Market Share August 2009

You Say Tomato, We Say Festival - Tomato Festival!

tomatosign

Showcasing the diversity of the tomatoes grown locally is why the Vancouver Farmers Markets Tomato Festival returns year after year. The time for celebrating the beautiful fruit is upon us. Festivals begin this weekend:

Trout Lake Market on Saturday, August 22nd from 9-2pm
Main Street Market on Wednesday, August 26th
West End Market on Saturday, August 29th from 9-2pm
Kitsilano Market on Sunday, August 30th from10-2pm

Tomato Festival activities include:

A beautiful display of the many tomato varieties grown by our farmers,
Free (and delicious) Tomato Recipes
Tomato Tastings
Kids crafts with a tomato theme
Face painting for your little tomato
Guest Chef Neil Taylor from Cibo Trattoria at the Trout Lake and West End Festivals

The Tomato Festival aims to help people rediscover the tomato and introduce them to varieties they never knew existed like the Green Pineapple, which has a excellent tropical fruit flavour with a hint of pineapple.

“Learning about and seeing the variations that this fruit comes in is fascinating — even for someone who doesn’t like tomatoes!” says Elicia Harris, Vancouver Farmers Markets Special Events Coordinator. “Once you realize how sweet they taste, that there are so many varieties, and that they’re all locally available, you’re bound to find a tomato that suits your tastes.”

Check out this blog entry by Jackie Connelly about Garden Back to Eden's organic tomatoes. Beautiful photos and interesting information too! BLOG

Market News

gastown

We're 3 weeks into the Gastown Farmers Market trial and things are going along smoothly. Thanks to our new neighbours and friends who have supported this new market location. We are still hoping to draw more shoppers from the neighbourhood so if you know someone who lives in Gastown - make sure they come out to visit us in the 200 block of Carrall Street each Sunday until September 27.

If you haven't yet checked out the market, you can look forward to seeing some new vendors like The Cambie Bakery, Matsqui Blue Farms (organic blueberries), Cropthorne Farm and Specialty Baking (vegan, allergen-free baking).

In September we're hoping to feature chefs from Gastown restaurants doing demonstrations each week. Look for the demo tent to be setup at the Water Street side of the market.

For more information about Summer Spaces and the Gastown Farmers Market, visit www.vancouver.ca/summerspaces or check out the Gastown Blog at www.gastownblog.com

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Grocery Delivery - shopped a little more than you can carry home? Stop by the Market Cargo tent (Kits and Main Street) for a free delivery of your groceries to your door by bike! Yes, we said FREE!
Delivery Areas: KITSILANO MAIN STREET

Main Street Station Market Site Additions - have you been to the Main Street Station market lately? There are some new features that deserve a second look. First, our new market banners have been installed!

We're also excited about our new neighbour - a sculpture by Lithuanian artist Vladas Vildži?nas and is called "Barbora". The sculptor’s original concept for this figurative sculpture was simply a lady walking across a park in solitude with natural elements adding movement to her garments. Stop by to check it out - we think it looks great in the beautiful park setting. Work by this artist has been featured in New York, London

--------------------------------------------- mainst

Free Parking areas at Main St Station - wondering where to park at the Main Street Station Market? Well, if you arrive after 5pm, park in the Cloverdale Paint/BC Housing lot at Station and Terminal. This space has been generously donated by BC Housing and Cloverdale Paint and except for a few reserved 24 hour spots, the whole lot can be used.

If you arrive before 5, there is meter parking on Station St an in the VIA rail lot for $1 an hour as well as an EasyPark lot at Terminal and Quebec (across from Vancity) that is $2 an hour. Of course, this market can't be beat for transit access so hoping on the bus or Skytrain is your best bet!

There are plenty of other places to park nearby the market area - here's a handy map: MAP OF PARKING

Trout Lake Market move - we're looking for a new site for our Trout Lake Farmers market for 2010 and beyond while the community centre is being rebuilt. Have an idea? Drop it in our suggestion box at the info tent. Stay tuned to future issues of Market Share as we share updates of our progress.

Victoria Drive Road Closure and Parking - for all of August road and sewer work is happening on Victoria Drive between 12th and the Commercial Drive diversion. You can no longer turn south from 12th Avenue onto Victoria Drive and no parking exists on the street for visitors from 12th to 15th Avenue. Please use the north lot located near the dog off leash area at the north end of the park (accessible via 12th Avenue turning south at Lakewood to the alley along the park. Wherever you park, please park responsibly.

Vendor News

News and updates from your favourite vendors.

Klippers Organic Acres - its the time you've all been waiting for - tomato season! The field tomatoes are coming on strong so visit Klippers Organic Acres stall at any market for a wide variety of organic heirloom field-grown tomatoes. Check out the tomato pages on their website for a sneak preview of their selection. Klippers Organics website

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edible gardens - Sustainability is all part of the big Eco picture. Reducing our company's carbon footprint, and providing cleaner alternatives for the planet is part of our company's mission. Using compo-stable corn starch serving spoons for sampling, edible gardens is doing its part and reducing the immense amount of plastic generated from tasting spoons that are only used once and thrown away. Our new corn starch spoons will compost in 6 months, leaving a cleaner environment and a better planet.

Plastic bags are also being reduced at Farmers' Markets around the country. We encourage our customers to bring their reusable market bags when they visit us, as many vendors will no longer be supplying plastic bags. Our gift sets made from recycled cardboard bi-products are a good alternative to "bagging it' as it is easy to carry and can be "gifted" without any additional use of wrap.

---------------------------------------------

Rae Maté, Artist - YLFMS craft vendor, painter and children's book illustrator Rae Maté, will be selling her art and children's books at the Hornby Island Farmer's Markets August 19, 22 and 26. Earlier this month her solo exhibition, "Picture This...A Summer Assortment of Recent Paintings by Rae Maté" was featured at the Hornby Island Arts Council gallery.

Rae returns to Vancouver at the end of August, with many new Hornby Island paintings, and welcomes visitors to her garden studio near Oak and West 22nd Ave, by appointment. She will be bringing her art to the Trout lake Markets September 5 and 26 and October 5 .

Contact Rae at raemate@telus.net or visit www.raemate.com

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Maison Coté - Maison Coté would like to introduce to you a variety of new mustard flavours: Tandoori, Madras Curry, Tarragon, Smoked Paprika, Herbes de Provence,Garlic, Chipotle, Ginger Garlic, White Truffle...
and a new line of Champagne Vinegars: Blueberry, Vanilla, Vanilla Pear, White Peach & a Balsamic and Champagne reduction.

---------------------------------------------

Forrest Nelson Certified Organic Produce - Forrest and Shelly, although new to the Kitsilano Market , have been farming organically: tomatoes, peppers, cukes, melons and eggplant since 1991 in Cawston. They have enjoyed and appriciate the community's environmental and health consciousness. For those interested, they will have available, UPON REQUEST, tomatoes and peppers for processing (canning or freezing) Tomatoes - 25lbs for $17 Bell Peppers (red, yellow and orange) - 25lbs $32
Get in touch with Forrest at 250-499-5757 to pre-order.

---------------------------------------------

Empire Valley Beef - Empire Valley Beef produces a product of pride and quality beef to enhance health and happiness of family and customers while promoting a healthy ecoloogy. EVB has two excellent products - a light grain finish which is available 365 days a year and 100% grass finish which is available from July to late September. Our beef is not fed or injected hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products. Visit Empire Valley Beef at the Trout Lake market on August 29 and the Kitsilano Market on August 30.

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Momma Nellie's Goodies - Delicious homemade salsa in 4 heat levels to suit your taste! Get 2 500ml jars of salsa for $14 ($2 savings)! And, if you're feeling like a little salsa RIGHT NOW, get a take-away with salsa and chips! Only $3! Momma Nellie's website

---------------------------------------------

Inner Alchemy Premium Artisanal Teas - look for Inner Alchemy at the Kitsilano Market coming up in September - 13th, 20th and October 11th.

inneralchemy

Classes and Events

FEAST OF FIELDS - UBC FARM
fof FarmFolk/CityFolk’s annual foodie fundraiser will be returning to UBC Farm, Vancouver’s only working farm, on September 13th 2009. This extravagant event highlights the many connections between farmers and chefs across British Columbia. Savour a wide variety of delectable appetizers prepared by the best BC chefs, and quench your thirst with the finest wines from across the province, all the while increasing your awareness for local food. BC’s restaurants, wineries, micro-breweries and food producers are getting ready to tempt your palate! Don’t miss out on Feast of Fields--Vancouver’s wandering gourmet harvest picnic.

This event sells out!
Tickets $85 available on-line at FeastofFields.com and Choices Markets
Info: FeastofFields.com Tel. 604.730.0450

September 13th 2009 1pm-5pm
UBC Farm 6182 South Campus Road, Vancouver, BC

Volunteer Opportunities

VANCOUVER FARMERS MARKETS
Bike Valet Attendants
You may or may not know that we have a Bike Valet service at the Kitsilano Farmers Market. We offer the service to encourage shoppers to bring their bikes to the market rather than driving. Attendants park bikes, give out valet tickets and keep watch over bikes while patrons shop. This is a fun activity which involves a some lifting and standing for extended periods but you get to meet other food and cycling enthusiasts. We have two shifts per market - 10:00-12:00 and 12:00-2:00 and we like to have 2-3 people on each shift so that no one has to work too hard.

The Kitsilano Market is at West 10th Avenue and Larch Street in the parking lot of the Kitsilano Community Centre and happens every Sunday from now until October 25th. If you are interested please contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Danno at volunteer@eatlocal.org If you have friends and neighbours that ride bikes and go to the market you could mention to them that we need volunteers in order to make the service work. We need your help to make this service work for everyone!

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VANCOUVER FRUIT TREE PROJECT
Volunteer Picker
Volunteer pickers will receive weekly emails regarding the upcoming picks they are invited to participate in. They RSVP with the pick coordinator about any that they would like to attend. There is no minimum requirement for participation, it’s just whatever you can make it out to. At the picks the pickers will use picking poles and orchard ladders to work in a group to pick the tree, sorting the fruit into boxes for delivery to our community partners such as daycares, neighbourhood houses, food banks, and community centres. Volunteers can help with equipment set up and take down as well. Picks usually take between 1-3 hours and happen mostly on weekends and week-day evenings and sometimes during weekdays.

Volunteer Pick Leader
The Vancouver Fruit Tree Project is looking for pick leaders who can commit to leading one pick per week. The pick coordinator will try to schedule you for picks in your neighbourhood but you may be asked to lead a pick in another area of town. The pick coordinator will arrange a team of volunteers and will set up a community partner for the fruit to be donated to. The pick leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to and from the pick, bringing and returning the equipment, delivering the fruit to the community partner, and of course, leading the volunteers in a fun and safe pick. Having your own transportation (with a roof rack for ladders) a benefit but is not required, as we can set you up with a car sharing membership through the VFTP.
Contact Liz Perkins @ 604-708-1987 or liz@vancouverfruittree.com

How Design Can Help Farmers’ Markets Feed a Growing Demand

By: Alissa Walker on August 10, 2009

A century ago, you probably wouldn’t have spent your Saturday morning lugging local produce back from a farmers’ market because chances were, like the other 95 percent of America, you lived on a farm. But today the numbers are flipped: Now most of our country’s population lives in cities, and less than 1 percent of our population are farmers. For any major city, it’s the same story: As our food production slips further and further afield, our urban residents have suffered—physically and economically—from a lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Luckily, according to a story about farmers’ markets in our 12th issue, the number of markets nationwide is almost 5,000 (up from 1,755 in 1994) which certainly demonstrates that demand for local, fresh food has increased. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen my local farmers’ market so crowded. But even as a cultural shift has occurred in our relationship with food, the open-air farmers’ market as we know it hasn’t changed all that much in the last 30 years. How will these local farmers continue to supply our urban demands? Read on for contest details.


August 2009 The Newsletter of Vancouver's Farmers Marketswww.eatlocal.org
Farm Fresh Veggies at Cropthorne Farm's stall at Gastown Farmers Market At the Market This Month Produce: Chives, Fava Beans, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches, Melons, Fresh Herbs, Garlic, Green Onions, White Onions, Carrots, Potatoes, Salad Greens, Spinach, Radishes, Mushrooms, Tomatoes (GH & Field), Peppers, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Shallots, Kale, Beets, Broccoli, Green and Yellow Beans, Spaghetti Squash Protein and Dairy: Eggs, Goat and Cow's Milk Cheese, Yogurt, Beef, Chicken, Pork, Sablefish, Salmon, Cod, Side Stripe Shrimp, Tuna, Octopus Prepared Foods: Dried Fruit, Fruit Juice, Baked Goods, Honey, Humous, Chutney, Pesto, Hazelnuts, Walnuts, Preserves, Chocolates, Olives, Granola, Roasted Coffee, Candy, Bread, Salsa, Seasonings, Maple Syrup, Tea, Brewed Coffee Crafts: cards, prints, jewellery, soap, bodycare, wood working, textiles, knitting, hats, clothing Other: bedding plants, hanging baskets You'll find a great guide to the seasonal availability of BC products provided by Get Local . Print your copy own copy and post it on your fridge for quick reference. Don't Miss Our Monthly Raffles! Our famous raffles continue! Look for the basket of goodies at the market info tent and enter to win! Each market holds one raffle per month. Members get 2 free tickets at each raffle. West End - September 19 Trout Lake - August 29 Main Street - September 2 Kitsilano - September 13 Tickets are $1 each of 7 for $5 - look for the prize and signs around the market to direct you to the tickets! Thanks for your support! Summer Market Dates Here are this year's dates: East Vancouver - Saturdays, 9am - 2pm Every week until October 10 West End - Saturdays, 9am - 2pm Every week until October 24 Kitsilano - Sundays, 10am - 2pm Every week until October 25 Main St. Station - Wednesdays, 3pm - 7pm Every week until October 21 Gastown - Sundays, 11am - 3pm Every week until September 27 For more details, visit our website at http://www.eatlocal.org/markets.html My Markets News Email Update Find out who'll be at the market so you can plan your shopping trip - visit www.mymarketsnews.com and choose the markets you'd like to receive updates for. All of our Vancouver Farmers Markets are listed including our new location for the Holiday Market, our Gastown location and the Winter Farmers Market. Seasonal Recipe - Blueberry Apple Crisp Here's a great recipe for the first of the season apples and the abundant supply of blueberries we are enjoying this year. Perfect for a summer BBQ with vanilla ice cream. INGREDIENTS 4 cups sliced peeled tart apples (transparents are great) 2 cups blueberries 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided 3/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup butter, melted Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place apples in a greased 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Top with blueberries. Mix brown sugar and 2 tablespoons flour; sprinkle over fruit. Combine sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and remaining flour. Stir in egg with a fork until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle over fruit; drizzle with butter. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve warm. MARKET HAIKU BY JUDITH BELTON Farms go to cities loaded on car back-seats/roofs bungee-cord gift-tied. -------------------------- "Fruit or vegetable?": Juice-swelled, cherry tomatoes pose the old debate. Judith Belton SAVE THE DATE! ANNUAL FUNDRAISER On Thursday October 1st the Vancouver Farmers Markets will be hosting their 1st annual fundraising event - RIPE. Held at Performance Works on Granville Island, the evening promises to be filled with fabulous local food from our farmers, regional beer & wine, a silent auction, and your chance to get inspired about Vancouver's local food movement. Tickets will be available soon at all Farmers Markets and some local retailers. If you'd like to be involved in the event as a sponsor, download a sponsorship package For more information, contact Jackie Connelly at jackie@eatlocal.org Travel Far with Eat Local! Send us a photo of you and your market bag in a far-away place and we'll put it in the next issue of Market Share. This is an ongoing call for photos so send them in whenever you can. Photos can be sent to Jen in the market office either by mail or email (contact info below). Be sure to include where the photo was taken and your full name and address so we can thank you properly! Now get snapping! Newsletter Archives Missed the last issue of Market Share? Want to pull up that great recipe you saw back in August 08? We've got our newsletter archives online - going back about a year. Your Local Farmers Market Society Your Local Farmers Market Society is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. They are an active board, with many projects on the go. They are: Gigi Egan Andrew Hale Kevin Klippenstein Mel Lehan Bob Ransford Amy Robertson Joni Sherman Deb Taschuk Claire Williams You can look forward to learning more about the board and their activities in upcoming issues of Market Share. Follow us on Twitter Get up to the minute updates and behind the scenes info from Market staffers. Our Twitter Name: VanMarkets	You Say Tomato, We Say Festival - Tomato Festival! Showcasing the diversity of the tomatoes grown locally is why the Vancouver Farmers Markets Tomato Festival returns year after year. The time for celebrating the beautiful fruit is upon us. Festivals begin this weekend: Trout Lake Market on Saturday, August 22nd from 9-2pm Main Street Market on Wednesday, August 26th West End Market on Saturday, August 29th from 9-2pm Kitsilano Market on Sunday, August 30th from10-2pm Tomato Festival activities include: A beautiful display of the many tomato varieties grown by our farmers, Free (and delicious) Tomato Recipes Tomato Tastings Kids crafts with a tomato theme Face painting for your little tomato Guest Chef Neil Taylor from Cibo Trattoria at the Trout Lake and West End Festivals The Tomato Festival aims to help people rediscover the tomato and introduce them to varieties they never knew existed like the Green Pineapple, which has a excellent tropical fruit flavour with a hint of pineapple. “Learning about and seeing the variations that this fruit comes in is fascinating — even for someone who doesn’t like tomatoes!” says Elicia Harris, Vancouver Farmers Markets Special Events Coordinator. “Once you realize how sweet they taste, that there are so many varieties, and that they’re all locally available, you’re bound to find a tomato that suits your tastes.” Check out this blog entry by Jackie Connelly about Garden Back to Eden's organic tomatoes. Beautiful photos and interesting information too! BLOG Market News We're 3 weeks into the Gastown Farmers Market trial and things are going along smoothly. Thanks to our new neighbours and friends who have supported this new market location. We are still hoping to draw more shoppers from the neighbourhood so if you know someone who lives in Gastown - make sure they come out to visit us in the 200 block of Carrall Street each Sunday until September 27. If you haven't yet checked out the market, you can look forward to seeing some new vendors like The Cambie Bakery, Matsqui Blue Farms (organic blueberries), Cropthorne Farm and Specialty Baking (vegan, allergen-free baking). In September we're hoping to feature chefs from Gastown restaurants doing demonstrations each week. Look for the demo tent to be setup at the Water Street side of the market. For more information about Summer Spaces and the Gastown Farmers Market, visit www.vancouver.ca/summerspaces or check out the Gastown Blog at www.gastownblog.com --------------------------------------------- Grocery Delivery - shopped a little more than you can carry home? Stop by the Market Cargo tent (Kits and Main Street) for a free delivery of your groceries to your door by bike! Yes, we said FREE! Delivery Areas: KITSILANO MAIN STREET Main Street Station Market Site Additions - have you been to the Main Street Station market lately? There are some new features that deserve a second look. First, our new market banners have been installed! We're also excited about our new neighbour - a sculpture by Lithuanian artist Vladas Vildži?nas and is called "Barbora". The sculptor’s original concept for this figurative sculpture was simply a lady walking across a park in solitude with natural elements adding movement to her garments. Stop by to check it out - we think it looks great in the beautiful park setting. Work by this artist has been featured in New York, London --------------------------------------------- Free Parking areas at Main St Station - wondering where to park at the Main Street Station Market? Well, if you arrive after 5pm, park in the Cloverdale Paint/BC Housing lot at Station and Terminal. This space has been generously donated by BC Housing and Cloverdale Paint and except for a few reserved 24 hour spots, the whole lot can be used. If you arrive before 5, there is meter parking on Station St an in the VIA rail lot for $1 an hour as well as an EasyPark lot at Terminal and Quebec (across from Vancity) that is $2 an hour. Of course, this market can't be beat for transit access so hoping on the bus or Skytrain is your best bet! There are plenty of other places to park nearby the market area - here's a handy map: MAP OF PARKING Trout Lake Market move - we're looking for a new site for our Trout Lake Farmers market for 2010 and beyond while the community centre is being rebuilt. Have an idea? Drop it in our suggestion box at the info tent. Stay tuned to future issues of Market Share as we share updates of our progress. Victoria Drive Road Closure and Parking - for all of August road and sewer work is happening on Victoria Drive between 12th and the Commercial Drive diversion. You can no longer turn south from 12th Avenue onto Victoria Drive and no parking exists on the street for visitors from 12th to 15th Avenue. Please use the north lot located near the dog off leash area at the north end of the park (accessible via 12th Avenue turning south at Lakewood to the alley along the park. Wherever you park, please park responsibly. Vendor News News and updates from your favourite vendors. Klippers Organic Acres - its the time you've all been waiting for - tomato season! The field tomatoes are coming on strong so visit Klippers Organic Acres stall at any market for a wide variety of organic heirloom field-grown tomatoes. Check out the tomato pages on their website for a sneak preview of their selection. Klippers Organics website --------------------------------------------- edible gardens - Sustainability is all part of the big Eco picture. Reducing our company's carbon footprint, and providing cleaner alternatives for the planet is part of our company's mission. Using compo-stable corn starch serving spoons for sampling, edible gardens is doing its part and reducing the immense amount of plastic generated from tasting spoons that are only used once and thrown away. Our new corn starch spoons will compost in 6 months, leaving a cleaner environment and a better planet. Plastic bags are also being reduced at Farmers' Markets around the country. We encourage our customers to bring their reusable market bags when they visit us, as many vendors will no longer be supplying plastic bags. Our gift sets made from recycled cardboard bi-products are a good alternative to "bagging it' as it is easy to carry and can be "gifted" without any additional use of wrap. --------------------------------------------- Rae Maté, Artist - YLFMS craft vendor, painter and children's book illustrator Rae Maté, will be selling her art and children's books at the Hornby Island Farmer's Markets August 19, 22 and 26. Earlier this month her solo exhibition, "Picture This...A Summer Assortment of Recent Paintings by Rae Maté" was featured at the Hornby Island Arts Council gallery. Rae returns to Vancouver at the end of August, with many new Hornby Island paintings, and welcomes visitors to her garden studio near Oak and West 22nd Ave, by appointment. She will be bringing her art to the Trout lake Markets September 5 and 26 and October 5 . Contact Rae at raemate@telus.net or visit www.raemate.com --------------------------------------------- Maison Coté - Maison Coté would like to introduce to you a variety of new mustard flavours: Tandoori, Madras Curry, Tarragon, Smoked Paprika, Herbes de Provence,Garlic, Chipotle, Ginger Garlic, White Truffle... and a new line of Champagne Vinegars: Blueberry, Vanilla, Vanilla Pear, White Peach & a Balsamic and Champagne reduction. --------------------------------------------- Forrest Nelson Certified Organic Produce - Forrest and Shelly, although new to the Kitsilano Market , have been farming organically: tomatoes, peppers, cukes, melons and eggplant since 1991 in Cawston. They have enjoyed and appriciate the community's environmental and health consciousness. For those interested, they will have available, UPON REQUEST, tomatoes and peppers for processing (canning or freezing) Tomatoes - 25lbs for $17 Bell Peppers (red, yellow and orange) - 25lbs $32 Get in touch with Forrest at 250-499-5757 to pre-order. --------------------------------------------- Empire Valley Beef - Empire Valley Beef produces a product of pride and quality beef to enhance health and happiness of family and customers while promoting a healthy ecoloogy. EVB has two excellent products - a light grain finish which is available 365 days a year and 100% grass finish which is available from July to late September. Our beef is not fed or injected hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products. Visit Empire Valley Beef at the Trout Lake market on August 29 and the Kitsilano Market on August 30. --------------------------------------------- Momma Nellie's Goodies - Delicious homemade salsa in 4 heat levels to suit your taste! Get 2 500ml jars of salsa for $14 ($2 savings)! And, if you're feeling like a little salsa RIGHT NOW, get a take-away with salsa and chips! Only $3! Momma Nellie's website --------------------------------------------- Inner Alchemy Premium Artisanal Teas - look for Inner Alchemy at the Kitsilano Market coming up in September - 13th, 20th and October 11th. Classes and Events FEAST OF FIELDS - UBC FARM FarmFolk/CityFolk’s annual foodie fundraiser will be returning to UBC Farm, Vancouver’s only working farm, on September 13th 2009. This extravagant event highlights the many connections between farmers and chefs across British Columbia. Savour a wide variety of delectable appetizers prepared by the best BC chefs, and quench your thirst with the finest wines from across the province, all the while increasing your awareness for local food. BC’s restaurants, wineries, micro-breweries and food producers are getting ready to tempt your palate! Don’t miss out on Feast of Fields--Vancouver’s wandering gourmet harvest picnic. This event sells out! Tickets $85 available on-line at FeastofFields.com and Choices Markets Info: FeastofFields.com Tel. 604.730.0450 September 13th 2009 1pm-5pm UBC Farm 6182 South Campus Road, Vancouver, BC Volunteer Opportunities VANCOUVER FARMERS MARKETS Bike Valet Attendants You may or may not know that we have a Bike Valet service at the Kitsilano Farmers Market. We offer the service to encourage shoppers to bring their bikes to the market rather than driving. Attendants park bikes, give out valet tickets and keep watch over bikes while patrons shop. This is a fun activity which involves a some lifting and standing for extended periods but you get to meet other food and cycling enthusiasts. We have two shifts per market - 10:00-12:00 and 12:00-2:00 and we like to have 2-3 people on each shift so that no one has to work too hard. The Kitsilano Market is at West 10th Avenue and Larch Street in the parking lot of the Kitsilano Community Centre and happens every Sunday from now until October 25th. If you are interested please contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Danno at volunteer@eatlocal.org If you have friends and neighbours that ride bikes and go to the market you could mention to them that we need volunteers in order to make the service work. We need your help to make this service work for everyone! ---------------------------------------------- VANCOUVER FRUIT TREE PROJECT Volunteer Picker Volunteer pickers will receive weekly emails regarding the upcoming picks they are invited to participate in. They RSVP with the pick coordinator about any that they would like to attend. There is no minimum requirement for participation, it’s just whatever you can make it out to. At the picks the pickers will use picking poles and orchard ladders to work in a group to pick the tree, sorting the fruit into boxes for delivery to our community partners such as daycares, neighbourhood houses, food banks, and community centres. Volunteers can help with equipment set up and take down as well. Picks usually take between 1-3 hours and happen mostly on weekends and week-day evenings and sometimes during weekdays. Volunteer Pick Leader The Vancouver Fruit Tree Project is looking for pick leaders who can commit to leading one pick per week. The pick coordinator will try to schedule you for picks in your neighbourhood but you may be asked to lead a pick in another area of town. The pick coordinator will arrange a team of volunteers and will set up a community partner for the fruit to be donated to. The pick leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to and from the pick, bringing and returning the equipment, delivering the fruit to the community partner, and of course, leading the volunteers in a fun and safe pick. Having your own transportation (with a roof rack for ladders) a benefit but is not required, as we can set you up with a car sharing membership through the VFTP. Contact Liz Perkins @ 604-708-1987 or liz@vancouverfruittree.com How Design Can Help Farmers’ Markets Feed a Growing Demand By: Alissa Walker on August 10, 2009 A century ago, you probably wouldn’t have spent your Saturday morning lugging local produce back from a farmers’ market because chances were, like the other 95 percent of America, you lived on a farm. But today the numbers are flipped: Now most of our country’s population lives in cities, and less than 1 percent of our population are farmers. For any major city, it’s the same story: As our food production slips further and further afield, our urban residents have suffered—physically and economically—from a lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Luckily, according to a story about farmers’ markets in our 12th issue, the number of markets nationwide is almost 5,000 (up from 1,755 in 1994) which certainly demonstrates that demand for local, fresh food has increased. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen my local farmers’ market so crowded. But even as a cultural shift has occurred in our relationship with food, the open-air farmers’ market as we know it hasn’t changed all that much in the last 30 years. How will these local farmers continue to supply our urban demands? Read on for contest details.
Banner Photo: Tomatoes at Albert's Herbs and Nursery - Trout Lake Market Vancouver Farmers Markets 1163 Commercial Dr, #2, Vancouver, BC V5L 3X3 Tel. 604-879-FARM (3276) i nfo@eatlocal.org Executive Director, Tara McDonald tara@eatlocal.org Roberta LaQuaglia, Operations Manager roberta@eatlocal.org Jen Pleadwell, Office Manager jen@eatlocal.org Alita Parisotto, Operations Assistant alita@eatlocal.org

Farm Fresh Veggies at Cropthorne Farm's stall at Gastown Farmers Market