The Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market is in full swing for the new year, once again setting up shop indoors for the winter at the Parkinson Recreation Centre.
Back for another year of providing a place to buy and sell fresh produce, proteins and much more, the market is keeping with its mandate of a mutually beneficial relationship for all who attend each week.
Buzzing bright and early on Saturday morning, market coordinator Frances Callaghan and her team are hopeful the act of buying and supporting local will be even more top of mind for residents in 2020.
“We like the fact that the market has become part of the community,” said Callaghan. “Everyone here is a small business, and buying from them supports Kelowna’s own economy in addition to a lot of other things.”
Team member Lily Erogan agreed, adding that the quality of the products for sale is an extra bonus.
"Not only are you supporting the hardworking farmers, but you also get to shop organic, shop farm fresh and avoid buying in bulk from bigger stores," she said.
Ivana Dejanovic, another member of the market coordinating team, said that it gives a sense of security because shoppers “get to know where their food is coming from and how it is made.”
Not only does the market offer an abundance of delicious and nutritious food, spices and more, Callaghan makes it easy for shoppers to learn some tasty ways to utilize almost all of the products on offer.
Each weekend, attendees can enjoy the “Tastes of the Market,” an experience Callaghan created in order to showcase each vendor while demonstrating to customers the limitless possibilities of the ingredients at each booth.
“It is important for us to offer a sense of all the things you can make with items found here,” said Erogan. “When you walk around you only see the individual pieces but something like Tastes of the Market offers a chance to see everything together in one amazing sample meal.”
From cultural dishes to desserts, breakfast ideas and easy-to-make dinner sides, Callaghan and the team curate a free treat to curb your hunger while browsing the aisles of the market.
Afterward, you can even find the exact recipe on their website to try it out yourself at home.
The Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market is on from 9 am until 1 pm each Saturday in the winter.
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