Top Farmers' Market Finds

Story by Pamela Irving

Scouring local farmers’ markets for some of their tastiest delights. Head out and try them yourself this summer – and find a few of your own favourites along the way.

Best brownies: Satisfy your sweet tooth with a few of Fancy Shmancy’s brownies from the St. Albert Farmers’ Market, all made with real butter, vanilla and chocolate. Our favourite is the Expresso Caramel Pecan blondie. It’s a perfect balance of textures – a little bit crunchy and a little bit decadent with oozing caramel.

Hot seller: Try Simmons Hot Gourmet’s mango chutney, available at the Lethbridge and Millarville markets. It’s made with fresh mangoes and a Caribbean blend of spices and is delicious as a sauce for barbecuing chicken breasts or to spice up your favourite stir fry.

Go with the grain: Organic Grains Bakery sells out on its organic breads, muffins and cakes every weekend at the Lethbridge market. The most popular items are made with spelt grown right here in Alberta. Spelt is an ancient grain that is great for people with gluten sensitivities. The spelt carrot cake with real cream cheese icing is a luscious treat that is great for any occasion.

Cheese please: Sylvan Star Gouda makes all of its high quality cheeses with milk straight from their dairy in Sylvan Lake. The four varieties include Gruyère, Edam, Cheddar and Gouda. For a taste that bites back, try the cayenne and green pepper Gouda, perfect with a cold beer at the end of a hot day. Available at the Calgary and Sylvan Lake markets.

Chewy goodness: Ma McLeod’s Creamy Toffee makes the best, creamiest toffee you will ever taste (and it’s guaranteed not stick to your teeth or dentures). Doug McLeod is carrying on the family tradition by using his grandma’s recipe. Try it out at the Medicine Hat farmers’ market.

Tasty tomatoes: In Sylvan Lake, Little Red Garden Market’s tomatoes are some of the sweetest you’ll ever taste. They grow six varieties of greenhouse tomatoes – beefsteak, Roma, cocktail, grape, yellow and orange. Eat them fresh or in their homemade Bruschetta made with fresh basil.

Prize pies: At the Calgary Farmers’ Market, Simple Simon Pies makes an impressive variety of 15 savoury and dessert four-inch pies. Our favourites are the pork tourtiere, steak pie, and the chicken pot pie made with Swiss cheese and loads of button mushrooms. The pastry stays nice and flaky even when reheated.

Pass the antipasto: Sheila’s Range has amazing vegetarian antipasto at the Bentley Farmers’ Market. Traditionally served on crackers or bread, antipasto also adds zing to burgers or baked potatoes.

Chocolate cravings: At the Olds Farmers’ Market, Bob Big Bee Chocolates uses quality German chocolate and real cocoa and vanilla in all of his scrumptious chocolates. The truffles are made with real Alberta whipping cream. Try the new peanut butter cups.

Silky smooth skin: Pure ostrich oil is the main ingredient in Patsy Clark Farms’ “Essence of the Nile” handcrafted soaps and lotions. The Gardener’s soap contains coffee grains for scrubbing hands clean after a day toiling away in the soil. Available at the Millarville and Calgary Farmers’ Markets.

For a full listing of vendors and their market locations, visit www.albertamarkets.com