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It鈥檚 hard not to play favourites, but Carolyn Morris, market manager at 撸奶社区Farmers鈥� Market, has a surprising soft spot.听
鈥淚鈥檓 a 22-year vegetarian and some of my favourite vendors are the beef vendors,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy! They鈥檙e so kind and they have such high-quality beef. It鈥檚 such a wonderful option to have.鈥�
撸奶社区Farmers鈥� Market has evolved a great deal since Morris first started seven years ago. Back then, there were around 15 vendors, all of whom were artisans.听
鈥淣ow we鈥檙e booked out for the next two months with 62 vendors, plus a waiting list,鈥� she said.
Farmers have joined the artisans, coming from as far afield as Pemberton and the Okanagan.听
鈥淲e鈥檝e also got eggs consistently now,鈥� said Morris. 鈥淎nd cheese now and then.鈥�
In addition to shopping for delicious, local produce, there鈥檚 a great deal more going on this summer at the Farmers鈥� Market. While adults can relax with a coffee, listening to live music by local performers; children can enjoy arts and crafts at the dedicated kids鈥� booth.听
鈥淢om and dad can take a little exhale and enjoy the music while the kids are busy painting, or drawing, or doing some craft work,鈥� Morris said.
The booth is hosted by community individuals and groups, and Morris is seeking anyone with great craft ideas that are complementary to the market, to step forward and volunteer their services, in return for a little promotion.
At the market鈥檚 What鈥檚 On stand, visitors can learn more about a particular seasonal fruit or vegetable.听
鈥淭ake Swiss chard or sunchokes, for example.鈥� Morris said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e really exiting, but people always ask, 鈥榃hat do you do with them?鈥� The What鈥檚 On stand is a hands-on experience that unveils how you grow them and what you can use them for.鈥�
Of course, you can鈥檛 have theory without practice. So to help inspire shoppers this season, local chefs will be dropping in to wow the crowd with live cooking demonstrations, using produce bought from the market that very morning.
Finally, there鈥檚 the live music 鈥� a staple at the market these days. The official line-up is full for the rest of this season, but Morris is currently recruiting additional entertainers for other things.听
鈥淚鈥檓 putting the call out for performing artists at our market this year 鈥� performers of every other spectrum: mimes, jugglers, actors鈥鈥檓 open to anything.鈥�
If you have an act you鈥檇 like to share at the market, or would like to become more involved through volunteering, hosting the kids鈥� booth, or purchasing a Friends Of The Market membership, contact Morris at [email protected] or visit her booth at the market each week.听
