By Ozair Khan
Want to learn how to prepare the perfect filling for a Ukrainian pierogi, an Italian gnocchi, or an Indian samosa, or what happens to a coffee bean cultivated in the Peruvian highlands before it ends up in our morning cuppa or perhaps what prevents creamed honey from solidifying? Every Wednesday 3-7 PM we can buy and learn directly from food growers and producers at the HSCA Farmers Market.
Removing the wholesaler from the food supply chain, we get fresher, natural, and more varieties of food directly from local producers and distributors who are passionate about what they do. Growers, producers, distributors, artists, authors, artisans, community workers, onsite fresh snack sellers, and local community non-food vendors sell/barter in Canadian and Calgary Dollars weekly here. The public strolls through the 25+ stalls with their loved ones to soak up the experience, conversation, and entertainment. Complimentary music is churned out by CJSW public radio, and the Frozen Assets ice cream truck enhances the Farmers Market’s cultural ambience.
To officially be called a “Farmers Market”, at least 80% of the products need to be sourced locally. Unlike other Calgary Farmers Markets, the HSCA Farmers Market has 97% local products, making it a unique promoter of Calgary businesses. The public has access to locally grown produce through YYC Growers and Distributors, Michelle’s Market, Walker’s Own, and Shirley’s Greenhouse. YYC sells vegetables and fruit jams on behalf of local growers. Michelle’s Market supplies Brooks family farm grown pesticide-free vegetables. Walker’s Own provides picture perfect BC organic berries, peaches, and apricots, while Shirley’s Greenhouse produce are hydroponically grown east of Didsbury.
Among the locally prepared food vendors, local Buzzy Bee Honey producer, Ma Pies frozen sweet and savory pie maker, Highwood Coffee Latin American coffee roaster/distributor, Prairie Mill Bread Company signature multigrain baker, Odd Sausage's original sausage variety flavored family enterprise, Sunnyside's very own SunnyCider flavoured drinks, Natural Food's music/cuisine fusion, Ukrainian Fine Foods traditional fresh hot meals, and superwoman Shammi’s Kitchen East Indian snacks and crafts are worth special mention.
The HSCA's Farmers Market is also a platform for Calgary Dollars to rotate vendor representation. Local authors G.W. Renshaw explained how their intrinsic sense of justice led them to churn out fiction after fiction touching that theme. Cultural artisans like Jennifer Heartly Illanes and Bright Swan Creations eagerly demonstrated their medieval European art and indigenous craft respectively, while at the next stall, Chento Nutrition's Melisa Centofanti took time to explain the benefits of her varied Italian seasoning concoctions.
Visitors to the HSCA Farmers Market get a chance to try selling at the market. The HSCA provides a platform and promotes new vendors through its Incubator program – whether they have ambition to earn, find new markets, introduce products, vent entrepreneurial passions, or simply want to pursue a hobby while socializing with their community.
