Flavourful Saskatoon, March 26, 2012

Foodie news and events in and around Saskatoon – spring greens, Easter baskets, raspberry canes, and food security 

Spring Greens
There are more fresh products every week at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market. Goodlife Greenhouses had basil, chard, spinach, lettuce and dehydrated tomatoes. Floating Gardens had baby bok choy, eggplants, cherry tomatoes, Chinese chrysanthemum. Grandora Gardens has lettuce and cucumbers. And I’m sure I’ve missed some items. Three cheers for spring!

 Make Your Own Easter Basket, March 29
Create an Easter Basket filled with delicious locally made products on March 29 from 6:30-8:30 pm at SaskMade Marketplace. Build a custom-made gift basket, sample some treats and take advantage of the in-store specials.

Gardenscape, March 30 – April 1 
You’ll find lots of friends at Gardenscape, including Ag in the Classroom, Bedard Creek Acres, Garlic Garden of Yorkton, Over the Hill Orchards, Premala’s Spicy Sensations, Saskatchewan Fruit Growers’ Association, Saskatoon Farmers’ Market, and The Berry Barn.

Check out the schedule for the Backyard BBQ Cooking Show featuring Saskatoon chefs cooking Saskatchewan products.

Springtime Handmade Market, April 13/14 
The Flock and gather craft collective will be holding a spring craft market on April 13 and 14 at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall on Broadway Avenue.

Food Security in Saskatoon
 Rachel Engler-Stringer is an Assistant Professor in Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan. Her editorial in The StarPhoenix provides an overview of the steps that she believes are needed to implement the Saskatoon Food Charter and increase local food security. Her suggestions include increasing the number of community gardens, planting fruit-bearing plants in city parks and requiring green roofs on all new developments.

Organic Gold Raspberry Canes
Over the Hill Orchards has organically grown gold raspberry plants for sale.

Farm to School
The State of Washington has a wonderful Farm to School website. It includes information about local crops and school gardens. There are various programs to promote selling and serving locally-produced foods in schools, universities, hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions.

Flavourful Saskatoon is a weekly Monday feature. I also post regular profiles of culinary entrepreneurs, new restaurants and new food products.

Follow me on Twitter or subscribe to Wanderlust and Words by email (top right-hand corner) to stay on top of Saskatoon’s evolving food culture.

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