Spring is here and that means it is time for the Lacombe Farmer’s Market.
Lacombe will have its first farmer’s market of the season May 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Michener Park.
Kit Glimm, who has been managing the Lacombe Farmer’s Market for the better part of the past decade, said that the Lacombe market has been around for a long time and has always seen great support. “We’ve been going strong for many years and obviously we are doing something right,” said Glimm. She added that the number of repeat customers the market sees every season is proof of its quality.
She added that many people today are more conscious about where their food comes from and that may have something to do with the market’s success.
“People appreciate the fact that it is locally made and locally grown,” said Glimm. She also said that she feels locally grown food, especially produce grown in someone’s own backyard, is better for people than something grown elsewhere in the province or even in another country.
“It just is. I mean that’s common sense really,” said Glimm. “It’s bound to be better for you, I think.”
Glimm said that there can be anywhere from 50 to 100 vendors at the market, depending on the weather.
While she could not say exactly how many vendors would be at tomorrow’s market she did anticipate it would be “quite full.” She added that one of her fruit growers from B.C., always a popular vendor at any market, would be on hand for the first market.
While the Alberta Farmer’s Market Association does allow for the Lacombe Farmer’s Market to have some larger, commercial vendors Glimm said that most of the vendors sell products that are handcrafted, homegrown or otherwise produced locally right around Lacombe.
“The majority of the market is make it, bake it, grow it.”
Everything from baking, produce, honey, jams, jellies, stained glass, woodworking, flowering plants, fresh-made kettle corn and crafts can be found at the Lacombe Farmer’s Market, said Glimm.
Organic products can also be found at the market, she added. Glimm herself even hawks her wares at the market, selling handmade crafts.
The Lacombe Farmer’s Market will run every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until the Thanksgiving weekend.
There will also be a number of special markets during the Christmas season and one around Easter as well.