Lethbridge Farmer's Market

Lethbridge Farmer's Market

Where:  Exhibition Park, 3401 Parkside Drive South, Lethbridge

Contact: Phone: 403 328-4491

Dates of Operation: Saturdays, May 16 to October 30, 2009

Hours of Operation:  8 am to 12:30 pm

Website: http://www.exhibitionpark.ca/f_market.htm  - Includes vegetable availability chart and vendor list.

After a few impatient weeks of anticipating the slow-coming growth of fruits and vegetables, a few things are finally ready to be picked/sold. My mother and I took advantage of my afternoon of last Saturday and headed to the Lethbridge Farmer's Market. As soon as we got in to Lethbridge and saw all of the fancy cars driving around, we remembered it was "Street Wheelers" weekend. Street Wheelers is when... well I don't fully know what takes place, but what I do know is that the Farmers Market shares a parking lot with some kind of track that was absolutely packed with people watching cars do impressive things - like screeching their tires into clouds of disgusting smelling smoke. 

REGARDLESS, the market was lots of fun. We showed up a bit late, so some booths were packed up and we didn't see fruit of any kind (we aren't sure if this is because it was sold out or because it's not quite ready yet?), but there was lots of carrots, cabbage, peas, onions, beets and little carrots. And gooseberries! I have never seen gooseberries before but I wanted to buy a bundle because they were so pretty! I didn't really know what could be done with gooseberries though, so I decided not to get any yet and research them a bit first. 

After wandering around for a bit, we ended up getting some delicious looking peas, little tiny carrots, rhubarb and a loaf of multi-seed bread that was super tasty!

Harvest Haven Health

This spring has been so slow, and things are taking forever to grow. I am getting so antsy - I want to explore Farmer's Markets and buy fresh fruit and vegetables and cook delicious things! 

Even though it might be a little while before local produce is ready to buy, I decided to make the short trip to Harvest Haven Health (just outside of Lethbridge) to check out their store that is open year-round. I came across the website during the winter and was both surprised that I had never heard of it before, and excited that an organic store was such a short drive away! I know you city kids probably don't see what the big deal is, but having an organic store where you can find products that you won't find in your average grocery store is quite a treat here in the middle of the prairies. 

Harvest Haven is a whole lot of wonderful things in one place. It's an organic farm with a variety of livestock, grain, vegetables and fruits, and an on-farm store that sells the produce raised/grown at the farm, with a huge variety of organic products imported from as locally as possible. Plus the lady that helped me was suuuper nice. And let me take pictures, and answered all of my annoying questions. I'm excited to make a few trips there this summer, especially when the strawberries and raspberries are ready to pick

The Harvest Haven website is full of information, including a map with detailed directions and a full product list for the store. Take a look!

Farmers Market Schedule

Now that a few Farmer's Markets are starting to open for the season, I thought I would post a schedule for Southern Alberta. I didn't include Calgary's markets because there are so many that it kind of requires its own post!
Most of the information came from the Alberta Farmers' Market Association webstite, where you can find a full listing of markets in every area of Alberta.

Bow Island Farmer's Market
When: Fridays, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
July 10 - September 18, 2009
Where: Golden Age Centre, 206 - 5th Avenue E


Brooks Farmer's Market
When: Thursdays, 3:00pm - 6:00pm
May 7 - October 8, 2009
Where: Kinsmen Rodeo Grounds, 7St SE


Cardston Farmers' Market
When: Thursdays, 11:00am - 2:00pm
June 25 - Sep 3, 2009
Where: Charlie Cheesman Ice Centre, 339 Main A Street


Clarasholm Farmer's Market
When: Wednesdays, 3:00pm - 6:00pm
July 2 - September 10, 2009
Where: Claresholm Arena


Cochrane Farmer's Market
When: Saturdays, 9:00am - 1:00pm
June 6 - September 26, 2009
Where: Cochrane Ranche, Highway 1A near Highway 22 intersection


Drumheller Farmer's Market
When: Saturdays, 9:30am - 1:00pm
May 9 - September 26, 2009
Where: Drumheller Coop (Greentree Mall), 555 Highway 10 E


Fort Macleod Farmer's Market
When: Thursdays, 3:00pm - 6:00pm
July 16 - September 17, 2009
Where: Curling Rink, 235-21 Street


Hanna Farmer's Market
When: Fridays, 10:30am - 2:30pm
June 5 - September 25, 2009
Where: 400 Pioneer Trail - Round Up Centre


Medicine Hat Farmer's Market
When: Saturdays, 9:00am - 1:00pm
May 23 - October 3, 2009
Where: Cypress Centre, 2055 21 Ave SE


Milk River Farmer's Market
When: Fridays, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
June 9 - September 8, 2009
Where: Heritage Hall, Main Street


Okotoks Farmer's Market
When: Fridays, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
July 3 - September 25, 2009
Where: Okotoks Country Living


Strathmore Farmer's Market
When: Fridays, 3:00pm - 6:00pm
June 19 - September 11, 2009
Where: Strathmore Ag Exhibition Grounds


Taber Farmer's Market
When: Thursdays, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
July 10 - September 25, 2009
Where: Taber Agri-plex


Vauxhall Farmer's Market
When: Tuesdays, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
August 11 - September 22, 2009
Where: Community Complex