Category Archives: Local Food Producers

Kamloops Farmer’s Market: Photo Essay

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Come for a walk with me at the Kamloops Farmer's Market. I like going on Wednesdays because I can go to the library while picking up wonderful local food. Here is the booth for Silver Springs Organic.

There are two Kamloops Farmer’s Markets. One market is on Wednesdays and another market is on Saturdays:

Wednesdays
Time: 8:00am to 2:00pm
When: Wednesdays between May 2 to October 31, 2012
Where: 400 block Victoria St, Kamloops, BC

Saturdays
Time: 8:00am to 12:00noon
When: Saturdays between April 21 to October 27, 2012
Where: 200 block of St Paul St, Kamloops, BC

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I don't know everyone at the market yet. Over the years I have met more and more farmers. I don't know why, but I feel more connected when I know where my food comes from.

My favorite farmer’s market is on Wednesdays because it fits into my working schedule. I can go to the library and stock up on my weekly vegetables at the same time. I like doing as many chores as I can for each trip down the hill. This saves me time and money.

The Kamloops Farmer’s Market has really changed my buying patterns. I used to buy everything from the grocery store but the quality and freshness of the market food changed all that. The market got me thinking about local food and about eating seasonally. The market even started me growing my own food. I don’t know how that happened but it did. I love the bustle of the market and all the people gathering around for the great food. It’s like a weekly block party!

If you have never been to the Kamloops Farmer’s Market come down and enjoy the fun!

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This is the booth for Fresh is Best Salsa Company. They are a homegrown Kamloops business. They make a whole line of ready to eat salsa, sauces and snacks: www.freshisbest.ca.

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This is the Thistle Farm's booth. Dieter Dudy was within 500 votes of becoming our new major. Thistle Farm has an organic produce delivery box for people that can't make it to the market: www.thistlefarm.com.

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Here are some beautiful beets, carrots and onions. It's wonderful to see so many happy faces at the market. One thing I have learned at the market is to enjoy the seasonal bounty.

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After I started eating produce in season, I couldn't go back. There is nothing better than new potatoes, just out of the ground. Waiting for the first hot pepper, carrot, tomato or strawberry of the year becomes part of the pleasure of real food.

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Here is Anne Grube working at the booth for Golden Ears Farm. She has just received a community works award from the Council of Canadians. Look at those tomatoes, cucumbers and beans. Golden Ears Farm has a fruit stand near Chase, BC: www.goldenearsfarm.org.

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Here is the Kamloops Area Preservation Association giving a Caesar's thumb-down to the Ajax Mine. The market is a great place to find out what's on people's minds: www.stopajaxmine.ca.

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I hope you enjoyed the tour of the market. I will leave you in library square. In 2003, the Thompson Nicola District experienced terrible wildfires. The sculpture in the background remembers the efforts of firefighters, emergency workers, volunteers and evacuees.

North Shore Market: Photo Essay

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Why shop at Safeway or Costco? Stop after work on Fridays at the North Shore Market and pick up a week's supply of groceries. Here is Parm?Uppal selling her produce out of the back of her truck.

Location: Total Pet parking lot, 450 Tranquille Rd, Kamloops, BC
Time: 3:00pm to 7:00pm on Fridays from June 15th to September 28th

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Here is Joe Vassallo selling his product. It is wonderful to see people on bicycles picking up their weekly groceries while visiting friends. When buying local foods it's a good idea to ask questions about the farmer's growing practices.

A few days ago I got a kind invitation to visit the North Shore Market. Over the years the North Shore Market has had a number of homes but it is now located in the parking lot of Total Pet, right on Tranquille Road in the heart of the North Shore.

Sylvia Weedmark and Dawn Badminton are now running the market and are looking for new venders. During my visit I saw an assortment of crafts, vegetables and fruits.? I got the sense that the North Shore Market could become a great venue for crafters. The cost to display is $15.00 per market.

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Here is Sylvia Weedmark with her craft table. I could see from her work that she loves to paint.

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Here is some of Sylvia's painted rocks. You can see the love that goes into her work.

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Here is Dawn Badminton, proprietor of Bee Jeweled. She makes jewellery but will also custom make jewellery. She makes cooler collars, which are a bandana with dry crystals inside to help people and pets tolerate the Kamloops heat.

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Here are some of Dawn's jewellery. Even though Dawn has been struggling with a chronic illness, she has never given up her love of crafting. Bloodstone and copper seems like an appropriate symbol for Kamloops right now.

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I enjoyed the sweet voice of local musician, Willard Wallace. The North Shore Market operates on Fridays between 3pm-7pm, in the parking lot of Total Pet.

Looking for organically grown blueberries at a fantastic price?

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Here is Jacob Enns with his delicious organic blueberries. We bought 120 pounds to freeze for our year's supply.

I just visited Olde Fashioned Farm near Yarrow, BC. Yarrow is located south of Chilliwack, BC. We got 120 pounds of picked blueberries for $2.00 a pound! The usual price for certified organic blueberries is $4.50 a pound for picked blueberries and $2.50 a pound for u-pick blueberries. The blueberries were big and sweet with a wonderful tart aftertaste. The proof that these berries have health giving phytochemicals was evident by the deep purple tongues of my children. This is a good test for the quality of your blueberries. If your tongue does not turn deep blue from the blueberries you are not getting any anthocyanin.

The reason Olde Fashioned Farm is selling their picked blueberries for such a low price is because they are a second year transitional certified organic farm. Even though they have always farmed using “organic principles”, the farm must still go through the “transitional phase” to become “certified organic”. This period can be financially difficult for the farmer because the farmer has to pay for the certification process, possibly change farming practices, and build new markets. Transitional organic farms can be a benefit to a family on a budget because the cheaper prices can help the family transition to better quality foods.

If you decide to visit Olde Fashioned Farm do it very soon because we are right in the middle of blueberry season. If you are stocking up for the winter, now is the time to buy and freeze a year’s supply. Take exit 104 and follow the Google Map directions.

Olde Fashioned Farm
Jacob Enns
4210 Stewart Rd, Yarrow, BC, V2R 5G2
604.823.6092

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Here are the organic blueberries frozen overnight in a box.? Jacob Enns says you can just leave the berries in the box and they will keep well in the freezer over the winter.

If you are looking for certified organic foods please see Certified Organic Association of BC. You can find organic food by region, producer or product.

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Olde Fashion Farm does squab for the local Asian community. The squab are not certified organic. These squab still have their head and feet which are considered a delicacy. Eating the head of any animal is very nutrient dense food.

Kamloops Farmer’s Market Videos: Golden Ears Farm

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GUEST POST by Larkin Schmiedl

Tristan Grube-Cavers runs Golden Ears Farm co-operatively in Chase, BC. In this video he shares his ethics, the reasons he went into farming, some of what he hopes to achieve on the farm, as well as the things Golden Ears grows.

Kamloops Farmer’s Market Videos: 4 Bar S Ranch

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GUEST POST by Larkin Schmiedl

Melanie Stutt, butcher at 4 Bar S Ranch, has an interesting story to share about what happened when food was in short supply in her local area because of forest fires. Watch this video to hear more about 4 Bar S Ranch, how it operates and what happened when fire swept through Barriere, BC.