The Last of the Fall Harvest: City Centre Market 2009

Making the most of the last two City Centre Market days, I was amazed at how much difference a week could make. While the first weekend of October was crisp, the snow had not yet arrived. And though the frost meant subsequent harvests of the majority produce were over, most of the farmers had picked what they could, with nearly the last of their fall bounty up for grabs.

Lots of corn!

Rainbow chard from Kuhlmann’s

Enormous zucchini and squash are a universal sign of fall

Ornamental gourds

Gorgeous flower arrangements (I couldn’t resist a bouquet)

Tomatoes from Sundog Organic Farm

Fruit from Steve & Dan’s Fresh BC Fruit

Many of the usual vendors were missing, with large gaps on 104 Street where booths typically stood. Between that and a smaller cold weather-crowd, it definitely felt like the market was winding down.

Shoppers on the penultimate market day

We picked up our staples – eggs from Sunshine Organic, onions and carrots from Green Valley Farms, tomatoes and bell peppers from Gull Valley Greenhouses, and a bag of greens from Greens, Eggs and Ham.

Picking up onions from Green Valley Farms

We had also reserved two of the Greens, Eggs and Ham turkey bombs – turkey breasts stuffed with cranberry orange bread stuffing – for whatever reason, I thought they would be small enough to be served as individual portions, but we found that one would be more than enough for the two of us! As we were a part of their Community Supported Agriculture program this year, we found it so convenient to shop with them, as our “deposit” got us through the market season and then some. Of course, it was great to know that our money helped Mary Ellen and Andres expand some of their operations.

Turkey bombs

This past weekend, the winter chill was definitely in the air, the streets lined with leaves that weren’t yet ready to fall.

Last market day

As expected, the produce pickings were slim, with most of the vegetable vendors absent already. Mack and I made the most of our visit and loaded up on hearty cabbage, potatoes, carrots and onions, and some broccoli and kale for good measure. We also swung by Irvings Farm Fresh for some ground pork for the freezer stash.

Sundog Organic’s veggies were in their van!

Kohlrabi

Green tomatoes, anyone?

Mack and I consciously shifted most of our grocery spending to the market this summer, and made it a point to integrate a visit to the market into our weekends. But because I’m not one of those cooks who can buy random ingredients and make a dish out of them, it did require some meal planning. And while I wish I was a little more experimental with our recipes (kale was about as far out of our comfort zone as I got), I’m certain that it will only get better from here.

Though I know that I treat the City Centre Market like the be all-end all of local farmers’ markets, I recognize that other markets will continue where 104th Street left off.

• Alberta Avenue Farmer’s Market: Thursdays 2-7pm, year-round
• Salisbury Greenhouse: Thursdays 4:30-8pm, year-round
• Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market: Saturdays 8am-3pm, year-round
• St. Albert Indoor Farmers’ Market: Saturdays 10am-3pm from October 3 – December 19, 2009

I will stop by the winter markets from time to time, but there’s just nothing like having a market within walking distance of your home. Until next year, City Centre Market.