With beautiful weather and locals picking up their weekly produce, baked goods, plant starters, curry and more, Revelstoke's first official market of 2015 was a success. While the market boasts tried and true local favourites, there were also a few fresh faces to investigate.
If you're looking for fresh eggs or any kind of meat bird, Jerry Suderman from Crossroad Farms is a vendor worth checking out. Enjoying his first summer market, Suderman offers chicken eggs (with duck eggs coming in the early fall) as well as chicken, game hens, turkey, duck and goose meat. All his animals are fed natural feed and are free range. Teria Davis, who purchased eggs last week from Suderman, had nothing but praise. “There were great,” Davis said, “and six of them had twin yolks in the eggs. I couldn't believe it!”
Also hailing from Armstrong are Halee and Avery Fried with Composted Chicken Manure.
The Frieds make the compost at their farm, Corfe's Farms, where they raise broiler meat chickens. Bagged and ready to be tilled into the garden, the Frieds will be at the market until mid June, when people’s gardens are set and ready for the summer. “The manure has an odour,” Fried warns. “But your plants will thank you for it.”
Janis Morrison is joining the market for the spring session and is excited to be offering her handmade bead and metal bookmarks and paracord pet collars.
“I hope to be here for the summer if I can get in,” Morrison explains. “I'm from Salmon Arm and know the market managers for the Shuswap, Gene and Sharon from Mayfair Farms. They encouraged me to try the Revelstoke market.”
Michele Broemeling is embarking on her second year at the market. Her food company, Dawg Waggin; Home of the Quinoa Clucker, offers a variety of eggs and cheese sandwiches, smokies and a gluten free chicken dog made from organic chicken and quinoa.
“This year I'd like to add a couple salads, one feta, one Asian,” Broemeling says, “I'm also waiting on permission from Interior Health so I can make a gourmet dog with grilled romaine and garlic aioli.”
Trevor Kehler of USED Recycled Seat Belt isn't new to the market, having cut his business teeth there in 2003, but he is back after a season off. All of Kehler's products are handmade in B.C. from reclaimed vehicle seat belts.
“I make everything from backpacks to diaper bags, computer bags to purses, even sun visors,” Kehler elaborates. “And I'm happy to be back at the market.”
Gay Witowski is starting her fourth year at the market, but this year she has vastly expanded her range of homemade wooden toys. From Malakwa, Witowski hand makes everything on the table.
“It's the toys that have been popular,” Witowski explains. While still offering her wall hangings and jewelry, children flock to her truck, puzzles, dragons, boats and tractors. “I'm excited for the season,” Witowski says.
Many of her wooden toys start at five dollars, allowing children to save up their money and make their own purchases. Other popular items are the small animal wooden cut-outs, which are five for a dollar and ready to paint or play with.
Barefood Market Gardens from Revelstoke, brainchild of Nadja Luckau, is back at the market. While Luckau is in her fourth year at the market, this will be her second in offering a variety of starters for local gardeners to plant. She currently has a selection of herbs and tomatoes, dried tomatoes and herbs, as well as fresh vegetables.
There are, of course, many long time favourite vendors returning. A prime example of this is Kelly Roberts and her baked goods, Baked in BC. Roberts is entering her seventh year.
Roberts initially got into the market because she couldn't find work in town. The market, she enthuses, has been great. “It's full of young vibrant people who want to purchase. And look at where we live, you can't beat this location.”
What's more, now with a repeat clientele who know and love her goods, Roberts can work full time for herself in the summer months.
Long-timer and newbie vendors alike have experienced or heard of the popularity of the Revelstoke market. Keysha Jackson, the market manager, says this is reflected on how hard it is for new vendors to get a space in the summer.
“July and August we're pretty full,” she laughs, “This is a popular market to be a part of.”