I get asked often who writes these weekly blurbs. I do! I’m Jen, and I am the Operations Manager for RCFM. The Royal City Farmers Market started in 2008 and the summer season has always stretched into the early part of fall, until the Thursday before Thanksgiving. I think it’s a good time to end our summer season, on a note of reaping what you sow, harvesting your hard work, and of giving thanks. This year is no exception. So this week, as our final market takes place, I’d like to give thanks.
Thank you to the shoppers for coming faithfully, in both beautiful sunshine and drenching rain. Thank you to the vendors who have worked so hard to contribute to our fun and family friendly atmosphere. Thank you to the board of directors for your hard work and dedication. Thank you to the donors and sponsors for our season: the City of New Westminster, Westminster Savings Credit Union, The Heritage Grill, Derrick Thornhill at Park Georgia Realty, Tenth to the Fraser.ca, Hudsonny Design, And last but most certainly not least, thank you to the volunteers for making my job easier, for showing up with smiles on your faces and working hard to make our market one of the most friendly, community oriented markets I have ever been to. To all of you, a hat tip.
And since we’re doing hat tips, we’re going to send this season off with a fun day, and October 6th will be Silly Hat Day! Wear a silly hat and get a coupon good for $1 off at our first winter market, November 5th.
We also hope you’ll be coming back for the final week of the Stamp Card contest. Pop by the info table with your stamp card for week three’s stamp! After you collect all three stamps, add your name and number to the back, and drop it into the draw box. One lucky winner will win a prize package with $25 worth of gift certificates to be spent at the winter market, as well as an RCFM ceramic double walled mug, a set of three of our amazing new produce bags, and a t-shirt (from our existing inventory) AND a free 2012 membership to our organization.
Bonus draw! This last week, answer the question: What is the best thing about this 2011 summer farmers market season? and drop it in the draw box. One lucky winner will also be selected to win the same awesome prize package: $25 in gift certificates, the shirt, the mug, the produce bags, and the 2012 membership.
You may only win one draw, so we’ll pull the winner for the Stamped Card draw first, and if we pull the same name from the Best Thing draw, we’ll put it aside and pull another name.
One final contest that will be ending soon is the Photo Contest! We’ll be drawing it on October 8th, so get your photos in!
Music this week is Fiddlestix. Our music at the market is sponsored by the great people at the Heritage Grill. Be sure to check out the kids area with hat-making crafts sponsored by local realtor Derrick Thornhill and Pretty Up Parties. Weather permitting, we will also have a Teddy Bear Picnic hosted by Mary Forstbauer of Forstbauer Farms.
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 at the top end of the market for safekeeping. Don’t forget to check out our cool new merchandise – we are now selling reusable produce bags made locally by the people at Carebags.
A list of all vendors attending the final October 6th market is below, but remember to check back for cancellations and updates! This list is current as of October 3rd.
Eat On Site
- Gogo Java – Coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
- Ovenmonkey Bakery – selling fresh Langos – Hungarian fried flatbread
- Rizalina’s Juice – fresh made juice to order
- Samosa Guy – hot vegetarian samosas and pakoras, as well as frozen take home samosas
Produce
- Apple Barn Pumpkin Farm – Peppers, tomatoes, apples & pumpkins
- Celyddon Farms – Certified organic produce from Delta
- Cranberry Meadows – cranberries grown in Maple Ridge
- Felix Farms – Guichon Farms – assorted locally grown produce by Fifth Generation Farmers in Delta
- 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
- Golden West Farms – Okanagan fruit grown in Summerland, many certified organic
- Maan Farms – assorted locally grown produce
- Nature Village Farm – Asian produce, potted herbs, and mushrooms grown in Richmond
- Red Barn Plants and Produce – assorted locally grown produce
- Training Wheels Farm – locally produced on a 2 acre plot in Surrey
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
Bread & Baking
- A Bread Affair – Breads
- Blackberry Hill – squares, cinnamon buns, and old fashioned yummies like crisp rice squares
- High Crow Gluten Free Foods – celiac friendly gluten free baking
- Sweet Thea Cake Company – tarts, pies, cookies, and cakes
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
- Anne’s Gallery – Jams, jellies & knitting
- Gary’s Kettlecorn – Kettlecorn
- Jane’s Honey Bees – honey and other bee products
- Maples’ Sugar Shack – maple syrup treats
- Momma Nellie’s Goodies – Salsa, crisps, and cranberry jelly
- Simply Delish Soup Co – layered soup mix, rice pilaf mix, and spice rubs
Local Crafters
- Alma Valle Fine Silver Jewelry – handcrafted sterling silver original jewelry
- Ildiko Jewelry – hand forged sterling silver jewelry
- The Other Eden – cold process soaps scented with essential & fragrance oils, room sprays, body products
