HSFM | A note from your Farmers' Market Coordinator

2020 is coming to a close, and although it happens to land in the middle of our indoor season, it still marks the closing of an important chapter for us, especially this year, especially in our current situation.

We know for many folks including our customers and vendors, this year was a tough one. However, through all the challenges we faced as a community, our resilience shone through.

Our outdoor season is usually one of fun community events, hanging at the market with friends, and sampling new items as we shop. This year we were forced to operate at ~50% vendor capacity. Despite this, we saw a huge surge in support for local food. A renewed appreciation for a healthy, and self-sufficient food system emerged.

We are so grateful.

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Thank you for prioritizing your local economy, your local producers, and keeping the community spirit of our market alive this summer. We were so happy to see friends and neighbours meeting in physically distanced fashion all season long and connecting with their producers during such an uneasy time.

As we continue to operate this indoor season, we appreciate your continued cooperation with health and safety policies and welcome your feedback as we navigate a whole new market set-up. We are happy to continue providing the essential service of access to local foods and goods.

Please continue prioritizing your health and that of your community- not just physical, but mental and social as well. These small local businesses, and the wider farmers’ market could not have survived this pandemic if not for your support.

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Over the past three and a half years, I have felt so fortunate to have coordinated this market, and other food programming at the HSCA. This community is so welcoming and loving and genuinely cares for one another. It has been so special to be a part of. Beginning in January 2021 I will be moving on to other opportunities and am excited to leave this role to someone with a fresh perspective and renewed energy who will no doubt serve this community well. Thank you so much for welcoming me into your community- it has genuinely been a pleasure to work alongside all of you.
Stay well,
Heather Ramshaw

HSFM | 2020 Virtual Harvest Fair Winners!

Here are your 2020 Virtual Harvest Fair Winners! Thanks to everyone who submitted their beautiful photos to keep the Harvest Fair spirit alive!

HSFM | Harvest Fair Highlight

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Around this time each year, community members from across the city come together at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Harvest Fair. You could try your hand at some fair games, learn from your growers about their process, peruse the giant (and puny!) produce, and get face first into a pie. Good times.

This year, though we can’t be together, it is even easier than ever to enter our Harvest Fair! All you need to do is take a picture that relates to any of our 50+ categories, and send ‘em our way! (you can also DM us on instagram or facebook, or post it to your profile and tag us!)

How pathetic.

How pathetic.

  1. Most Pathetic Vegetable- Carrot a little skinny? Pea pod only have one pea in it? Giant pumpkin the size of an orange? Every garden has it’s failure!

  2. Best Looking Sunflower- Sunflowers truly are the star of the garden. Let’s see yours!

  3. Best Homemade Liquor- Maybe you make mead, or infuse gin with garden herbs! Or maybe you just left your raspberry harvest out on the counter for too long…

  4. Best Savoury Garden Appetizer- If your whole harvest for the season only summed up to one appetizer, we are still proud of you! This one has a million and one variations so what will you make?

  5. Best Produce Sculpture- This one is just plain FUN. We want to see your creative side.

Check out some other fun moments and entries from last year’s harvest fair!

HSFM | Sunnygirl's Field Notes

THE HILLHURST SUNNYSIDE FARMERS’ MARKET WANTS YOU TO MEET SUNNYGIRL AND GET TO KNOW HER FARMER FRIENDS!

We have been so excited to share this project with you all, and although it has been delayed due to the Covid-19 situation, we are happy to finally be able to move forward with Sunnygirl’s Field Notes!

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The Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers’ Market wants to help [you] get to know [your] growers this year. With support from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, [we] will be taking a deep dive into the local food system that feeds their market.

The Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers’ Market is proud to be an Alberta Approved Farmers’ Market- a certification proving the local authenticity of their makers, bakers and growers. This provincial identification system utilizes the mascot Sunnygirl to showcase Farmers’ Markets that maintain at least 80% Alberta products. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misconception around Farmers’ Markets, local food, and agriculture in general. The Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers’ Market will launch The Sunnygirl’s Field Notes Project in April 2020 [*due to Covid-19 launch has been delayed until now!] which aims to educate consumers by showcasing their growers, giving consumers the opportunity to get the story behind their food and further breaking down the urban rural divide.

Beginning as early as [August], vendor profiles and agricultural myth busters will be released throughout the year on the Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers’ Market website as ‘Sunnygirl’ travels around the province visiting Farmers, resellers and producers. Stay up to date with their social media updates, and drop into a weekly market on Wednesdays from 3pm - 7pm to chat about the project, or talk directly to your producers.

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