Island Products Beyond the Farm
focus primarily on retailing local products, offering everything from produce, preserves, teas, and coffees, to cheeses, chocolates, and even local bath and skincare products; they cover all your bases. Such market storefronts are great for folks who want a “one-stop shop” experience with a local emphasis. In addition to the Riverview Country Market, visiting the Charlottetown Farmers' Market held each Saturday at their location on Belvedere Ave. gives you access to a variety of local producers and artisans. Our Island is home to some of Canada’s best cheeses, wines, craft beers, and preserves, and the Farmers' Market offers a generous cross-section of vendors
Signing up for a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) basket is also a great way to simplify your switch to local foods and produce. Soleil Hutchinson, of Soleil’s Farm, provides winter CSA baskets supplying produce, meat, and fermented foods weekly. “Local farmers are working so hard to create new farming systems and techniques. Supporting farmers as much as possible will ensure that we stick around, learn from our mistakes, grow better food, and create better local food security,” says Hutchinson. Signing up for local CSAs can provide you with better product diversity, as basket contents are often sourced from multiple farms, all with their own unique products and specialties.
Eating locally means more than just produce. Many people would be surprised to discover the vast array of locally-processed edibles and beverages made here at home. Preserves are a Maritime specialty, and few off-Island preserve producers offer quintessential classics like chow chow and mustard pickles – East Coast delicacies that have been cherished for generations. Island meat producers are plentiful, and often sell through market stores and farmers’ markets. Many small local butcher shops also sell ”meat boxes” several times a year, offering significant variety at a great value.
to choose from. It's a great place to meet your producers face to face, giving customers a personal experience that makes sourcing food locally much more meaningful. Building relationships with local producers helps us to, not only understand growing factors and availability, but also forge a deeper appreciation for the food we eat and where it comes from.
By purchasing boxes several times yearly, you can cut down on your annual meat costs without compromising quality.
So whether you start small, or dive in headfirst, making the move to eating locally is sure to make you feel good – both in body and in soul.
Where to Shop Locally, All Year Round
From sea salt to skincare, Islanders really do it all, and do it well. Brick-and-mortar market stores, such as The Riverview Country Market,
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www.pei-living.ca WINTER 2019
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