This weekend may be the official kick-off to the summer season — at least as far as Cochrane foodies are concerned.
The Cochrane Farmer’s Market, armed with 39 full time vendors, marking its 17th season (up from 33 last year) and another 30 part-time vendors, will resume this June 6-Sept. 26, every Saturday at the Cochrane Ranche from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; the local market is operated and sponsored by the Cochrane Environmental Action Committee.
The Bearspaw Farmer’s Market, hosted by the Bearspaw Lions Club, will be back this Sunday in full swing, reaching 90 vendors this year. This event runs June 7-Oct. 4, every Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 25240 Nagway Rd. (along Hwy 1A; across from the Bears Den restaurant).
Cochrane market manager, Valerie McCracken, said the continued growth in both vendors and shoppers is clearly indicative of the move toward sustainable food production and a growing health consciousness.
“People are a lot more interested in where their food is coming from, and they’re also realizing they can actually talk to the people producing the food they buy and ask questions,” she said, adding that a growing support for ‘shop local’ seems to be another factor that draws large crowds to the weekly summer market.
Both markets are Alberta Approved Farmer’s Markets, as approved by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD). The ARD criteria requires markets to maintain an 80/20 local/non-local split; local is determined as from within the province of Alberta.
McCracken said she reserves her non-local vendors for goods that are difficult to get in Alberta — including produce (B.C.), Quebec maple syrup and some fair trade products from international countries; last year, only 12 per cent of the Cochrane market boasted vendors from outside of Alberta.
John Gehring is filling in for regular Bearspaw Market manager, Roger Pilkington, for the season opener.
A former honey producer and a current Bearspaw Lions Club member, Gehring said this Sunday would open the season with breakfast, available for purchase at the club hall on site and beginning at 9 a.m.
Buskers will be present to entertain market goers, ringing in the 26th year for the market.
