Successful marketing

Many people are eagerly anticipating the June 14 opening of the 2014 summer season of the St. Albert Farmers' Market, known as Western Canada's largest outdoor farmers' market. But three more weeks is a long time to wait for those who enjoy local produce and supporting local vendors.

There is no shortage of other nearby markets that offer garden-fresh produce, regional arts and crafts, and other goods. In fact, it's possible to shop St. Albert without even shopping in St. Albert.

There are close to 30 farmers' markets in the Edmonton and surrounding area. The newest one is set to open a week after the opening of the St. Albert market and it's going to be located in a neighbourhood that already has an established and popular market.

Mother's Market

Bob Holm is a partner with Straw Man Farm, a bison ranch located 50 kilometres north of St. Albert. He's also the operator behind Mother's Market, the newest farmers' market to open and the second one located in downtown Edmonton.

Holm figures that he'll do fine though. He saw that there was more than enough interest from vendors to start up another market in that area, even though it's only five blocks away from the bustling City Market on 104 Avenue.

"It's crazy interest! I can't believe the interest. I can't keep up on my emails. I can't keep up on my phone calls," he exclaimed. "It is crazy. I haven't even advertised once."

Last week he said that his market is probably three quarters full already, with some of the vendors coming from large Alberta farms and B.C. orchards.

"I've got unbelievable food coming in here."

A complete listing of vendors wasn't available by press time but Holm promised that it would be good and would definitely include Straw Man Farm bison products.

The farm will also be selling at the St. Albert and Morinville farmers' markets. Please check those markets for dates.

Mother's Market is set for a June 20 opening and will run for full weekends, starting Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It's located in the old Mother's Music store, 10251 109 St.

Castle Downs Farmers' Market

The Castle Downs district of north Edmonton is still relatively close to many St. Albertans, especially those living in Akinsdale, Kingswood and Pineview.

That suits Andrea Beach perfectly. The St. Albert resident has managed markets over the last 15 years and is the current manager of the Castle Downs market, as well as a vendor.

She said the demand is strong for products of her home-based business: Granny's Great Pickles and Jams. That's why she's been at that market for about five years.

"We have about 30 different kinds of jams and jellies and we do all different kinds of pickles: pickled beets, pickled carrots, farm fresh eggs. We do relishes and in the summer – when it's seasonal – we do pickled pickles!"

While her clientele is established, the market itself has been in a bit of flux while it finds a permanent home.

"It's a fairly new market. We've only been transitioning for the last three to four years into our new location. We've had to move a couple of times, which of course doesn't help."

Granny's also operates booths at a few other markets in and around Edmonton. Beach has applied to the St. Albert Farmers' Market as well.

The Castle Downs Farmers' Market is located at the Castle Downs Recreation Centre/YMCA at 11520 153 Ave. The year-round market is held outside during the summer months and inside the centre during the winter.

Old Strathcona Farmers' Market

This market is probably the best known of all the Edmonton markets, and for good reason. It has 130-plus vendors, it's well established (as it's in its 31st year of operations) and is located in a very busy hub of Edmonton's south side, right next to Gateway Boulevard and a block north of Whyte Avenue.

There, you'll come across a gemstone booth, local meat suppliers, arts and crafts and a veritable bounty of produce, organic or otherwise.

It also has a healthy St. Albert, Morinville and Sturgeon County presence. St. Albert-based Souptacular has held a booth there since 2001, and it holds a significant spot in both the heart and the business model of co-owner Maureen Obrigewitch.

The most important factor to her is that this market is a year-round indoor fixture on the scene.

"It's not seasonal. We kind of call that our storefront," she said. "Once you start looking around there, you're going to be amazed at how many people are from out of town, from acreages that come to this indoor market."

John Schneider of Morinville's Gold Forest Grains agreed. His booth has been on site there for three years and the day-end receipts offer all the proof that he needs to keep it up.

"We'll do up to five times the sales volume at the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market than we'll do at any other farmers' market in Edmonton. It's a great market," he said.

He has tried other markets including the City Market and the Southwest Edmonton markets as well but says that he just wasn't getting what he wanted out of them.

The problem with those others is where the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market's greatest advantage lies.

"The issue that we have with the seasonal outdoor markets is they're more an attraction-type market. You get a lot of people that are looking for a form of entertainment on a Saturday. They walk through. It's a beautiful place; they look at various things. They may buy things but the sales volumes are significantly lower than a place like this, which is year-round and well established. People come here to buy food."

Gold Forest will also have a booth at the St. Albert market as there are a lot of loyal customers in this city, Schneider said.

Other local vendors there also include Peas on Earth and West Country Herbs.

The Old Strathcona Farmers' Market is located in the Old Bus Barn at 10310 83 Ave.

Some of the others

There are many, many other local vendors that can be found at other markets outside of St. Albert.

Morinville-raised visual artist Kaytlyne Dewald sells her pop culture-inspired artworks downtown at the City Market. St. Albert Greenhouses and local author Corinne Jeffery will have booths there at times during the summer as well. It's located on 104 Street north of Jasper Avenue.

Sunnyside Fruits and Vegetables is a Sturgeon County farm that has a booth at the Millwoods Farmers' Market, located at 7207 28 Ave. at the Millwoods Recreation Centre.

The 124 Grand Market includes Sparrow's Nest Organics, Meadow Creek Farms and White Earth Honey. It just had its opening on Thursday. The open-air market is located on 108 Avenue and 124 Street.