Comments on: Calgary Farmer’s Market: All this for $9.75!

By: Jbogle

Jbogle — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:07:40 +0000

Hi again! So here's the low-down for organic food at the Farmer's Market. The Blush Lane is solely organic but does import its food. Some of the local (AB/BC produce) vendors do carry organic food, but there isn't a consistent stand/area and there isn't a consistent stock. The best bet is to start your shopping at the Blush Lane (where it's guaranteed organic), and check the labels to see where it was produced. It will often state 'Mexican avacados', or 'BC apples'. It would be great to have a local, organic producer, but that combo has yet to come to the Farmer's Market.
On the other hand, spud.ca does offer local and organic food, which even gets delivered to your door! Perhaps that's a better alternative?

By: @franatic

@franatic — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:38:00 +0000

These are all good points, and I'm totally with you on the notion that we have to do what we can to influence policy makers and be responsible in our choices.
Thanks for the discussion

By: JBogle

JBogle — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:47:51 +0000

Sorry for the late response- my comp hasn't seemed to work for the past 2 days! To be totally honest, I'm not sure how much is organic. I know that there are specific 'organic tables' within some of the produce providers, but I'm not as well versed on the organic farmers market options as I should be. I'll investigate more this weekend and get back to you on the farmers market/organic topic.
As for the choice to eat locally or eat organically, I believe that it's a personal choice. For me, it's more important to support the local vendors, reducing the foodmiles, and encouraging local farmers to practice safe and healthy farming techniques. And within my peer group, I try to demonstrate that you can do things like the '100 mile diet' without a major sacrifice and disruption in your life. Doing the right thing doesn't have to be hard!
On the other hand, my sister will only purchase organic produce, as she has a two-year old and wants to avoid putting any toxins into his system… but she rarely visits any local markets! In the supply-and-demand market, will her purchases at Superstore in the organic aisle make more local producers farm organically? I'm not sure.
Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to your chicken/egg question. I think the more important issue we all need to work together on is influencing those who we love about the wonders and health benefits of eating organic, local food!

By: @franatic

@franatic — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:08:28 +0000

It's so awesome that you managed to get all of this beautiful food for such a deal!

I'd like to ask a rambling question, though – How much of the produce you purchased was organic? I try to support the farmer's market, but I always find it so frustrating to find options that are both local and organic. I find myself constantly torn over which is more important in the big picture. Local means fewer foodmiles thus less resources used to get it to my plate, as well as support for local farmers. While organic means a decreased ingestion of toxins and questionable additives, and the hope that these same toxins won't be in the soil/water for the future. It becomes a "chicken or the egg" type question. Support local farms and then they can be persuaded to become organic over time perhaps? Although, there must be organic produce farms already in our area of the world but – why aren't they at the Market?

By: Susan Wood

Susan Wood — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:35:56 +0000

Hopefully, you didn't make "leech soup!"

Maybe LEEK??