I love me a good farmers’ market and this is one of the best –National Geographic Traveler named it Best Farmers’ Market of 2013. I like to visit between May and mid-October, when its more than 200 vendors take over 104th Street, temporarily closing it to traffic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. This market always signals the start of summer to me., and part of me dies when the stalls move inside into City Hall for winter.
In the winter, Edmonton’s downtown market fills the bright glass rotunda of City Hall with fresh, fluffy bread, locally designed clothing, hand-spun yarn and artisanal chocolate (those are just my first few stops). In the summer, the market sets up on historic 104 Street with blocks and blocks of local farmers, crafters and makers of everything else too. Both of these locations are architecturally impressive – City Hall mirrors the glass pyramids of the Muttart and is filled with public art. And, converted turn-of-the-century factories and commercial warehouses line 104 Street – come back at dusk for the groovy neon sign museum.
Based on North Cooking Lake, Beanstalk Honey is a local business that sells honey at farmers’ markets. Tracey sells several different varietals, including dandelion, clover, alfalfa-clover, thistle and wildflower. You can find her at the Downtown Farmers’ Market, held outdoors on 104 Street Promenade in summer months and inside City Hall the rest of the year.