To Market, To Market, Jiggity-jig.

It's shaping up to be a fantastic year for local foods.
Last year (2013) the government took steps to redefine the word "local". While it formerly meant within 100km, local now refers to provincial wide. This is great for rurally produced foods who want to sell in large urban centers and be able to market their product as local but it also means you could be eating a salad in Kenora with tomatoes grown by your neighbour in Bayham Township and the restaurant would be completely honest in calling them 'locally grown'.
We're incredibly fortunate to have access to a wide variety of high quality agro-products grown and prepared right here in Elgin County. When you think about it, it's really the best kind of problem to have: so much food to choose from in season the imports aren't needed.
Last weekend was a soft opening to market season when I had a booth set up at a local trade show. This weekend is the grand opening with the full-on farmers' market beginning May 10. But wait - there's more!

Spreading the Bread Love - with Tea

Just in case you can't seem to get yourself out of bed early enough on Saturday mornings, you will now have another option on where to pick up your sourdough bread on Saturdays. Wildflowers Tea, located on Fruit Ridge Line, south of St. Thomas, will be selling Elgin Harvest loaves at their newly opened farm store!
Jane, from Wildflowers Tea, has been a vendor at the St. Thomas market for the past four seasons and has taken the plunge to open her own store on her family's farm. The store provides space for offering eggs, organic produce, yoga classes, seasonal festivals, workshops, and of course, wildflower tea - much of it grown on the farm. Not only can you sit on the porch and enjoy a steaming cup of wildflowers tea, you can also stroll the gardens to see and smell the positive energy that vibes from the land.
I'm incredibly excited to work with Jane and I look forward to sharing and supporting our passion for good food at the farm store this season. This Saturday is a great time to visit the farm - Wildflowers is hosting an open house from 10-3.
You can find out more information about Wildflower's Tea by visiting the website.
I wrote about Wildflowers Tea in 2012 when I used a tea to prepare Lavender Mint Shortbread.

As mentioned, this Saturday is the opening day of the St. Thomas Horton Farmers' Market. This is my fifth season at the market and I'm anxious to see familiar faces and tempt new fans with all the baked goods and preserves I can whip up.
- Sourdough breads
- Seeded Crisps & Hummus
- Cinnamon Brioche Rolls with Blueberries
- Cherry Cardamom Scones
- Coconut Brown Butter Brownies, Salted Chocolate Rye Brownies
- Sourdough Croissants
- Rhubarb Curd Tarts with Buckwheat Sable
- Pecan Butter Tarts
- Kamut & Nut Cookies
- Live-Cultured Tri-Coloured Kraut
- Pickled Jalapenos
- Seville Orange Marmalade