You can't argue with the convenience. You can screech into the grocery store at five past your workday, load up on plastic-wrapped meat, California salad greens and veggies from Mexico, then race home, throw it all together and have the dishes done before Tom Bergeron kicks off Dancing with the Stars.
Is a tasteless meal of truck-ripened produce and overgrown chicken really the way we want to eat though?
No.
And that's not an opinion only passed around by snooty foodies and fearful conspiracy theorists. We all want food that tastes good and is good for us.
With the arrival of spring, the all-too-brief farmers' market season has arrived once again.
It's at these weekly congregations of farmers, bakers, makers and browsers that good food finds its calling. It's where we run out of excuses for putting sub-standard food on the table.
Farmers' markets create healthy networks that support our food producers, provide increasing opportunities for fresh, seasonal and local foods to find an audience, and best of all, they bring us together.
TOMARKET
LONSDALE QUAY FARMERS' MARKET runs Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the East Plaza, 123 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver. Find traditional and organic produce, prepared food vendors, crafters and more. Info: artisanmarkets.ca or 604-318-0487.
AMBLESIDE FARMERS' MARKET runs Sundays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. until Oct. 28 in the parking lot behind the police station on Bellevue Avenue and 13th Street in West Vancouver. There will be traditional and organic produce, prepared food vendors, crafters and more. Info: artisanmarkets.ca or 604-318-0487.
CIVIC PLAZA GREEN MARKET A showcase of local Canadian made products, unique foods, art, jewelry and entertainment Wednesdays, May 23-Oct. 24, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Civic Plaza, 141 West 14th St., North Vancouver. Info: canamade.com.
LYNN VALLEY GREEN MARKET A showcase of local Canadian made products, unique foods, art, jewelry and entertainment Thursdays, May 24-Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Lynn Valley Square, 1277 Lynn Valley Rd., North Vancouver. Info: canamade.com.
MAPLEWOOD GREEN MARKET A showcase of local Canadian made products, unique foods, art, jewelry and entertainment Saturdays starting May 26 a.m.-3 p.m. at Maplewood Farm, 405 Seymour River Pl., North Vancouver. Info: canamade.com.
SHIPBUILDERS GREEN MARKET A showcase of local Canadian made products, unique foods, art, jewelry and entertainment Fridays, June 15-Oct. 26, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. at Shipbuilders Plaza, 138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver. Info: canamade.com.
TROUT LAKE FARMERS' MARKET runs Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the north parking lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake, Vancouver. The market features a great selection of organic and conventionally grown produce and nursery items as well as meat, cheese, seafood and prepared foods of all sorts.
WEST END FARMERS' MARKET will run every Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. from June 2-Oct. 20 in the 1100 Block of Comox Street across from Nelson Park, Vancouver. There will be local produce, prepared foods and crafts as well as hot food and coffee on-site.
MAIN STREET STATION FARMERS' MARKET will run every Wednesday, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. from June 6-Oct. 3 at Thornton Park in the 1100 Block of Station Street across from the VIA Rail Station, Vancouver. There will be everything from produce to meat and cheese, baking and more. Hot food will also be available on-site.
