MARKET MUSINGS

April 29, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jan Freedman

We’re back!
At least we will be on Saturday, May 2, when the Aurora Farmers’ Market and Artisan Fair reopens on Wells Street, and along the pathways in Town Park. Given the cool spring so far, we are hoping that the weather will cooperate and become warmer between now and the weekend.
I have been told that the cool spring may mean that things are about two weeks late this year, but there will be lots of products to interest you, even at the beginning of the season.
Of course, there are the items that winter over well, such as beets, carrots, onions and apples. Andy of 19th Avenue Farm may still have some cider available. Soon there will be the early spring produce such as rhubarb, asparagus, radishes, garlic, lettuce and fiddleheads. However, in addition to the farmers’ fare, there is so much else to bring you to the Market and here are some of the vendors you can expect to see at the Market this season:
Among the farmers, we will have 19th Avenue Farm, Breezy Ridge Farm with their lamb products, Brook’s Farm, Coopers CSA Farm (starting in June), Highmark Farm, Howard’s Farm, Kind Organics, Nature’s Rainbow and their heirloom seeds and plants (only in May and June), Oakridge’s Finest, Pioneer Brand Honey, Summerside Farm, Willowtree Farm and a new farmer, Pefferlaw Creek Farms who will bring their own maple syrup.
To date, we have two wineries confirmed, but we might have others join us. The two confirmed wineries are Pillitteri Estates Winery and Willow Springs Winery.
Our food vendors include Boulangerie Saint George, Catharina’s Kitchen, Family Kitchen, Jan’s Country pantry, Cosmo’s Smoked Meats, La Brehandaise Catering (Pascal’s crepes, plus his new poutine), Nutmeg Bake Shop, Rustic Breads, Sasha’s Sweets, Gabriel’s Café, Green River Coffee, Nicolle’s Cakes, Sass Tea and new vendors Primal Pizza, Mix it up Health Bar and Attilio’s Olive Oil.
This year our talented artisans will include The Bear’s Den, Captain Ted’s Knick-Knack-a-Thon, Cathy’s Crawly Composters, Davis Pride Crafts, Eurasia Jewellery Design, Eva Nagy and Nancy Wood, Green Leaf Designs, Kibo Natural Body Care Products, Limitless Jewels, SDD Flags and new vendors Beauty Babes, Doodle Post, Sewing Bear and Chalkboard Charts, Laundry Tarts, True North Trappings and Jennifer Fisher Essentials will alternate with MK Designs (handmade clothing).
Carrie’s Creations will be joining us again, but only on special event days.
At the moment, we know that we will be hosting these community groups on various days throughout the season: Amnesty International, the Aurora Public Library with their reading programme, the Aurora Cultural Centre, the Aurora Garden and Horticultural Society, the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society and their tea room, and the Optimist Club. You can expect additional community groups to join us for a day here and there during the season.
We are very excited about this upcoming season and we invite you all to come and visit and greet old friends and meet our new vendors. Opening day will see a great band, a scavenger hunt for the children, face painting, a guessing game involving a jar full of items, and a market bag draw among the attractions.
See you at the Market!