Market Share August 2008

It's Tomato Festival Time Again!
East Van Aug 23, Kitsilano Aug 23, Riley Park Aug 26, West End Aug 30
Black Krim. Superfantastic. Wonderlight. Lemon Boy. Sounds like a superhero team don't it? But no - they are all tomatoes and are among the upwards of 100 varieties of tomatoes on display during our annual Tomato Festivals! Come enjoy a great day of tomatoey goodness at your favourite market and leave with some of the best specimens you'll find anywhere.

The festivals feature tomato tastings, recipes, displays and lots of interesting facts. The kids can spend some time making a tomato pal at the craft table and there may even be a special visit from a cheery red friend - bring your camera for photo opps! Festivities continue all day long at all markets but tomatoes go fast - come early for best selection!
Read this recent article in the Courier about the Tomato Festival

Market News

Waste-Free Market Update

plastic bag We've been very encouraged by the willingness of shoppers to bring their own bags to the market. Many of you have submitted suggestions about how we can reduce waste even more and we're taking those suggestions under consideration as we move forward with our "Waste-Free Market" plan. Look for new, bigger and easier to use recycling bins coming soon.

Here are some more suggestions for reducing waste at the market:

Bring your own reusable mug for coffee

Bring Tupperware or other reusable containers for your berries and other fragile small items (cherry tomatoes come to mind)

Return your egg cartons to vendors who sell eggs. The eggs don't have to be from the original vendor - even supermarket egg cartons will do.

And of course, ride your bike or take transit when you can!

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Clear Your Cupboards!
Due to popular demand we'll be having another Cookbook Swap on September 13 at the East Vancouver Market. Mark your calendars!

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Stoney Paradise Update
In case you haven't heard, the "Tomato Man" - Milan from Stoney Paradise will be the "Grape Guy" this year. His arrival (September 6) is later than usual since he'll have grapes only - no tomatoes this time around. (pause for handkerchief break)

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Volunteers Needed
We're always looking for willing volunteers to help with various activities at the markets. Weekly we have kids' crafts at the Riley Park Market and bike valet at the Kitsilano Market Monthly we have special events that we can use extra hands for setup and staffing at all markets. Upcoming, we'll have Cookbook Swap on September 13 at the East Vancouver Market.
If you have some free time and are willing to lend a hand, please get in touch with Carole, our Volunteer Co-ordinator at volunteer@eatlocal.org

Don't forget, you can access vendor schedules online at www.eatlocal.org/vendors.html

Community Events and Classes

Incredible Edible Tours!
Saturday, August 23rd, 2008
Farming In The Fraser Valley: Diversity At Its Finest
Pick Up: 10:00am At 4th Ave & Vine St in Vancouver. Drop Off: 5:00pm
Transportation, Tour Guide & Gourmet Lunch Included with 3 Farm Tours and opportunities for farm gate sales:
1. Glorious Organics Cooperative (Aldergrove) - CSA & growing greens for chefs
2. Vista D'oro Farms (Langley) - Growing & processing artisanal products & a new winery
3. Nicomekl Farm (Surrey) - A dairy that is transitioning to Certified Organic
Tickets: $80 each. Call Tallulah at 604-730-0450 or email admin@ffcf.bc.ca

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Winter Food Growing Workshop this Sunday!!!

What: Learn tips to grow food all winter long and start plants now for next
season. This workshop is free of charge and participants will take away new knowledge, plus a couple of winter hardy vegetable starts! Presented by the Environmental Youth Alliance.

When: Sunday Aug. 24, 2-4 pm
Where: Cedar Cottage Garden - located at Victoria Dr. and Hull St, beneath the skytrain.

**Come early if you'd like to join the work party and lunch. We will be starting at 10 AM.**

Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage Food Security Network Meeting
Come meet and greet with other people working on local food initiatives. Find out about upcoming events, share resources and get involved! Refreshments will be provided.

When: Monday Aug. 25, 6-8 pm
Where: Cedar Cottage Coffee House - 1303 Kingsway (at Clark)
Agenda Items include:
-Project updates
-Promotions (brochure, leaflets, newspaper article, blog)
-Fall Food Workshop Series
-Funding update
-Future directions for the Network

For more info, contact Jill Dalton at tlccfoodsecurity@gmail.com

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Dairy Making Workshop
Did you miss the butter making demo at the last East Vancouver Market? It was quite a scene! Photos to come in the next issue of Market Share. If you did miss it, or if all the excitement at the market whet your appetite for learning more....check this out:

Learn to make your own yogurt, cheese, butter, ghee Workshop and Dinner - August 16, 29, September 13 at 6:30 pm, 2290 Saint George Street RSVP ~ $40. Contact Tomas at farmertomas@gmail.com

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On our calendar of upcoming events not to miss:

Apple Festival
Saturday & Sunday October 18 & 19, UBC Botanical Gardens
An event that appeals to all ages, UBC Botanical Garden's 17th Annual Apple Festival takes place this year on October 18th and 19th from 11 AM to 4 PM. Look for the Vancouver Farmers Markets booth at the festival too!

Van Dusen Gardens Plenty Celebration
Sunday, September 21 Van Dusen Gardens Great Lawn, Vancouver, 10am - 4pm
Join us as the Garden celebrates the bounty of the harvest season with a Farmers' Market, informative displays, demonstrations and exhibitors, sale of heritage fruit trees and berry bushes, good food, entertainment and old-fashioned fun. For more information or to book a booth, contact Kerry Burgi kerry.burgi@vancouver.ca

Feast of Fields UBC Farm, Vancouver - September 7th 1pm - 5pm
Share in the bounty that is BC's best food, wine and beer at the annual Feast of Fields event at UBC Farm. This premier foodie event is also an important fundraiser for Farm Folk City Folk Society - a partner with YLFMS in the Get Local BC campaign. See below for volunteer opportunities.

Sea-to-Sky Feast of Fields
Saturday, August 30 Rebagliati Park, Whistler
Taste the best the regional food and drink at this wandering gourmet picnic. A delicious FarmFolk/CityFolk fundraising event. Tickets $80 www.feastoffields.com (Vancouver 604-730-0450; Toll-free 1-888-730-0452)

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Volunteering at Feast of Fields

The 14th Annual Feast of Fields will be held on Sunday, September 7th, 2008 and plans are in the works as we speak. Last year we were fortunate to have the best Feast Volunteer Team ever and we’re determined to do it again! We’re very excited to be holding it at UBC Farm for the second year in a row – as the only working farmland within the city of Vancouver, the UBC Farm is an urban agrarian gem, featuring a landscape of unique beauty www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm

This year, Feast of Fields will showcase BC's agricultural products by magically transforming UBC Farm into acres of gourmet buffet. Here, 1000 foodies (approx. 750 guests, 50 volunteers & 200 participants) will stroll in the countryside, wineglass and napkin in hand, savouring and celebrating the depth and wealth of the Lower Mainland’s culinary scene.

Why volunteer?
Because, you’ll receive:
• a fabulous feast featuring BC’s vintners, brewers, and chefs
• the opportunity to be a valued FarmFolk/CityFolk team member
• the opportunity to give to your community
• the chance to gain new skills while having fun
• gratitude from FarmFolk/CityFolk as we rely on your support of this primary fundraising event in order to continue our good work

If you're interested or want more information, please email me at krideout@interchange.ubc.ca and I will send you a volunteer application form.

Karen Rideout, Volunteer Coordinator
Lower Mainland Feast of Fields
604.306.3571
krideout@interchange.ubc.ca
http://www.ffcf.bc.ca/feast.html

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Read This

A Taste of Honey
Is mead poised for a comeback?
By Nicholas Day

Judging by the prominence of honey these days, you'd think there's a run on sugar. Local, flavored honeys are now in restaurant kitchens. Foodies are mail-ordering artisanal raw varieties. At my local farmers market in Connecticut, the area beekeeper shows up with a table's worth of options and a glassed-in buzzing hive. This resurgence is in spite of the recent colony collapse disorder, which decimated many beehives. Bu t even more unexpected is the rise of honey for an ancient use: alcohol, in a drink known as mead. Read on....

BC150 Photo Gallery

Gus of Arila Apiary shows an eager audience the inner workings of a beehive. << Photo courtesy of Christopher Cotrell

bbes2

museum At the Kitsilano Market , the Vancouver Museum brought a selection of turn of the century household tools and kitchen implements along with vintage maps of Vancouver.

tools


August 2008 The Newsletter of Vancouver's Farmers Marketswww.eatlocal.org
At the Market This Month Produce: Cherries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Apricots, Peaches, Pears, English Peas, Snap Peas, Fava Beans, Fresh Herbs, Green Onions, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, New Potatoes, Radishes, Rhubarb, Salad Greens, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Peppers, Turnips, Honey, Kale, Mushrooms, Spinach, Summer Squash Protein and Dairy: Eggs, Goat, Cow and Sheep Dairy Cheese, Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Sablefish, Salmon, Cod, Side Stripe Shrimp, Tuna Prepared Foods: Dried Fruit, Fruit Juice, Baked Goods, Humous, Pesto, Hazelnuts, Preserves, Chocolates, Olives, Granola, Roasted Coffee, Candy, Bread, Seasonings, Maple Syrup, Tea, Fresh Crepes, Brewed Coffee, Pakoras Crafts: cards, prints, knitting, polymer clay, pottery, jewellery, textiles, metal work, wood craft, glass, soap, bodycare Other: Cut Flowers, Plants, composting systems 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. Summer Market Dates Trout Lake - East Vancouver 15th and Victoria Drive Saturdays until October 25 9am - 2pm - this year open past Thanksgiving! Nelson Park - West End 1100 Block of Comox Street Saturdays until October 25, 9am - 2pm - Staying open until the last weekend of October! Kitsilano - Kits Community Centre 10th and Larch Street Sundays until October 26, 10am - 2pm - Our first full season! Riley Park Community Centre 30th and Ontario Street East Parking lot of the Riley Park Community Centre Wednesdays until October 22 12:30pm - 5:30pm - Please note our new hours & location! Pride Parade 2008 Pride Thank Yous! Thank you to Mike Davy for the generous use of his vintage 1958 Chevrolet Apache pickup for this year's farmers market float in the Pride parade. Your contribution truly made our Pride experience the best ever! Thanks for all your help with the float building too! Thank you to Golden West Orchards for getting us the delicious cherries to hand out along the Pride Parade route. Thank you to our great team of volunteers and staff who came out in support of the markets for the Pride Parade. Great market spirit! Tomato Casserole with Sweet Onions Goes great with a steak off the barbeque or a nice salmon filet. Serves 6 6 medium tomatoes, peeled, cored, and cut in wedges (pick a favourite variety) 1 large Vidalia sweet onion or other sweet onion 1 teaspoon fresh dill 1 teaspoon fresh thyme salt and pepper, to taste, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon each 2/3 cup fresh bread crumbs 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil Preparation: Place peeled tomato wedges on paper towels to drain. Peel onions and slice into 1/4-inch rings. In separate bowl combine dill, thyme, salt, pepper and bread crumbs. Layer half of the tomatoes and onions in a lightly buttered 1 1/2- to 2-quart baking dish and top with half of the minced garlic. Sprinkle with half of the bread crumb and seasoning mixture, half of Mozzarella cheese, and drizzle with half of olive oil. Repeat layers. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until bubbly. The onion should still be a little crisp, but somewhat tender. BC150 Events All Through August Discover the rich history of our agricultural traditions and crafts at all markets in August. Look for the list of events at the market in the coming weeks including: East Vancouver: Aug 23 Goat Milking August 30 Throwing pots with Matthew Freed West End: Aug 23 West End History August 30 Cooking Demo circa 1895 Kitsilano: August 31 Aboriginal Foods and Ceremonies around Food Bike Valet at Kits Farmers Market Kitsilano Farmers Market has Valet Parking...for Bikes! Thanks to a generous loan of bike racks by the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition and the help of Kits Community Centre for storage, we have secured bike valet service for the whole market season. Ride on market lovers - ride on! By the way, volunteers are always needed to help with the bike valet. Volunteer by emailing Carole our Volunteer Co-ordinator at volunteer@eatlocal.org Travel Far with Eat Local! Market shopper Melissa Hope, rubbing the nose of the Florentine Boar in Florence, Italy, in April this year. Rubbing the nose is supposed to be good luck (see how it's nose is lighter than the rest of him?) Thanks Melissa! 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! Join our Facebook Group Love it or Hate it...Yes, we admit it - we're on Facebook. The markets have a great and growing group of fans who receive updates about market events via the ubiquitous social networking site. Join us, invite your friends and spread the word! Farmers Market Facebook Group Will you be our friend?	It's Tomato Festival Time Again! East Van Aug 23, Kitsilano Aug 23, Riley Park Aug 26, West End Aug 30 Black Krim. Superfantastic. Wonderlight. Lemon Boy. Sounds like a superhero team don't it? But no - they are all tomatoes and are among the upwards of 100 varieties of tomatoes on display during our annual Tomato Festivals! Come enjoy a great day of tomatoey goodness at your favourite market and leave with some of the best specimens you'll find anywhere. The festivals feature tomato tastings, recipes, displays and lots of interesting facts. The kids can spend some time making a tomato pal at the craft table and there may even be a special visit from a cheery red friend - bring your camera for photo opps! Festivities continue all day long at all markets but tomatoes go fast - come early for best selection! Read this recent article in the Courier about the Tomato Festival Market News Waste-Free Market Update We've been very encouraged by the willingness of shoppers to bring their own bags to the market. Many of you have submitted suggestions about how we can reduce waste even more and we're taking those suggestions under consideration as we move forward with our "Waste-Free Market" plan. Look for new, bigger and easier to use recycling bins coming soon. Here are some more suggestions for reducing waste at the market: Bring your own reusable mug for coffee Bring Tupperware or other reusable containers for your berries and other fragile small items (cherry tomatoes come to mind) Return your egg cartons to vendors who sell eggs. The eggs don't have to be from the original vendor - even supermarket egg cartons will do. And of course, ride your bike or take transit when you can! --------------------------------------- Clear Your Cupboards! Due to popular demand we'll be having another Cookbook Swap on September 13 at the East Vancouver Market. Mark your calendars! --------------------------------------- Stoney Paradise Update In case you haven't heard, the "Tomato Man" - Milan from Stoney Paradise will be the "Grape Guy" this year. His arrival (September 6) is later than usual since he'll have grapes only - no tomatoes this time around. (pause for handkerchief break) --------------------------------------- Volunteers Needed We're always looking for willing volunteers to help with various activities at the markets. Weekly we have kids' crafts at the Riley Park Market and bike valet at the Kitsilano Market Monthly we have special events that we can use extra hands for setup and staffing at all markets. Upcoming, we'll have Cookbook Swap on September 13 at the East Vancouver Market. If you have some free time and are willing to lend a hand, please get in touch with Carole, our Volunteer Co-ordinator at volunteer@eatlocal.org Don't forget, you can access vendor schedules online at www.eatlocal.org/vendors.html Community Events and Classes Incredible Edible Tours! Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 Farming In The Fraser Valley: Diversity At Its Finest Pick Up: 10:00am At 4th Ave & Vine St in Vancouver. Drop Off: 5:00pm Transportation, Tour Guide & Gourmet Lunch Included with 3 Farm Tours and opportunities for farm gate sales: 1. Glorious Organics Cooperative (Aldergrove) - CSA & growing greens for chefs 2. Vista D'oro Farms (Langley) - Growing & processing artisanal products & a new winery 3. Nicomekl Farm (Surrey) - A dairy that is transitioning to Certified Organic Tickets: $80 each. Call Tallulah at 604-730-0450 or email admin@ffcf.bc.ca --------------------------------------- Winter Food Growing Workshop this Sunday!!! What: Learn tips to grow food all winter long and start plants now for next season. This workshop is free of charge and participants will take away new knowledge, plus a couple of winter hardy vegetable starts! Presented by the Environmental Youth Alliance. When: Sunday Aug. 24, 2-4 pm Where: Cedar Cottage Garden - located at Victoria Dr. and Hull St, beneath the skytrain. Come early if you'd like to join the work party and lunch. We will be starting at 10 AM. Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage Food Security Network Meeting Come meet and greet with other people working on local food initiatives. Find out about upcoming events, share resources and get involved! Refreshments will be provided. When: Monday Aug. 25, 6-8 pm Where: Cedar Cottage Coffee House - 1303 Kingsway (at Clark) Agenda Items include: -Project updates -Promotions (brochure, leaflets, newspaper article, blog) -Fall Food Workshop Series -Funding update -Future directions for the Network For more info, contact Jill Dalton at tlccfoodsecurity@gmail.com --------------------------------------- Dairy Making Workshop Did you miss the butter making demo at the last East Vancouver Market? It was quite a scene! Photos to come in the next issue of Market Share. If you did miss it, or if all the excitement at the market whet your appetite for learning more....check this out: Learn to make your own yogurt, cheese, butter, ghee Workshop and Dinner - August 16, 29, September 13 at 6:30 pm, 2290 Saint George Street RSVP ~ $40. Contact Tomas at farmertomas@gmail.com --------------------------------------- On our calendar of upcoming events not to miss: Apple Festival Saturday & Sunday October 18 & 19, UBC Botanical Gardens An event that appeals to all ages, UBC Botanical Garden's 17th Annual Apple Festival takes place this year on October 18th and 19th from 11 AM to 4 PM. Look for the Vancouver Farmers Markets booth at the festival too! Van Dusen Gardens Plenty Celebration Sunday, September 21 Van Dusen Gardens Great Lawn, Vancouver, 10am - 4pm Join us as the Garden celebrates the bounty of the harvest season with a Farmers' Market, informative displays, demonstrations and exhibitors, sale of heritage fruit trees and berry bushes, good food, entertainment and old-fashioned fun. For more information or to book a booth, contact Kerry Burgi kerry.burgi@vancouver.ca Feast of Fields UBC Farm, Vancouver - September 7th 1pm - 5pm Share in the bounty that is BC's best food, wine and beer at the annual Feast of Fields event at UBC Farm. This premier foodie event is also an important fundraiser for Farm Folk City Folk Society - a partner with YLFMS in the Get Local BC campaign. See below for volunteer opportunities. Sea-to-Sky Feast of Fields Saturday, August 30 Rebagliati Park, Whistler Taste the best the regional food and drink at this wandering gourmet picnic. A delicious FarmFolk/CityFolk fundraising event. Tickets $80 www.feastoffields.com (Vancouver 604-730-0450; Toll-free 1-888-730-0452) --------------------------------------- Volunteering at Feast of Fields The 14th Annual Feast of Fields will be held on Sunday, September 7th, 2008 and plans are in the works as we speak. Last year we were fortunate to have the best Feast Volunteer Team ever and we’re determined to do it again! We’re very excited to be holding it at UBC Farm for the second year in a row – as the only working farmland within the city of Vancouver, the UBC Farm is an urban agrarian gem, featuring a landscape of unique beauty www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm This year, Feast of Fields will showcase BC's agricultural products by magically transforming UBC Farm into acres of gourmet buffet. Here, 1000 foodies (approx. 750 guests, 50 volunteers & 200 participants) will stroll in the countryside, wineglass and napkin in hand, savouring and celebrating the depth and wealth of the Lower Mainland’s culinary scene. Why volunteer? Because, you’ll receive: • a fabulous feast featuring BC’s vintners, brewers, and chefs • the opportunity to be a valued FarmFolk/CityFolk team member • the opportunity to give to your community • the chance to gain new skills while having fun • gratitude from FarmFolk/CityFolk as we rely on your support of this primary fundraising event in order to continue our good work If you're interested or want more information, please email me at krideout@interchange.ubc.ca and I will send you a volunteer application form. Karen Rideout, Volunteer Coordinator Lower Mainland Feast of Fields 604.306.3571 krideout@interchange.ubc.ca http://www.ffcf.bc.ca/feast.html ------------------------------- Read This A Taste of Honey Is mead poised for a comeback? By Nicholas Day Judging by the prominence of honey these days, you'd think there's a run on sugar. Local, flavored honeys are now in restaurant kitchens. Foodies are mail-ordering artisanal raw varieties. At my local farmers market in Connecticut, the area beekeeper shows up with a table's worth of options and a glassed-in buzzing hive. This resurgence is in spite of the recent colony collapse disorder, which decimated many beehives. Bu t even more unexpected is the rise of honey for an ancient use: alcohol, in a drink known as mead. Read on.... BC150 Photo Gallery Gus of Arila Apiary shows an eager audience the inner workings of a beehive. << Photo courtesy of Christopher Cotrell At the Kitsilano Market , the Vancouver Museum brought a selection of turn of the century household tools and kitchen implements along with vintage maps of Vancouver.
Banner photo by Sherri Maunsell. Taken at the Riley Park Farmers Market. Veggie and fruit prints by market kids. 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 Office Administrator, Jenefer Pleadwell jen@eatlocal.org Special Events Co-ordinator, Debby Reis debby@eatlocal.org