My Farmers’ Market Must-Haves

Now, I had to do the math, but I have been shopping at the Calgary Farmers’ Market for over 20 years. They opened their first location in 2004 in Currie Barracks, which I still remember my mom taking me to. I knew right then that this place was my vibe. Now they have two different locations: South (2011) & West (2022). I’ve always loved that the Calgary Farmers’ Market tries to keep things as local as possible (which can be tricky in Alberta), making sure at least 80% of what is available in the market is produced in Alberta. When I go to any farmers’ market, there are a few items I always make sure I pick up…

1. Bread

A classic grocery list staple, but bread from the market is so much more. The bakers at “Yum Bakery” [South & West locations] always have an incredible selection of artisanal bread. I especially like their seasonal loaf of chocolate pecan sourdough (it makes the best French toast you’ll ever have). Year-round, I often get one of their dark ryes (like the German rye) or a crisp sourdough. Of course they are perfect for your standard bread-fare, like toast (simple with really good butter or loaded with toppings like avocado or heirloom tomatoes) or a next-level sandwich. I also love to use their breads for panzanella salads. If you’ve never heard of a panzanella salad, brace yourself, because it is basically an Italian giant crouton salad. Aren’t croutons sometimes the best part of a salad anyways? Traditionally, stale bread is torn up, but in a pinch I just cube fresh bread and toast it under the broiler to get it extra crisp. This gives it a bit of resistance to becoming soggy in the dressing. Toss in equally sized cubed fresh veggies of your choosing (tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, peppers, etc.), even some fresh herbs or cheese, and make a simple vinaigrette (check out my article on making your own vinaigrette here.

2. Eggs

Farm fresh eggs just hit different. They have beautiful dark yolks and a rich flavour. I love supporting producers who have free range birds (because I think birds should be able to feel the grass between their toes too). I pick mine up from “Sylvan Star” [South & West] and they often have them in a variety of sizes too. Did you know that brown eggs come from brown chickens and white eggs come from white hens? Unless you start getting into funky, exotic egg laying hens, when they start creating all sorts of colorful shells. Nothing makes a weekend breakfast quite like fried eggs. While you are visiting “Sylvan Star”, you may as well pick up some local cheese and dairy too! If you haven’t tried their award-winning cheese, check out the article here. I particularly recommend their "Grizzly Gouda", which is a unique, sharp, and crumbly cheese available in a variety of ages (and it is lactose-free).

3. Juice

Fresh juice can’t be beat. “Better” [South & West] (made by “Cherry Pit”) offers a colourful array of cold pressed juices. My go-to is always a large fresh orange juice, and I also really like their “Wonder Woman” (watermelon, pineapple, coconut water, lime, and mint), or any of their fruit combination limeade/lemonades. I mix these with sparkling water as an alternative to sugary sodas, but when you still want something bubbly and a little sweet. The produce for their juices is sourced right from their sister store. I love their line “if it’s not fresh enough to impress in a salad, it doesn’t make it into our juice”. You can absolutely taste that.

4. Tomatoes

I find farmers’ market tomatoes are usually much more flavourful than the standard grocery stores’. This is because their tomatoes are allowed to ripen on the vine as opposed to being picked green and then ripened with ethylene gas on route to supermarkets. The underripe picking allows tomatoes to survive transportation, but they don’t seem to fully develop sugars or a deeply intense tomato flavour. Ethylene gas changes them to red, but can’t recreate the attributes of a tomato allow to ripen on the plant. Tomatoes varieties from local producers are often selected above all for their flavour, before durability and shelf life. And you might be thinking “yeah, but I live where the cold hurts my face”, and while that is unfortunately true, we have loads of greenhouses. So luckily, it is still possible to get year-round local and delicious tomatoes (ones that never had to rely on ethylene gas to look “ripe”). I also grab Alberta greenhouse-grown cucumbers, peppers, and herbs in addition to my tomatoes, from growers like "Tomato Man" [South & West] or "Gull Valley Growers" [South & West]. Gull Valley has been operating for over 26 years, so they know their stuff. It isn’t very often you can find locally grown produce in the dead of an Albertan winter that can make it from plant to your plate in less that 24 hours!

It isn’t very often you can find locally grown produce... that can make it from plant to your plate in less that 24 hours!

5. Sausage

Spragg’s [South & West] has the best sausage and my favourite has always been the farmers’ sausage. I’ve been purchasing this product from Spragg’s for over 25 years. It is precooked, so whenever I have some on hand, I just slice it thinly on a diagonal bias and crisp it on both sides in a hot frying pan (or you could do this in the air fryer). It basically makes these crispy little sausage chips that I can’t get enough of.

6. Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables

Whatever is in season, I get. I look to these rotating ingredients as inspirations for what to put on our table. Foraged mushrooms? Asparagus (read about it here) from “Edgar Farms” is in stock for the brief few months of spring? Juicy local strawberries and raspberries from “The Jungle Farm”? “Innisfail Growers” [South & West] is a collective of nearby local producers that brings their products to market, so you can find a lot of Albertan ingredients here. I’m also grateful we share a border with an orchard province, so I can get seasonal stone fruits from BC (from "Panorama Orchards"). While fresh fruits and veggies might not be too prevalent during the winter months, the market still offers lots of preserves and wintered root veg to help carry us through to another growing season...

Some other things I often grab from the market…

Lunch for Now & Snacks for Later

Check out my reel here to see my favourite lunch spots if you feel like having a meal. I can’t make it through the market without needing a snack (because everything looks so good). I usually grab an incredibly chewy dulce de leche chocolate chip cookie (or two) from “Henry & Debbie’s Coffee and Goodies” [South]. Sometimes I bring home a few snacks to accompany my TV series binging too:

•Salsas and homemade tortilla chips from “Sabores Mexican Cuisine” [West]

•Kettle corn from “Sugar Creek Kettle Corn Co.” [South]

•Fresh pita and any of the dips from “2 Greek Gals” [South]

Gifts

For me?! Or someone else? Either way, I’ve purchased some super cute things from the Calgary Farmers’ Market over the years. The market has more than just food! These are a few of my favourite items:

•Alpaca sweaters from “D’Alpaca Peru” [South] that I constantly get compliments on

•The coziest sheepskin mittens for my husband from “Pasu Farms” [South]

•One of my favourite (long burgundy) jean jackets from “Stillwater Designs” [South & West]

•My husband can’t resist the smell of the beeswax candles at "Beeland Market" [South & West] •The cutest gifts (socks, candles, stationary, etc.) from "Crafted" [South & West]

By now I think you probably have a good idea of just how much I love any farmers’ market, but especially the Calgary Farmers’ Market! Now you know my favourite things to grab there too, so I’ll see you soon at the market…