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Farmers Market Challenge – Unexpected Absence

February 9, 2017 By newwestfarmers

What do you do when you walk into a world of veggies only to discover there are no veggies?

That was the dilemma I faced last market day. For days I had excitedly anticipated carrots and kale, beets and squash filling my bags. We had been without the über fresh for over a month due to weather extremities; it had been far too long.

I got there early, right as the clock struck 11 a.m. I walked up and down the vender rows. I went inside the tent. I did a second run through. My eyes were surely deceiving me. The only vegetables they saw were potatoes, a beautiful buffet of potatoes, but only potatoes. That was it. Nothing more. After the second run-through, I started asking questions.

The ladies at Kiki’s Kitchen filled me in. The aforementioned weather extremities that had made market conditions too dangerous to proceed a couple weeks earlier, had also wreaked havoc on our farmers’ crops. Winter had come.

I could have walked away. I am sure some did walk away. But what is a challenge without the challenge?

This was an opportunity.

This is what farmers’ markets are all about.

They are unpredictable. They are at the whim of the weather. Nothing is guaranteed.

Except, of course, new discoveries.

Had the veggies been there: I would not have spent $12 on a bag of smoked chanterelles; I would not have stopped before the row of $10 homemade soups; I would not have indulged in that sample of award-winning honey. In my budget-minded books those were luxuries, not necessities. But had I not indulged, those new flavours would forever have been lost on me.

That would have been a shame.

Without the vegetables stealing my attention, this shopping adventure was all about splurging.

Market Loot:

Wheelhouse Seafoods: • 2 salmon burgers ($9)

Kiki’s Kitchen: • 1 jar ginger-beet soup, 2 servings ($10)

Your Wildest Foods • 1 bag of dried smoked chantrelle mushrooms, 6 servings ($12)

Honey Bee Zen • 1 500 ml jar wildflower honey ($9)

Total spent: $40

The salmon burgers and dried mushrooms were not new purchases. We had purchased the salmon in our first week of the summer challenge, and the mushrooms were purchased the first week of the winter challenge. Experienced forager Matt McAllister travels all over North America seeking his mushrooms; he had just got back from a trip to California where he had found “exotic” black trumpet mushrooms. But it was the smoky ones I was interested in. Previously I had tried his fire morels that had been foraged from areas devastated by fire. When you have had smoked mushrooms, it is real hard to go back. The smokiness is deep and dominant. I would recommend pairing them with a dish that is not already overly flavoured. We used ours in risotto and omelettes. We contemplated putting them into a stir fry, but we thought better of it figuring the mushrooms and soy sauce would be in an all out battle for flavour power.

The honey was for my four-year-old, who has been struggling the past month with a cold, turned flu, turned ear infection, turned lingering, hacking cough. As such, he’s been gobbling up our honey stores like crazy. At Honey Bee Zen, I sampled a few of the options, but it was the Harvest Moon that had me salivating for more. Turns out, plenty others too. This flavouring, which has placed first in B.C. the last four years running, was awarded third in its class at the American Beekeepers Federation’s annual Honey Show in Texas the week prior – where it was also auctioned off for $120!

I paid $9 for the same flavour and size.

The soup was all me. After a month of dealing with a sick child, my belly needed comfort, health and ease. Of the three soup vendors on site, I opted for Kiki’s Kitchen. I sampled the super greens and ginger-beet, and the ladies would have allowed me to keep going with the other flavours, but I needed to show restraint, if only for my budget. I was already blown away by the first two.

The super greens was creamy, with a definite, but not overwhelming vegetable note, and a pleasantly, surprising, heated kick at the end. Comparably, the ginger-beet was all ginger. For those who love ginger, this is your soup. Topped with a dusting of parmesan and a few slices of avocado – Oh. My. Yum. I do not know if I have ever had a pureéd soup so delicious. Lucky for me, Kiki and Paula felt they needed a boost of colour in their flavour options, which is how the ginger-beet came to be.

The quantity of my expenditures may not have filled my bags, but they sure did fill my belly.

Filed Under: New Westminster, Uncategorized Tagged With: Belmont Street, clean living, eating frugal, farmers market, frugal shopping

March 19th Market Day

March 16, 2016 By newwestfarmers

Close-up of colorful plastic Easter Eggs, ready for a hunt

Join us for an early Easter celebration this Saturday at our farmers market on Belmont Street! We’ll have colourful eggs hidden all around the market (check the vendor stalls!) and everyone is invited to participate in our Easter egg hunt. Check out the prizes available to win;

  • Smoked Sockeye from Wheelhouse Seafoods
  • Soap Products from Mediterra Soaps
  • Gift Cards from Big Red’s Poutine
  • Seasonings and Salts from The Salt Dispensary
  • Marmalade from KICS Lemonade
  • Hot Cross Buns from A Bread Affair
  • CinnaWow and QuinoaCool from Seedibles
  • Kids Menu Item from Gypsy Trunk Gourmet Fare
  • Market Money from RCFM

The Roland Kaulfuss Music Stage will be featuring Dave Paterson. Originally from Montreal Dave is now based in Vancouver and performs as a solo act singing and playing guitars while accompanying himself on harmonica. His repertoire ranges from Robert Johnson to Hank Williams to Hoagy Carmicheal. He likes to do his own take on old Americana music!

Make sure to stop by and say hello to our community guests The Music Box.

Driving to the market? FREE PARKING is available at Westminster Centre, directly across the street from Belmont Street. If you are taking transit the #106 bus stops at 5th avenue and 6th street. Coming from the Quay? Take River Market’s brand new FREE DUC shuttle from the Quay straight to our location.

A list of our vendors for March 19th can be found below. Please check out Facebook Page or Twitter for any last minute cancellations or updates.

Produce

  • Greendale Herb & Vine – Greens, frozen tomatoes (beefsteak, heirloom) Honey, Nuts (hazelnuts), Muesli, Infused Vinegars, Goat’s and Cow’s Cheese, Popcorn Kernels, Herbal Teas, Dried Lavender.
  • Ossome Acres – Winter squash, Kale, kalettes, Brussel sprouts, Micro greens, Spinach, Herbs, Hand milled soap, Walnuts
  • Snowy Mountain Acres – Apples, pears, carrots, dried fruits
  • Nutrigreens – microgreens packed full of nutrients
  • Your Wildest Foods – foraged mushrooms, dried teas and fresh mushrooms

Meat and Fish

  • Rockweld Farm — BC frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs, dog and cat food
  • Local Beef & Eggs
  • 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.
  • Urban Digs – sausages and pork products all made locally
  • Wheelhouse Seafoods –  Seafood pasta, crab cakes and frozen fish

Eat and Drink On Site 

  • Big Red’s Poutine – hand cut fries drizzled in gravy with cheese curds
  • Gypsy Trunk – vegan and gluten free burritos and quesadillas, vegan sausages too
  • Gary’s Kettlecorn – kettlecorn

Bread and Baking

  • A Bread Affair — artisan breads
  • Delish Gluten Free — gluten-free bread, scones, muffins, brownies and cookies
  • Sweet Thea Cake Company — tarts, pies, cookies and cakes
  • Simply Scones – hand made scones that will transport you back to England
  • Half Pint Pies – frozen hand pies to bake at home
  • Marie’s Guilt Free Bakery – Caters to Vegan, Reduced Sugar, Gluten Free and Egg Free diet restrictions
  • Samaya Delights – tasty baklava made by Tamara
  • Olga Capone Cannoli Company – fresh made cannoli’s just like grandma made

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

  • BobAli – tasty dips and hummus spreads
  • Old Country Perogi – frozen perogies with gluten free & vegan options
  • The Raw Guy – kale chips, macaroons, crackers and raw treats
  • Muy Rico – salsas, tortilla chips, mole sauces and mayonnaise
  • Bubble Bombs – fun bubble bombs add a burst of flavour
  • Rain City Juicery – fresh cold pressed juices and hot apple cider
  • Jam Shack Preservery – Jams jellies marmalades, chutney
  • Simply Delish Soup & Salad – dry soup and salad mixes to make at home
  • James Lewis Foods – tasty granola bars packed with goodness
  • The Salt Dispensary – salted caramels, smoked salts and pepper mixes
  • KICS Lemonade – refreshing lemonade syrups and marmalades
  • Vegan Pudding & Co – delicious gourmet dairy free puddings
  • Mindful Eating – frozen made from scratch samosas
  • Seedibles – all natural ground super seed products to add a nutritional boost to your meals

Bath & Body Care

  • Mediterra Soap – soaps and body lotions

Jewelry 

  • Ildiko Jewelry – handforged sterling silver jewelry

Local Artisans and Crafters

  • Quality Oak – hand crafted quality cutting boards

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Next Market, Uncategorized Tagged With: Belmont Street, easter egg hunt, farmers market, food trucks, local food, New Westminster, uptown New west

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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.

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