I truly love this time of year for its abundance of fresh, local produce. At Feast of Fields in Summerland earlier today the GM for Choices Market in Kelowna commented that he's seen a switch in consumer preferences to looking for local first and organic second. Though it's great when you can find both!
Some of the best farmer's markets I've visited in the past few years
- Penticton - they close down two city blocks and have artisanal baked goods, heirloom produce, crafts, and live music. Worth getting up early on a Saturday morning. My favorite market pick - Joy Road Catering's fruit tarts
- Trout Lake - a Vancouver institution. Our fav - La Boheme creperie with savoury and dessert options, long lineup is worth the time
- Mendoza - a pleasant surprise in the heart of the town of Mendoza
- Salt Spring - the community park in Ganges seems like a step back in time, filled with wares by local artists and farmers. My fav market pick - SaltSpring Island Goat cheese (if you visit the fromagerie itself a couple miles south they often have cheese on sale plus they have cute goats)
- Anacortes - the best of the Skagit Valley in a kind of hard to find in a parking lot near the wharf in downtown Anacortes - head downtown and look for the signs. Our fav - all the ingredients we needed for a roasted beet salad for that evening (beets, argula, Gothberg Farm goat cheese, honey and hazelnuts)
- Napa - when I went it was located in the parking lot of the now defunct Copia, I think it has now moved to the lot of the Wine Train Station. Market fav - Model Bakery which was in the neighboring Oxbow Public Market.
I haven't been to the Summerland or Naramata markets, but hope to check them out before the end of the season.
Would love to hear about other must visit community markets!
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