October Showers bring May Flowers

Hello Market Friends:
Why are we thinking about spring just as fall arrives? Because this week, Carolinian Canada and the World Wildlife Fund are teaming up to give away locally sourced native species plants at the market, to benefit pollinators in our neighbourhoods. Whether you are a gardening newbie or an old pro, you can do your bit for biodiversity! There will be lots of tips to ensure your native planting thrives. First come, first served, for as long as they last.

Before we get to the food news, a huge thank you to Kevin Hamilton of Shared Harvest for last week’s memorable jam session!

Once again, we have huge harvest hauls rolling in! Squirrel some tender treasures away in your pantry and freezer before Jack Frost comes calling.

It’s a wonderful time for mushrooms from Forbes Wild Foods.

All Sorts Acre is back will all sorts of sheep products, including gelato and wool.

An impressive list from Sosnicki Organic Produce: the first of their leeks, lots of sweet yellow corn on the cob, Yukon Gold potatoes, celery, carrots, beets, tomatoes and Shepherd peppers (still available by the case), hot peppers, kale, cabbages, eggplant, sweet and cooking onions, garlic, zucchini, and apples, too!

Angelos from Country Meadows Gardens is planning his annual harvest-time trip to Greece, but he’s around this month with olives, oils, cheeses and eggs.

Jason will be shucking ocean delicacies with characteristic good humour under the Island Oysters tent.

Southbrook will be sampling and selling their fine local organic wines.

Catalyst Community Herbals has postponed their monthly visit until next time.

Blythe from Spade & Spoon is coming with all your favourite pickles, jams and chutneys, along with sauerkraut, maple syrup, and vegan Caesar Mix that will knock your socks off, in a cocktail, or on its own!

Jenny from Knuckle Down Farm will arrive a bit late this time, but it’s worth waiting for her perfect crop of Spicy Salad Mix!

A brief and friendly reminder that rain won’t melt anybody, the market continues all year whatever the weather, and our stellar producers rely on steady support from all you wonderful eaters to make the whole thing possible.
See you at the market!
Anne Freeman

Vendors This Week:

Aldergrove Organic Farm (veggies and blooms)
All Sorts Acre (lamb, wool products, sheep’s milk gelato – every other week)
Bees Universe (honey, eggs, bee products)
ChocoSol (chocolate and coffee)
Country Meadows (certified organic olives, oil, cheeses, eggs)
Culture City (natto, tempeh, fermented condiments and foods)
DeFloured (sweet and savoury gluten-free baking)
Dufferin Park Bakers (wood-fired oven breads, soups & snacks)
Earth & City (snacks, spreads and beverages)
First Fish (wild-caught Arctic fillets and hot or cold smoked fish)
Forbes Wild Foods (fresh and dried mushrooms, syrup, nuts and other wild foods)
Green Florin (nuts, dried fruits and oils from Moldova)
Island Oysters (fresh-shucked Canadian oysters)
Kind Organics (sprouts and salad mixes)
Knuckle Down Farm (vegetables)
Marvellous Edibles (certified organic chicken, produce, preserves)
Monforte Dairy (local cheeses from a variety of milks, tamales)
Plan B (local and imported certified organic produce)
Reye’s Farms (tender fruits (not organic))
Shared Harvest (certified organic veggies and herbs)
Sosnicki Organic Produce (certified organic vegetables)
Southbrook Winery (local organic VQA wines – monthly visits)
Spade & Spoon (jams, pickles, maple syrup)
TC’s Tibetan Momos (vegetarian or meat – every other week)
Thorpe’s Organic Produce (veggies)
Urban Harvest (seeds, soil amendments, body care)

P.S. We need bags! If you’ve got extra clean used bags to share with shoppers who’ve forgotten theirs, please drop them off at the market table.