 This winter has been a little more forgiving than others, at least so far (don’t want to jinx it now!). However, how could I not say that with such a beautiful winter day this Family Day. The sun was out and shining since the early morning, persisting until the evening’s sundown. It was the perfect day to go out on a walk, enjoy nature, and stop by the Sorauren Farmers’ Market.
It’s crazy to think that we are halfway past February. It’s making me think of Spring already for the wild ramps, fiddleheads, and of course the morels it brings. However, before we get to that special part of the year, things get a little bit sweeter. Do you know what I am talking about? Let’s see if you guessed it...Maple Syrup season!
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 With over 190 years under its belt, the Guelph Farmers’ Market is probably the oldest farmers market I know. The market has been around since 1827 and remains an integral part of the community and a destination for many locals and visitors on Saturday mornings. The market located downtown Guelph and is open year round and starts bright and early at 7am and is open until noon.
The Guelph market is significantly larger as many other markets in the area, with over 120 vendors in the summer and around 60 in the winter. It can get quite packed during its peak hours between 10am and noon so I would recommend to get to this market early! This way you can take your time and leisurely explore the market. Being there early also means you get your hands on some of the best stuff before vendors sell out! Let me take you through my visit of this historical market and show you which products you can expect to find during your visit. See the video here!  I finally had the chance to visit the Elora Farmers’ Market the other weekend. I’ve been to Elora a couple of times before to explore this charming little town and, of course, to wander around the Elora Quarry. But I’ve never had the chance to visit the market on Saturdays.
You can feel the market’s unique charm and character, from its location right alongside the Grand River to its vendors and market patrons. Let me take you through my day at the Elora Farmers’ Market and tell you what local goodies you can expect to find! Watch video here  If you are not from the Guelph/Wellington area, Rockwood may not sound familiar to you but hopefully this post will change that! Rockwood is a small town located on Highway 7 (between Acton and the City of Guelph) and is home to the Rockwood Conservation area, Goodfellow's Field To Fork Bakery, and of course the Rockwood Farmers' Market on Wednesdays! The Rockwood Farmers' Market is a young, small but growing market that has become the best mid-week activity in Rockwood during the summer months. It’s perfect for anyone who prefers to avoid the Saturday market crowds, or maybe as an additional mid-week grocery top up. Or it’s just simply a great reason to get outside and be part of the community!  I had the pleasure to go back to my old stomping grounds the other weekend when I visited the Aberfoyle Farmers Market, located in Southern Wellington County, just of the 401 corridor. This market has a special place in my heart as I discovered this market a couple of years back coming back home one day from the Guelph Farmers Market. Ever since then, I visited the market regularly and had even become friends with some of its vendors! The Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market is a hidden gem just off the 401 located at the Optimist Recreation Centre. I like to think of this market as small but mighty because of its vast offerings of products in its space. You can find everything from fruits and vegetables to meats from chicken, pork, lamb all the way to Wagyu beef, baked goods, sweet treats to the best apple fritters you’ll ever have! Watch the video here
 Rural Ontario Farmers’ Markets are as unique as the community or town itself. These markets may be a little bit of a farther drive but they are something to truly experience!
Mount Forest, located in the very north of Wellington County, boasts a downtown with stunning architecture, clearly identifying it as a historically important centre. The town is conveniently located at the cross roads of provincial highways 6 and 89, which makes it on the path for rural commuters and tourists heading north towards the Bruce Peninsula or west towards the beaches of Lake Huron. A perfect stop if you are heading in either of these directions for the weekend! Let me tell you a little more about this market and what you can expect to find during your visit.  There are so many farmers markets locally, more than I can realistically visit! I am slowly crossing farmers’ markets off my ‘to-visit’ list and the Erin Farmers Market is definitely one I am planning to get to soon!
The Town of Erin is located in eastern Wellington County, about a half hour drive from Brampton or Milton. The market itself is located at McMillan Park and runs Fridays from 3-7pm from the end of June until the end of September. It would be great to visit the town (and market) this Friday (August 16th) for their Annual ‘Late Summer Lemonade Party’ which brings the whole downtown to life, with a huge sidewalk sale, lemony treats and of course lemonade!  Me at The Minto Famers Market with my market haul I’ve gone to my share of farmers markets in the last couple of years but I’ve never had quite as much fun than this past Saturday at the Minto Farmers' Market in Palmerston! This small town farmers market was unlike any market I have visited before. It’s not just a market to grab your market haul for the week but it is a place where you can go back in time, hop on a train or a hand car if you are feeling adventurous and learn some of the town’s history.
 Strawberry season is upon us! And it’s only the first sign of all the good things that will follow from haskaps and gooseberries to blackberries and blueberries to peaches and plums!
Here are some of my favourite ways to celebrate Strawberry season:
 You would think that after the summer season has passed, the busy streets and beautiful countryside hills of Italy would be silent. Quite the contrary in fact, the fall season here brings excitement with the start of the season for olio nuovo (new oil, olive oil) across the country and the season of tartufo bianco in the Langhe and Montferrat areas of the Piedmont region in northern Italy and around the cities of Alba and Asti. The fall colors of the Italian countryside are also quite the sight to see. While some green does remain, red, orange, and yellow hues are also present, creating a beautiful contrast in its landscape. I was lucky enough to know someone who knew someone in the olive oil production business here in Italy. I was able to connect with Fil Bucchino who is a certified Olive Oil Taster and founder of Abandoned Grove, “an alliance of olive oil farmers, producers, chefs and visionaries, on a mission to change the perception of what a true extra virgin olive oil really is.” Every year, as the season brings in a new harvest, they put on an Olive Oil Festa among family, friends, and neighbours. Fil was kind enough to extend an invite for me to join in on this humble and closed family affair to see the grove, eat some food, and learn a little more about what true extra virgin olive oil really is. |
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