Several of the vendors wore red and white, but there was no official Canada Day theme at the Innisfil Farmers’ Market on July 2.
Farmers’ markets are still banned from holding special events that might attract crowds and make physical distancing impossible, said market manager Jaime Grant.
All the same, there was a sense of celebration in the south parking lot at the Innisfil Recreational Complex, as the number of vendors returning to the Innisfil market continues to grow.
Lorna Jarrett brought Mama Milly’s Jerk Seasoning and Jamaican Patties to Thursday’s market, but wanted shoppers to know that she is not Mama Milly.
“Mama is my mom, and Milly is my husband’s grandmother – two wonderful people,” Jarrett explained. “The Jerk Seasoning recipe is theirs.”
New at the market were Shay’s and Horace Art, featuring the artwork of young Black artists, and Baubles and Botany, featuring nature-inspired cabochon pendants, handmade reusable produce bags, and garden plants.
Chris Carmichael made the jewelry on silver-plated or faux leather chains, and “grew all of the seedlings,” including three types of hot peppers, beans, cherry tomatoes, and mystery tomatoes.
His mom, Mary, made the reusable produce bags by hand.
Chris was asked about the mystery tomatoes.
“The seeds got mixed up,” he explained.
There’s no way of telling whether the plants will produce cherry or roma tomatoes, until the fruit ripens. The plants were available at a discount.
Also new to the market was Lisa Stratton, The Lunch Lady.
The local franchise used to cater to schools, providing a hot lunch program at local schools, and schools as far away as Minesing and New Lowell.
With schools closed since March due to COVID-19, Stratton said, “right now we’re pivoting to do home-style meals for families and for seniors.”
Meals include shepherd’s pie, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken teriyaki on rice.
“I do have other choices on the menu,” she said of the meals, which are delivered chilled and ready for the freezer, providing a reasonably priced option for families and senior residents.
“We’ve also started a ‘Donate a Meal’ program,” Stratton said.
Customers can purchase a full meal online for only $5, to be donated to the Barrie Women and Children's Shelter.
So far, the program has generated 120 free meals for women at the shelter.
Market-goers, many wearing facemasks, were careful to practise social distancing as they made their way around the stalls, following the arrows to do their shopping, as they picked up fresh produce, home baking, natural and organic meats and chicken, and artisanal products.
The Innisfil Farmers Market is open every Thursday at the Innisfil Recreational Complex at Innisfil Beach Road and Yonge Street, and every Friday at the Cookstown Tanger Outlet Mall on 88 (Entrance 4), from 1 to 6 p.m. each day.
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