Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Farmer’s market in full swing in the Battlefords

Jul 9, 2016 | 11:54 AM

Not only is the variety of fruits and vegetable becoming more diverse at the farmer’s market, but vendors are also bringing in more products which range from meat to jams and jellies, local honey and homemade plant fertilizer.

Erin Cooper, director of the Battlefords and District farmer’s market said the market is in the process of bringing in more people who can provide fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits.

“We have around 10 to 12 tables on a regular basis,” Cooper said. “A lot of new vendors are coming in and the vegetable vendors are making their appearance. There will be lots of fruits and veggies now until the end of the fall.”

Alongside the fresh produce are a range of other products never seen before. This year, an entire stand is devoted to jams and jellies and the creative ways in which fruit can be put in to pies, turnovers and cakes.

“Each week the Prairie Jammery brings different flavours in keeping with the season,” Cooper said.

If jellies are not your jam, there is also a vendor dealing in the bee business.

“My honey guy should be starting here soon. And he attends both the Battleford and North Battleford farmer’s market,” Cooper said.

Though there is a wide range of products on the roster, Cooper said the farmer’s market hasn’t seen as much traffic as it has seen in past years.

“It always increases as the season goes along,” Cooper said. The numbers (are) slowly building this year. They aren’t as high as they have been in the past but we will see the numbers increasing as the season goes on,” she said.

Cooper expects traffic numbers to increase as the Battleford farmer’s market gets underway. Unlike the North Battleford farmer’s market which gets its start in June, the Battleford market begins in July.

The new local library bicycle will be making an appearance every weekend in August at the North Battleford farmer’s market location.

“They can sign people up for their library cards and kind of just get reading out in the community,” Cooper said. “Every weekend they’re going to come with the bike and set up their presentation. A lot of people don’t realize all the fun events that go on at the library.”

 

Colleen A.J. Smith is battlefordsNOW’s education, First Nations and arts and culture reporter. She can be reached at colleen.smith@jpbg.ca or tweet her @ColleenAJSmith. Concerns regarding this story can be addressed to News Director Geoff Smith at 306-446-6397.