Now that the seemingly endless days of winter are over we can jump right into summer without looking back. What better way to enjoy these months then exploring some of the fresh local produce that our city has to offer? Below is a list of the top 5 local produce events and places to get your kids outside, engaged and interested about where their food comes from.
Edgar Farms Asparagus Festival
There is nothing quite like fresh asparagus that comes right from your backyard. Edgar farms located in Innisfail is as close as it gets. This family-oriented festival takes place this Sunday, June 10th and gives you the opportunity to visit a real working asparagus farm.
Make sure to bring a cooler as you can shop for fresh asparagus (and other produce), handmade pies or even natural beef. You can also visit the farm animals, enjoy a wagon ride, run through the bale maze or get your face painted!
Admission is $5.00
Children 5 and under are Free
Poppy Innovations Garden Club
Do your kids like getting their hands dirty? Teach them how to sow, grow, harvest, and prepare food with Poppy Innovations Garden Club. Single sessions run every Thursday during June and August at the Calgary Farmers Market. This is a great way to help them develop gardening and cooking skills while giving you the freedom to grocery shop at all the local vendors!
Single session are $25.00 per child
Full program (8 sessions) is $160 per child
Ages 4 – 8
Farmers Markets
Farmers Markets are of course a great way to get kids interested in produce. It’s a much more vibrant and exciting experience then walking the dull isles of your neighbourhood grocery store.
Check out the amazing displays and find loads of information about growing seasons and where the produce comes from. Calgary has many options for farmers markets, but these are 2 of my favourites.
Starting on June 2nd, every Saturday downtown at the cSPACE King Edwards and Arts community hub you can visit over 50 local farm, food, and artisan vendors.
There’s live music, food trucks, and interactive art activities as well as a new Market Kids program to help keep everyone entertained.
Located just 20 min south of the city at the Millarville race track lies a huge farmers market that runs every Saturday starting June 16th. 185 vendors are lined up ready to be explored.
This summer they are introducing a program for kids age 4 – 12 called Market Buds. Kids can complete weekly activities to earn tokens that can be spent on the fruit, produce, or protein vendors.
They also have a bale climbing pyramid, “barrel” horses with roping steers, horseshoes and much more!
CPMA Harvest Sale
The Calgary Produce and Marketing Association puts on its annual Harvest Sale at the beginning of September. You can stock your pantry on healthy foods at ridiculously low prices. Learn the benefits of eating fresh fruit and vegetables and support the local community while you are at it. All funds raised at this event will go to support local charities and you can spend the day exploring all that Heritage Park has to offer.
So get out and enjoy the beautiful fresh produce that our city is now filing up with, and lets involve our kids in the healthy eating decisions we make by teaching them a thing or 2 of where our food comes from.
Tagged under: Calgary,Calgary Farmers' market,calgary shopping,Edgar Farms Asparagus Festival,Poppy Innovations Garden Club
Category: shopping
