101 Ways to Buy Local!
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How lucky are we to live in a city brimming with places to find local produce and gifts? Fruit stands, wineries, artisans, farm-gate shops are all around us. Today on the radio show, we’ll be talking about some of the vendors you can encounter at the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market – a convenient one-stop-shop for all sorts of locally made and grown items. Our Kelowna Market is the biggest in BC, and is absolutely bursting at the seams at this time of year with fresh everything. It runs Saturday and Wednesday mornings across from Orchard Park mall, corner of Springfield and Dilworth, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Here are just a few of the great products and personalities you’ll encounter there.
A sun-drenched stand at the Kelowna Farmers' and Crafters' Market
Okanagan Street Food – Usually parked at the east side of the Farmers’ Market, you’ll find a mobile restaurant called Okanagan Street Food. It’s operated by Chef Neil Schroeter, and the food he offers will floor you. It’s gourmet cuisine – from the locally-sourced ingredients, to the house-cured bacon in the breakfast wraps, to the pastas that he makes fresh and take-away pasta sauces. In a previous life, Neil was the Executive Chef of the restaurant at Sumac Ridge Winery, so he brings that wine-country cuisine flare to the Farmers’ Market.
Quail’s Farm – If you’re a Farmers’ Market fan, you’ll know this stand. It’s the one with the line-up for organic free run eggs at 8 a.m. when the market opens. They usually sell out in 5 minutes. The vendor here is Urs Baumann, a baker-by-trade from Switzerland, who now grows his own wheat, oats, spelt, rye – mills them into flour himself — and bakes to-die-for bread. He is the supplier of bread to Bouchons Bistro, that wonderful French restaurant on Sunset Drive. He also has lots of other interesting produce, like Kale, different greens, herbs, and tomatoes.
Arlo’s Honey – Beside Urs, you’ll find Helen Kennedy, a bee keeper with a farm in South-East Kelowna. She sells her honey at the Farmers’ Market as well as her farm, Arlo’s. Her honey won the title of Best in BC at last year’s IPE, which is a big deal in the agricultural community and is a real accolade. Great honey and bee products – even a honey cookbook can be found here!
Honey Stand at the Farmers' Market
Jazzyaz’s – It’s not called the Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market for no reason! At the market, you’ll also find tons of great gift ideas and jewellery – like this fun stand that you’ll find on Wednesdays. Artist and crafter Yasmin Pitre – Yaz of Jazzyaz’s – makes funky beaded footwear, feather hair clips, golf stroke counters, key chains, and mystic jewellery that you’ll find at her stand. All under $20, these are great gift ideas, especially for trendsetting girls going back to school…
Other crafters include the Broken Barrel Furniture Company, Ron’s Wood Products, SnuckleSaks Baby Slings, and Errol Redman’s beautiful wood turnings, Wood Side Out. Tons of gift ideas here! You’ll find bakeries, meat vendors, organic veggies, and of course, lots of fruit!
The Market is a vibrant and positively charged place, and attracts people of all ages. You can either park in the lot by the market on Haynes Rd., or you can park at Orchard Park Mall and walk across the street to the market (my recommendation, as the other lot can be busy). Let me know what your favourite stand is!
