Despite a late spring and flooded farmers’ fields, the St. Albert Farmers’ Market will open Saturday, June 18.
The St. Albert Farmers’ Market will be 29 years old this year and now boasts more than 250 vendors. The St. Albert Chamber of Commerce-run event was originally started to bring people into downtown St. Albert.
“Our official opening will be at 9:45 a.m. with Mayor Nolan Crouse and MP Brent Rathgeber on hand. We have also invited both St. Albert MLAs and the St. Albert Community Band will be in attendance,” said, Lynda Moffat, chamber president and CEO.
Last year an average of 12,000 to 15,000 people visited the market each Saturday from June until it closed in October.
“Some of our vendors, including the Morinville Hutterite Colony have been with us every year,” Moffat said.
The park and ride system from St. Albert Centre has improved parking woes for the downtown businesses as well as for those attending the market.
“The park and ride had in excess of 400 riders each Saturday. That takes a few hundred cars out of downtown,” Moffat said, adding that the service is free and the City of St. Albert donates the use of the buses.
It’s too early for the freshest garden vegetables and new potatoes to be out for sale, but all the vendors selling ethnic food and tasty cheeses, baking and sausages will have goods for sale. There will also be crafts and jewelry.
“We are opening earlier, because we must be competitive with other markets in the area,” said Moffat, adding that St. Albert’s market can still boast that it is the biggest in Western Canada.
Several special Saturdays at the market are planned for 2011, but the exact dates will be announced throughout the summer. Those days include a Yellow Ribbon Day that will pay tribute to the military families in the area. There will also be an Artists’ Village organized by local artists.
Most of the produce sold at the market comes from within a 100-mile radius of St. Albert.
“As much as possible it is a 100-mile market except for B.C. tree fruit vendors,” said Moffat.
Rain or shine the St. Albert Farmers’ Market remains open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning June 18 and ending Oct. 8.
