Chilly temperatures and grey skies weren't enough to keep people from flocking to the opening day of the Yellowknife Farmers Market.
Around 600 market-goers – young, old and more than a few canines – perused a myriad of up-for-grabs goods offered by 37 vendors at Somba K'e Park on Tuesday.
Along with the return of seasoned sellers and their staple products – from jewelry and soaps to artisans and hot and ready foods – day one of the outdoor marketplace saw some fresh faces make the foray into the market.
“This year we've had a really great turnout with our food vendors. We have lots of new faces this year which is really exciting. We like to see more people coming out,” said market board president Hannah Eden.
Eden said new additions to the seasonal line-up have helped the non-profit society meet its goal of vendor diversification.
Sarah Swan is one of those new faces. As one half of the duo behind the Real Food Cafe – a newcomer to this year's market that serves up fish and veggie burgers alike – Swan said the lakeside venue offered a unique opportunity for the budding business to break into the Yellowknife food scene.
“I've always wanted to see the Yellowknife Farmers Market scene in person and try out a bit of my entrepreneurial side and work with my good friend as well,” said Swan.
Her friend and business partner, Franziska Ulbricht – who launched the local food-focused company in Hay River five years ago before relocating in Yellowknife – said the name “Real Food” says it all.
“Healthy food, real ingredients. We try to have a lot on our menu based on locally grown food,” said Ulbricht.
Along with a focus on locally grown goods and bringing in fresh faces, a push for more fresh produce has been emphasized by market organizers this season.
Leading up to Tuesday's opening, board members called on more produce growers to set up shop in a bid to boost the variety of vegetables available to patrons. Organizers had hoped to double the overall vendor list.
Market coordinator Laura Busch said it's still too cold and too early in the growing season to assess where the Farmers Market is at in reaching its goal of attracting more produce-focused vendors, but that she was pleased with a promising first day turnout.
“We're happy with the amount we have now. I was personally pretty blown away at some of the produce that was locally grown on sale. I know my vegetables are nowhere near that far along,” said Busch, noting one vendor had already brought along radishes.
But Busch said the market is still “actively looking for more produce growers to reach out to the market if they want to get involved.”
For growers who want to get involved but don't want to operate a stall, green thumbs can drop off their home grown produce at the market's “harvesters table.”
“Anybody can come if they have excess produce and sell it to us,” said harvester table coordinator Courtney Chetwynd.
The market retains 25 per cent of sales, while produce growers pull in 75 per cent.
“We're hoping to grow a lot more and get the word out,” added Chetwynd.
In keeping with the market's overall theme of food sustainability, the compost program – fueled by volunteers who ensure containers make it to the right bin – is up and running again.
“We aim to be a zero waste market and we've gotten really close to it. We require all our vendors use compostable packaging which is something they're all on board with which is great,” said market coordinator Busch.
The opening day of the market – which will run Tuesdays from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. until Sept. 18 – was kicked off by drumming from Yellowknives Dene First Nation councillor Bobby Drygeese to signal the market's place on traditional Indigenous land.