The Local Businesses and Faces Behind Edmonton's Farmer's Market: A Photo Essay

Local shoppers usually go to a Farmer's Market to enjoy crafty products, chat with local producers, and search for a deeper connection to their purchases. Although that's always a worthy pursuit, I wanted to dive even deeper.

With this Photo Essay, I desired to see the faces and stories behind local ventures in order to get a full picture of what goes into local products. So, I journeyed through Old Strathcona Farmers Market to get a taste of local entrepreneurship and small/ family businesses, so you can do so in the comfort of your own home. Hopefully, this will also inspire you to put your coat on and scurry down to Edmonton’s Farmers Market to get a taste of local shopping. The doors are open every Saturday, year round!

Employee makes coffee, while guests pay at the coffee shop inside Old Strathcona Farmer's Market on Feb. 2nd, 2019.

I started snapping photos from the top of the market, in order to get a full view of the bustling bodies, various venues, and glistening products that showcase Edmonton's vibrancy.

Meredith Thompson at the Soap Cakes by Pam booth on Feb. 2nd, 2019.

Meredith's story really stuck with me, because their whole family comes together to specialize in separate parts of making the perfect Bath Bomb. They're like homemade efficiency bombs that pamper you after a long day.

Bath Bombs from Soap Cakes by Pam's booth on Feb. 2nd, 2019.

They carry a variety of different bath bombs with designs that are sure to please both adults and children! They also enjoy discovering and featuring new scents every month, so be sure to stop by often.

A sign by Dandylion Confections overlooking the Farmer's Market.

Just as I was leaning down to capture this sign, the lights went out and I laughed about the strange coincidence with the founder of Dandylion Confections, Ashley.

French Macarons at Dandylion Confection's vendor booth.

Make sure to try Ashley's homemade macarons, which she makes from scratch! The texture and endless variety of flavours of her macarons never stop delighting her customers.

Olivia Handel in front of Confetti Sweets' both on Feb. 2nd, 2019.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Olivia, who has worked at Confetti Sweets for around 3 years. Confetti Sweets first began when Kathy Leskow started selling a few batches of homemade cookies at local markets, then she expanded her cookie empire to 3 storefront locations in Alberta. They pride themselves on only using real and simple ingredients, without compromise.

A variety of handmade jewelry can be found at the market.

A blue bracelet made by an unknown brand rests in a yellow case.

Jenny Shaw reaches for natural meat at the Four Whistle Farms vendor on Feb. 2nd, 2019.

Jenny Shaw is a fellow employee at Four Whistle Farms, and has worked at the market for 6 years! The farm specializes in natural meat without the use of soy feed, antibiotics, hormones, or unethical growing practices.

Ethically raised, antibiotic and hormone free meat from Four Whistle Farms.

To mix up the visuals, I captured a close-up of the pure meat you can find at Four Whistle Farm's vendor. The founders have an interesting story; they immigrated to Canada in the early 1990s and opened up a farm in 1997, which grew into a profitable business.

Jordan Pearson (an employee) in front of Soup Time's promotional poster.

Jordan Pearson is another interesting character I met, who is fond of painting and striking natural poses. His pithy remark "you just just need 8 cups of water, and a mix of dry ingredients, and the soup is ready in 30 minutes" is sure to make any customer buy the convenient soup.

J.P Decorby (left) and Eric Decorby at The Candyman booth.

Meeting Eric and J.P Decorby was a delightful experience. They took off their jackets in order to pose for the camera, and proudly told me about their business. After crafting treats for friends before being a part of the market, Eric's Grandpa started The Candyman in 2000. As their passion grew, they continued to make delightful treats for the whole family in Edmonton. They also have seasonal treats for special holidays, and some specialty products that can be ordered anywhere in the world.

A small portion of the organic products available to shoppers at the market.

August Organic's sign located to the left of the market's entrance.

August Organics is another vendor who has existed at the market since its beginning. The founder, Dan Vriend was originally a teacher, yet missed the farm he had grown up on. Thus, Dan and his wife rejoined the farm, which was on the brink of being utilized for urban expansion. Thus, they purchased separate land and continued their passion for ethical and organic farming by starting fresh. Currently, their family grows 25 different types of vegetables and different varieties of small fruit, and continues to be an important vendor at the market.

Hopefully, this photo essay has inspired you to shop local and get more in touch with Edmonton's growing entrepreneurial spirit. The mix of traditional and innovative styles of craftsmanship that can be found in Edmonton is sure to keep most local businesses and shoppers happy!

Photo Credit: Adelya Nugmanova.

https://adelyarn.wixsite.com/yegentrepreneurs