Flavourful Saskatoon, June 3, 2013


Sun and Suds, June 13 
The tenants at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market are once again pairing their food with Paddock Wood beers at 6 pm on June 13. Tickets for Sun and Suds are $35 and are available from Garlic Guru, Riverbend Plantation or Wild Cuisine & Catering.

Kaleidoscope Gardens 
Kaleidoscope Gardens is back at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market. Their first Saturday market will be June 8, and they’ll be located opposite Wild Serendipity Foods. They have burgundy, white and yellow Swiss chard as well as spinach, sorrel and chives. They have planted 10 varieties of Asian and Italian eggplants which should start to be available in late July.

Louis’ Loft 
Browsers’ in the Memorial Union building on campus has been renovated and renamed. Louis’ Loft will serve fresh baking from Wild Serendipity Foods and Museo and fair trade coffees.

Wilson’s Greenhouse
 Three Sisters/Nestor’s Bakery will have a market stall at Wilson’s Greenhouse from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.

Java in Southwest Saskatchewan
Go Here Destinations lists the top 5 coffee shops in southwest Saskatchewan.


The Importance of Markets 
Barcelona has 40 markets that supply the majority of all fruit, fish and vegetables purchased in the city. The markets are used more by disadvantaged groups than by wealthy populations. Barcelona residents rank their public markets as the second most valuable public service after libraries.

Prince Charles Speaks Out 
Prince Charles speaks out on cheap food and our global food production system:

“Charles said the drive to make food cheaper for consumers and to earn companies bigger profits was sucking real value out of the food production system – value that was critical to its sustainability. 

“He said: “I am talking here about obvious things like the vitality of the soil and local ecosystems, the quality and availability of fresh water and so on, but also about less obvious things, like local employment and people's health. It is, as I fear you know only too well, a complex business. 

"The aggressive search for cheaper food has been described as a 'drive to the bottom', which I am afraid is taking the farmers with it. They are being driven into the ground by the prices they are forced to expect for their produce and this has led to some very worrying shortcuts.” 


What is “Local” Food? 
Good news. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded its definition of “local” food. It used to be within 50 kilometres, but the new interim policy includes food produced in the same province in which it’s sold as well as food sold across the provincial border so long as it’s within 50 kilometres.

Urban Agriculture
Will Allen’s three-acre farm in a disadvantaged area of Milwaukee feeds 10,000 people.

Spring Greens … Weeds
Don’t be too quick to dig up the weeds in your garden. You may find some that make excellent salads.

Pimm’s Cup Popsicles 
If you’re an anglophile, be sure to look at this recipe for Pimm’s Cup Popsicles.

Photographs: Mercat de la Boqueria, Barcelona


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

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