Canadians flags are hanging in store windows. "Support local" signs are sitting on shelves. With President Donald Trump's impending trade war and recent rhetoric about making Canada the 51st state, many Canadians have felt the patriotic push to buy local.
Crossfield Farmer's Market manager Cheryl Shea said she saw this attitude first hand at the February Food Fest, which boasted more the 100 Albertan vendors at the community hall last week.
"I wasn't surprised," she said. "There was a buzz among vendors and especially consumers."
Some guests came wearing outfits advertising their Canadian identity. Others made sure to advertise where their products were being sourced. Shea herself played into the "buy Canadian" sentiment in social media posts advertising the event.
"We're all fired up and the best place for that is the farmer's market," Shea celebrated.
Candice Kolson is the owner of the Airdrie Farmer's Market and said she is also seeing a bigger shift in the community to support local.
"It's important to support small businesses, they are the backbone of what makes the world go round," Kolson explained. "Whatever they make, bake, or grow, come talk to people are the market face to face to ask questions."
It's an attitude that's certainly not new. Both Shea and Kolson said they noticed a push five years ago when coronavirus first took hold and people were looking for a way to help.
But as many in this country look to even curb their southern travel plans and Hollywood viewing habits, Shea said this time feels different,
"The COVID-19 pandemic made it trendy," Shea explained. "The shop local hashtag started the ball rolling, but I think people got comfortable and fell off the ball a bit. Now, it's not just trendy. People are really saying 'let's support our Canadian producers'."
A recent survey noted that a total of 79 per cent of Canadians polled said they agree that supporting local businesses feels more important than it did at this time last year.
The federal government has encouraged Canadians to keep their dollars in the Great White North by doing their research on a product's origin or foregoing more familiar American imports.
Canadian-made products are even the one and only focus of a brand new app, BuyBeaver, that rates how Canadian the product is on a scale of one to five based on where it's made, where the ingredients are from, and who owns the brand.
But if people are looking for purely Canadian products, Shea said farmer's markets don't just start and stop with the local vendors on display.
"Our jam vendor buys all of her fruit from a Canadian farmer," she explained. "The salami vendor buys his meat from a Canadian farmer. It all comes full circle."
Even before Trump's comments, Shea said the choice to shop local wasn't a difficult one for her to make. As the manager of the Crossfield Farmer's Market for the past decade, she's done all of her grocery shopping there.
"All of the local products I've discovered have just become essential for my household," she said.
Shea added that this is a perfect time for the buy local boost, since many vendors and small businesses still haven't bounded back from COVID.
"A lot didn't make it, unfortunately," she said. "If this is a wave to wake us up, let's ride it."
Kolson cautioned shoppers about the reality of produce sold in Canadian retailers.
"It's really hard to source produce to see whether it's grown here or in the U.S.," she explained. "Unfortunately a lot of produce comes from resales, so be sure to check if the seller is, in fact, being honest or ask where it is coming from."
She said the majority of peaches, apricots, and nectarines - normally grown in B.C. - are coming from the U.S. this year because of previous cold snaps and conditions that killed Okanagan crops.
"We're lucky, the Airdrie Farmer's Market sources our produce from Souto farms who is bringing everything in from Ontario," Kolson added.
But as some gestures turn more aggressive like booing of the American national anthem at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Shea said all are welcome to buy or sell at the farmer's market.
"I wouldn't deny an American, they're still small businesses trying to survive," she said. "We have a vendor from Mexico who lives here and offers specially Mexican food. We want a diverse crowd. So there's no ill will towards anybody."
Shea noted that there is much more American participation in larger markets like Spruce Meadows. What any of those markets going forward this year will look like in terms of products and participation, remains to be seen.
No matter the attitude driving the surge, both markets are hoping that the passion to buy Canadian, Albertan, and local continues throughout the year, and hopefully beyond.
Crossfield's next market happens this spring on April 5, with an emphasis on Artisans, before their regular market gets going in July.
Airdrie Farmer's Market kicks off on April 19th - located at 320 Centre Ave E.
Both markets are open to new vendor applications.
