To Market

Story by Bruce Barker
Photography by Roth and Ramberg

The sun always shines on Alberta Approved Farmers’ Markets.

LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER ALBERTANS, I HAVE A fondness for farmers’ markets.Maybe it’s because I have farm roots or maybe it’s the farmfresh produce. But whether I’m sampling the heirloom tomatoes at the Hillhurst-Sunnyside market in Calgary or talking to the dried-flower artist at the Millarville Farmers’Market, the experience allows me to buy fresh, Alberta fare right from the people who grow it.

But how do you know what you buy at a farmers’ market is the real Alberta thing? An Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD) program is helping to assure you’re getting genuine, local Alberta produce.

LOOK FOR THE SUNNY GIRL LOGO

“Close to 30 years ago, farmers’ markets had all but died out in Alberta,” says Jackie Lacey, President of the Alberta Farmers’Market Association and Manager of the Millarville Farmers’Market. “But today, farmers’ markets have become very popular.”

The turnaround wasn’t fast or easy but Lacey credits one program for starting farmers’ markets back on the road to the popularity. The Alberta Approved Farmers’Market Program is an accreditation program that certifies farmers’ markets across Alberta. The AAFRD program requires that over 80% of the products sold at the farmers’ market are grown, baked or produced locally in Alberta. Its signature logo, the ‘Sunny Girl holding a hoe’ – often seen on highway signs, points the way to fresh, locally grown food.

“The reason that many consumers go to farmers’ markets is that they want wholesome food purchased directly from the producers who grow, bake or make it,” explains Penny Wilkes, Farmers’ Market Specialist with AAFRD in Edmonton.

“Consumers want to know how the carrots were grown. With the Alberta Approved Farmers’Market Program, consumers can be assured that they can talk directly to the local grower.”

Of course, any farmers’ market experience would be lessened without fresh B.C. peaches or crisp apples – one reason that the Alberta Approved Farmers’Market allows 20% of the sales to come from re-sellers.

WHAT’S THE ADVANTAGE OF CERTIFICATION?

The certification program is designed to keep the Alberta grower-consumer connection intact. For example, to qualify for the 80% vendor rule, the Alberta product must be grown, produced, handcrafted, processed or baked by an immediate family member or staff who lives in Alberta.With more than 100 Alberta Approved Farmers’Markets, from Alberta Beach to Worsley, buying directly from these Alberta producers helps support sustainable local agriculture.

For example, juicy, sweet Taber corn in an Alberta Approved Farmers’Market is sold directly by the grower, not from the back of a 1/2 ton by a re-seller who may not reappear next week.

“We really try to maintain the grower connection,” says Wilkes.

Another key aspect of the Alberta Approved Farmers’Markets is that the sale of any used goods or flea-market products is prohibited. Wilkes says this guideline helps to maintain the farmers’ market identity separate from flea market atmospheres.

Under the guidelines, a not-for-profit community group, local chamber of commerce or a municipality must operate Alberta Approved Farmers’Markets.Guidelines also require them to be open for at least 10 days per year.

FOOD QUALITY IS ASSURED

The Alberta Approved Farmers’Market Program doesn’t directly regulate food quality and safety, but the Sunny Girl logo is a benefit to vendors and consumers. Health permits are issued and enforced by the regional health authorities. But to ensure the highest food safety, Alberta Approved Farmers’Market managers also self-police their vendors to ensure their reputation is maintained.

“The Alberta Approved Farmers’Market Program sets us aside,” says Lacey. “People want to know where their food comes from. People still trust farmers for high-quality food and well they should, so our vendors work hard to ensure their products are of the best quality.”

And at the markets, if there is ever any doubt as to the quality of food, the test is only a sample away. Try a carrot or a slice of tomato. Sample a fresh baked loaf of bread, or smell the freshly cut flowers. If in doubt, just ask the grower who is selling the product and you’ll find out all you need to know.

And it is that direct connection that keeps us going back to the market. Our weekly trips to the community-run Hillhurst/Sunnyside market are in a friendly, social atmosphere, where we run into neighbours and get to know the pie man or the sausage maker: “Here, try this turkey, sun-dried tomato sausage. It’s got a hint of anise seed.”

No, the sun doesn’t always literally shine at Alberta Approved Farmers’Markets. I can attest to occasionally huddling under a friendly vendor’s tarp as the hail pounds during a July thunderstorm, but that’s just an excuse to sample more Alberta-grown produce. •

Food Safety is Job 1 at Old Strathcona Market

LOCATED IN EDMONTON’S HISTORIC OLD BUS BARNS, the Old Strathcona Market takes special precautions to make the market experience a healthy one. An Alberta Approved Farmers’Market,Old Strathcona operates indoors and is open yearround. As a result,Manager Jim O’Neil says the market is set up with permanent refrigeration to safely store food.

But on top of that,O’Neil is proud that his market goes above and beyond the required health regulations to ensure food safety for each of the up to 10,000 shoppers that may show up on any given Saturday. In addition to working with vendors to ensure they have the necessary licenses and permits required by municipal, provincial and federal regulations, Old Strathcona Market seeks to exceed the regulations.

“We actually ask the Health Inspectors to come and visit more often than they normally would,” explains O’Neil. “They’re the experts and know the food safety regulations better than anyone.We co-operate with them to keep the highest standards possible.”

Another area where Old Strathcona Market works hard to ensure food safety is in food sampling.Vendors are required to use individual sampling containers to ensure there isn’t any customer-to-customer contamination in food sampling trays.

“Food sampling is a popular part of the farmers’market experience.We believe it is important to assure food safety to our customers,” explains O’Neil. •

IF YOU GO

• WHERE: CORNER OF 103 STREET AND 83 AVENUE EDMONTON, ALBERTA.
• WHEN: OPEN ON SATURDAYS FROM 8 AM TO 3 PM.
• WHAT YOU’LL FIND: FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, BAKED GOODS, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, CRAFTS, MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS.

FOR A LISTING OF CERTIFIED FARMERS’ MARKETS VISIT: AGRIC.GOV.AB.CA/STORE/FARMERSMARKET/INDEX.HTML