies & knitting
• Dundarave Olive Company – unique olive products
• Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
• Maples’ Sugar Shack – maple syrup products
• My Father’s Garden – preserves and seasonal baking
• Momma Nellie’s Goodies – Salsa, crisps, and cranberry jelly
• Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs

Local Crafters

• Affera Cosmetics – mineral makeup made in Burnaby
• Calido Art Glass – lampworked beads and jewelry
• Gracious Gowns and Gifts – custom and unique beautiful hospital gowns
• Jolene’s Handmade Soap – cold process soaps coloured with spices
• The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential & fragrance oils, room sprays, body products
• Pretty Up Parties – upcycled and unique craft supplies
• Quality Oak Accents – Fine wood creations
• Working Silver – unique handmade silver jewelry

We’ve been getting lots of calls lately from vendors interested in applying to be a part of our market summer 2012. First, we want to say how happy we are that you’re so organized! We’re not yet organized ourselves, though and wanted to let you know what the timeline is.

Our AGM is January 26th (we hope you can come!), and we’ll be electing a new Board of Directors for the 2012 year. Once they’re elected, they’ll set the policies, fees, and other parts of the summer 2012 season. Once that’s in place, we then can prepare the application packages.

If you’re intersted in applying with us, we recommend you sign up to the Interested Vendors List. In late February or early March, we’ll be sending the list the application package once it is ready. All summer 2011 and winter 2011-2012 vendors are already added to this list.

Thank you for your interest!