Spring is finally here to stay and with the warm days and sunny skies come the return of farmers’ markets.
The Cochrane Farmers’ Market is gearing up for opening day of its 16th season, which is slated for June 7 at the Cochrane Ranche Historic Site. The local market is sponsored and operated by the Cochrane Environmental Action Committee (CEAC). It runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This year will see the return of favourite vendors, along with the addition of about five newbies, said Valerie McCracken, market manager. In total, about 45 vendors will be selling their wares each Saturday.
“CEAC really tries to focus on making our farmers’ market a true farmers’ market,” remarked McCracken, adding that 88 per cent of the market’s vendors make, bake or grow their products.
“We’re proud of that number and want to keep those percentages up. We are really focused on offering Alberta products.”
New to this year’s line-up is local coffee roaster Cochrane Coffee Traders Ltd., who will be providing shoppers with cups of coffee, as well as selling their coffee beans.
McCracken said CEAC has been working with the Town of Cochrane to offer addition parking on market days, which run each Saturday — rain or shine — through to the end of September. This year, as soon as the ground is dry, the market will move onto the grass west of the parking lot.
The Bearspaw Lions Farmers’ Market is slated to start the first Sunday in June, running rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual market, which is in its 23rd year, boasts a roster of about 90 merchants for the 2014 season.
Roger Pilkington, chairman of the farmers’ market, said about 82 per cent of the vendors make, bake or grow their wares. Shoppers can peruse tables of vegetables, Alberta-grown meats, jewelry, wine and other goodies.
“These markets are important for the vendors — I think we fill a niche for them,” said Pilkington.
More details on the Cochrane Farmers’ Market can be found at cochrane-environment.org/farmers-market.
To learn more about the Bearspaw Lions Farmers’ Market, email [email protected].
