Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

Happy (early) Thanksgiving!! Canadians have been celebrating Thanksgiving Day every year since 1879, but I was surprised to find that the date was initially a Thursday in November. The date of the celebration has changed several times since then until, in 1957, it was officially declared to be the second Monday in October.


Who's celebrating the made in Canada way? Local turkeys, veggies, and pies are a great way to celebrate while supporting Canadian farmers and businesses.


Before we headed to one family celebration Saturday, we hit up another Canadian tradition - apple picking!! Did you know that apples are Canada's largest fruit crop in terms of weight of food produced, and that the McIntosh, which is the only variety grown in all apple-growing regions of Canada, makes up half of all Canadian apple production? We didn't get any McIntosh though; we stuck with my boys' favourite Galas, and my favourite, Mutsus. After picking, we stopped in the bakery for a pumpkin praline pie - it was delicious! If you're in the area, one great place to visit is Buy Canadian First member Wagner Orchards and Estate Winery . Not only do they have apple picking but also horse drawn wagon rides, a bakery and winery open for tasting and purchases - the perfect way to spend a fall day.

Speaking of apples, we enjoyed a great treat during another family thanksgiving get-together this weekend (yes, we had a couple to go to), apple cider! It's the perfect drink for a Thanksgiving celebration. Buy Canadian First member, Growers Cider , makes a fantastic line of cider including Granny Smith, Gala Apple Strawberry, and White Cranberry. It was a fun treat for everyone and brought back some great memories of crisp fall days of old.


As a young family, we are enjoying keeping up our family traditions and creating new ones. What are some Thanksgiving traditions in your family?

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Wagner Orchards and Estate Winery and Growers Cider.

Our tomatoes are lush and gorgeous in my backyard in Manitoba . The plants that I put into the ground have turned into meter high shrubs, heavy and sagging with fruit. They mock me, the tomatoes; they are all green with a small flush of pink. I am afraid I will have a mountain of ripe tomatoes all of a sudden. If that happens, I am in big trouble. I need to prepare. There are oodles of ways to enjoy the fruit (and vegetables) of your labour all year round.

 

One of the easiest ways to preserve is a root cellar. Once a common sight across Canada, they are slowly making a comeback. This is evident in news stories  as well as this great web site called root cellars rock,  that focus on food preservation and historic cellars. Items such as potatoes, apples, onions, squash and carrots can all be stored there. Even without a root cellar in your home you can still create one in your garden by burying a large bucket or steel trash bin in the ground, ensuring that you have good drainage away from the container and a good, tight fitting lid. Once the bin is full, seal and then cover it with a bail of hay to insulate the bin during the Winter. Of course, this project may not always be in the cards so Buy Canadian First member Springwater Woodcraft have a beautiful potato bin  that would grace any kitchen or cold room.

 

The freezer is an awesome and easy way to preserve your harvest. Items such as berries, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, zucchinis and carrots can be taken from fresh to frozen with little preparation. Berries can be washed and frozen on baking sheets to later be used in yogurt, smoothies, pancakes or just as is. I usually cut the top off my tomatoes and freeze them in large freezer bags whole. The best part is that when you are ready to use them, just immerse in hot water and the skins will come right off. Blanching and freezing is also easy. Vegetables like beans, corn, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and even dark, leafy greens such as kale and spinach can all be processed in this way. Each vegetable has it's own processing time and later can be used in any of your recipes. Buy Canadian First member Paderno and their stainless steel cookware  can help with the process for many harvest seasons to come.

 

What I adore about these preserving techniques is that the food remains as close to its natural state as it can. With that said, some days nothing compares to a delicious jam on your peanut butter sandwich or pickles, with my favourite being bread and butter pickles. In jams and other conserves, sugar is used to preserve the fruit. While pickled items such as cucumbers, onions, asparagus, peppers, carrots and radishes use acid and salt with seasoning. This will extend the shelf life of your precious harvest in the tastiest of ways. Of course if that is just too much work, Buy Canadian First member Crofter's Organic  has a scrumptious variety of jams for you.

Wish me luck with my endeavours with my tomato harvest! I will soon be hard at work making salsa and sauce to enjoy the year through!

How do you preserve your harvest?

image credits: Buy Canadian First members;  Springwater Woodcraft, Paderno and Crofter's Organics

I live in a small, French-Canadian town  in Southern Manitoba. I was a little apprehensive when I moved here, but six years have passed and I can't come up with enough reasons to move back to the city. Back then, as pretty as this place is, my first glimpse left me unimpressed. I was missing my coffee haunts, the zoo, the book and art supply store as well as the anonymity of city living. I now see that this small section of Manitoba has all one needs; a grocery store, hardware/liquor store with a post office, restaurant and bar, K-12 school, bank, insurance company, arena, curling rink, campground and social hall. Recently a health centre and daycare opened. Life in this friendly town is very comfortable.

  

When I lived in the city, I often saw the Co-op gasoline stations, but thought nothing of it until I moved to the country. In my area, there are about six Co-op locations. All are a part of a small, regional group offering petrol, food, farm supplies, hardware and more. Throughout the Western provinces, there are about two hundred and fourty retail Co-op locations , all of which form the Co-operative Retailing System. Co-ops are owned and operated by members of the community that they service. Each member has a vote to elect members, who also live and work in the community, to the board of directors . Co-ops bolster the local economy, employ locally and support community projects or charitable organisations.

 

 

I have to admit that I do shop at the Real Canadian Superstore, about every six weeks, as some things are unavailable at my Co-op food store, like cilantro and Buy Canadian First member So Good and their yummy chocolate beverage.  The best thing about my local Co-op is the Manitoba-produced products available on its shelves that include eggs, carrots, honey, cheese and pork. It doesn't stop there! My Co-op also has Canadian products that includes beef, salmon, milk, apples, tomato paste, soup, potatoes, locally baked items, prepared pizzas and fresh-made perogies. How awesome is that?  I wouldn't trade in for the world, being able to buy local Canadian-made products in rural Manitoba at a reasonable price, from people who greet me with a huge smile and by name. Now ,if only they would sell me the winning lotto 6-49 Quick Pick...

 

 

So Canada, I encourage you to support your local businesses, seek out homegrown enterprise and continue to shop for local and Canadian made product.

Do you have a favourite local business?

 

image credit: Andrea Willowcat and Buy Canadian First member So Good 

You are what you eat, does this old idiom have a leg to stand on? In fact it does; the importance of folic acid to a growing fetus, or the devastating effect of plaque build up over time in coronary arteries, are just a couple of examples of the importance of the food we eat. The way we choose and eat our foods today  is a glimpse into the health of our future selves. Here are 8 of some of the best foods to eat and all of them are produced or made right here in Canada!

Yogurt- It is believed that humans have been eating yogurt for nearly 4,000 years! Yogurt is high in calcium and contains live active cultures that allow the calcium to be absorbed easily in to your body. It is high in protein, riboflavin and vitamin B12 and can be enjoyed by people who are lactose intolerant (as it contains lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose). Quebec's Liberté has a great yogurt line including plain yogurt . Dress it up with a drizzle of honey and some sunflower seeds or use this recipe to transform it into a creamy cheese that you can substitute for veggie dip or sandwich spread.

Omega 3 - ok, it's not a food and it sounds like a superhero troop and frankly it should. Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid that our body cannot produce on its own. Omega 3 can help reduce inflammation throughout your body, inhibit thickening of the arteries, reduce the risk of becoming obese and help prevent cancer cell growth, just to name a few of its benefits. If you suffer from Depression, Cardiovascular Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Fatigue, Dry, Itchy Skin, Brittle Hair and Nails, Inability to Concentrate and Joint pain you may want to up your omega 3s. Flaxseed and salmon are the top Omega 3 foods. Buy Canadian First member True North Salmon Co.  offers both fresh , hot and cold smoked Atlantic salmon. 

 

Blueberries -Rich in vitamin C, their dark colour makes these little rounds a treasure trove of antioxidants. Antioxidants are believed to protect us from the damaging effects of free radicals and diseases associated with aging. Research has shown that antioxidants can help prevent heart disease and cancer, reduce high blood pressure, and slow the affects of aging. It even has been associated with enhanced memory, improving vision, clearing arteries and preventing urinary tract infections. The blueberry is also part of a campaign to become our nation's national fruit. Native to all provinces and territories, blueberries have been a staple for all of Canada's peoples for centuries.

 

Tomatoes - Tomatoes contain a powerful cancer-fighting agent known as lycopene. Lycopene is found in several red fruits and vegetables, but in Canada the tomato is the sure winner. This is one food where its processed cousins (tomato paste, sauce and juice) are almost better than the real deal, as cooked tomatoes have more absorbable lycopene than fresh tomatoes.

 

Beets- Red beets are a power house of goodness. The pigment Betacyanin, that gives the beets its colour, is just one of the many reasons that the beet is a disease fighter. High in anti-carcinogens, fiber, folate and beta-carotene the beet plant protects again colon cancer, birth defects and osteoporosis.

 

Dark Leafy Greens A rich source of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins; K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats. The star vitamin in the dark leafy greens is perhaps vitamin K. It is known to regulate blood clotting, protect the bones from osteoporosis, and may even help prevent diabetes. At the farmers market this summer, looks for fresh spinach, swiss chard, beets greens, collard greens, and kale. Some can be eaten raw and all can be cooked.

 

Nuts and Dark Chocolate Nuts are full of omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturated fats and fiber. They also contain L-arginine, a substance that helps improve the health of your arterial walls. It does this by making them more flexible and less prone to blood clots. Nuts also contain plant sterols, a substance that helps lower cholestorol. Try nibbling on the Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds by our member Brookside Foods. This treat is a double whammie as Dark Chocolate is filled with heart-healthy flavanoids which keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, and slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.

 

Your health is nothing to laugh at and if a life time of care equals a better quality of life in your golden years it is sure with the extra effort. Don't you think?

What do you do to keep you and your future self healthy?

Photo credits: BCF members, blueberries Flickr Jeff Kubina, tomatoes Flickr St0rmz, beets Flickr BD's world, swiss chard flickr woodlywonderfulworks

My husband and I are very fortunate to be able to eat just about whatever we want to ....and that's just it! We ARE lucky, because 1 out of 133 Canadians, including several people I know, have Celiac Disease, a condition that prevents them from eating gluten, a very common ingredient in many, many foods.

Gluten is an ingredient in flour that helps baked goods keep their shape. This is why gluten is found in so many processed and packaged foods. Foods such as barley, breading, Communion wafers, hydrolyzed wheat protein, modified wheat starch, oatmeal, oat bran, oat flour, whole oats, wheat flour, wheat germ, and wheat starch, must be avoided, and food labels diligently studied for 'hidden' sources of gluten. You really have to look because even freezies can have gluten in them! Thank goodness for nut free, dairy free, gluten free and kosher Freezies from Ontario-based Kisko Products !

Eating a gluten-free diet is a life long commitment! For the sake of my friends with this intolerance, it's good to know that companies like El Peto Products are dedicated t0 making and distributing lots of different types of delicious, gluten free foods. Known as "The Gluten Free Experts", El Peto has been in business since 1988 and all of their fresh products are made in Cambridge, Ontario.

But, oh oh! Gluten isn't just in food! It can also be found in things like lipstick,  skin cream, shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste! Who knew? Well, companies such as Natural Beauty knew, a mom & baby store, owned and operated by Shelli Chastkavich, a Canadian mom in B.C. Natural Beauty carries everything from mineral cosmetics to cloth diapers and everything is  "free".

Vidoma Naturals  is another Canadian company that makes gluten-free skin and body care products. As a matter of fact, 99% of their products can be used by Vegans! They were ahead of their time when Marilyn Haggerty, an Aromatherapist and Dorothy Turner, a Chartered Herbalist, started their company in 2003 and continue to be so today.

 

On Facebook, some of my friends are actively discussing changing over to gluten- and wheat-free diets... and they don't have Celiac Disease or food allergies. They are just very concerned about the long term effects of the contents of the products that they are eating and using. With this in mind, they are turning to people like Maggie of Peterborough, Ontario, whose gluten-free blog, She Let Them Eat Cake,  both informs and entices!

What about you? With "free" products becoming more varied, competitively priced and available, would you consider going gluten-free, even if you don't have allergies or Celiac Disease?


Image source: BuyCanadianFirst.ca

I am in the middle of reading The 100-Mile Diet - a fascinating experiment in food that a Canadian couple wrote about. Their goal was to eat only food within 100 miles of where they lived (Western Canada), with some guidelines. If we look around, this may seem like a daunting task. Where would grains come from? How strict would the diet have to be about coffee, citrus fruit or chocolate?

This got me thinking. How easy would it be to at least eat Canadian? Inspired by the book and the Buy Canadian First website, I decided to try and make a meal plan for one day, using only Canadian made products and food. Luckily, as I discovered, the website has a lot of Canadian food sources. What do you think of the meal plan below? I think it sounds tasty!  

Breakfast: Natunola health's delight Omega-3 Instant Oatmeal topped with Jakeman's Maple Syrup. And, of course, at least 2 cups of Kicking Horse coffee, a dark roast.

 

Mid-morning snack: Fruit is always a nice, light snack in the morning, but in Canada, it's hard to find in the winter (but there are so many options in the summer!). If you have some Canadian fruit in the freezer, or if the seasons change and you have access to it, try adding fruit (fresh or frozen) to Liberté yogurt (I'd try lemon or vanilla).

 

Lunch: Most grocery stores now have their own bakery and make fresh loafs of bread daily. If yours isn't reliable, go to your local bakery and pick up a fresh loaf of multigrain bread and fill it with Gold Seal canned salmon and mayo. On the side, have a bowl of El Peto Gluten-free chicken soup. 

 

Mid-afternoon snack: Jakeman's Maple Almonds.

 

Dinner: Clearwater Fresh Mussels to start. 

 

To cook (2-3 pounds):

- Add 1/2 cup white wine to a large saute pan or Wok. When it reaches boiling point, add fresh mussels. Steam until cooked. Meanwhile, in a separate sauce pan, cook 6 pieces of bacon. When cooked and crispy, remove from pan and let cool. Drain the pan but don't rinse and in same pan, add 1 cup cream and 2 minced cloves of garlic. Stir until thickens slightly. Serve over cooked mussels.

For a main course, fresh Canadian chicken breast baked in the oven. Before putting in the oven to cook, marinate with Very Berry Honey's Pineapple Citrus Honey Glaze. Serve on top of healthy Canoe Cooked Wild Rice from Shoal Lake Wild Rice.

Dessert: This is really the best meal of the day, right? For a light treat, choose Chapman's Frozen Yogurt (cherry and chocolate? Yes please!) or for something more decadent, finish with David's Milk Chocolate Caramel Popcorn from Chocolate Signatures. If you are feeling really daring, try both!

 

Eating Canadian can be very easy if we stop to think about where our food comes from, read the labels and make different purchasing choices. 

Do you eat a lot of Canadian food? Do you shop at local farmer's markets during the year?

Image source: BuyCanadianFirst.ca

Aging. Unfortunately, this is something that all of us must undergo throughout our lifetime. Many of us try very hard to slow this process. There are many companies researching incredients that can help reverse the signs of aging. One such new skin care ingredient that is being increasingly used and studied is Sea Buckthorn oil.

Sea Buckthorn is a plant that is native to central Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and Asia. It has been used for medicinal purposes in Europe since Grecian times. Sea Buckthorn is now more readily available in North America as there are more and more growers. These little golden berries have taken the Canadian natural skincare industry by storm. The fruit itself is full of antioxidants, omega fatty acids and vitamins. The oil that's extracted has been known to help several skin conditions like roseacea, eczema, acne and wrinkles. The oil naturally filters UV rays and was also found to aid in skin and tissue regenration (therefore great for treating cuts and burns). 

 

Mont Echo is a Canadian company based in Quebec.  The company was founded almost ten years ago when Sea Buckthorn plants were first brought to Quebec. Since then, the Mont Echo orchards has been expanded to several thousand plants. The focus of Mont Echo is to create Sea Buckthorn products for bath and body uses as well as for consumption. Mont Echo is a member of the APAQ (Quebec Sea Buckthorn Grower's Association).

 

Mont Echo has an assortment of Sea Buckthorn products. A list of products can be found here.

A couple of their products definitely caught my eye while browsing their products. PurSea lip balm is made with infused sea buckthorn oils, which is great for dry lips. And who doesn't need lip balm anyway?  I know I always have lip balm in my purse and can always use more. Another product I noticed is PurSea moisturizing lotion. It is made with a variety of soothing oils including Sea Buckthorn oil. With winter coming, I know lotion is an important part of my daily regimen and should be one of yours too.

   

Mont Echo products are available online and at select retailers. Please visit their website for more details.

Have you used Sea Buckthorn products and want to share feedback on them?  Feel free to leave us a comment.  We would love to hear from you!

Image sources: BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Mont Echo

As I look out my window this morning, I see a few leaves starting to turn a lovely golden orange colour.  Summer is dwindling and fall is rapidly approaching.  School has started and my garden is yielding wonderful bounties.  I do admit I start to get a bit sad when I know that winter will be here before long.  But like many other people, I do prepare my family for winter by freezing a few vegetables and fruit harvested and I even make some of my own jams, jellies and relishes.  When tomatoes are plentiful, I even manage to make some of my own salsa.

Nothing tastes better to me than homemade.  I admit, I am spoiled, my mother had a very large garden when we were growing up.  We were spoiled with homemade jams and other goodies.  Now I am happy that I can make some of the things mom and grandma made for my children.  My oldest started school this fall and she is very happy to have some of mommy's strawberry or raspberry jam on toast. My husband loves my homemade salsa, especially when I make it a little spicy.

I use my own fruits and vegetables when I can but also buy locally what I can't produce myself. I also try to buy Canadian grown fruits like peaches and cherries.  

I am so pleased to blog about a  Canadian company that have all the necessary tools for making your own canned goods. This company is called Bernardin and I use their products all of the time in home canning.

Bernardin has all products for home canning ranging from Mason jars (made in Canada) and lids, home canning accessories, recipe books and food products.  I use their pectin for my own jams and jellies and really like how they turn out. I discovered this past year that Bernardin makes a No-Sugar needed pectin which works with artificial sweetners or fruit juices. I will be trying this in the future as we all are trying to cut down on sugars in our diets. 

For those that are afraid of using a canner, they also offer Freezer Jam pectin.  Nothing is easier than making freezer jams and you certainly can't beat the taste either.

 

There is also a recipe section on the Bernardin website for use with their products. I have used these recipes and they do turn out well.  There are lots of interesting and delicious recipes.  There is even a recipe for a Tomato-Peach salsa that was featured on the television show CanadaAM.

Bernardin products can be found in your local grocery stores and you can even purchase their products online.

Why not try your hand at making your own jam or jelly?  Do you have a favorite recipe?  Feel free to share with us your comments!

Image source: Bernardin, Tina Farthing

This is the third and last installment of my conversation with Jeff Rubin, author of the Canadian best-seller "Why your world is about to get a whole lot smaller: oil and the end of globalization".  

 

Congratulations to Randy Berg who has won the second of three autographed copies of Jeff's book. Read Part 2 of this series and his comment here. Dont forget to read Part 1 if you haven't. You too win a copy! All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment on this post, sharing your thoughts about this issue: If you are concerned or encouraged, agree or disagree, etc. We will then randomly select a winner and send the copy. The deadline for Part 3 (this post) is next Sunday, August 30th). Hurry up though: This is the last one we are giving away!

Isabelle: It's a pretty amazing concept and it's something I hope our politicians have the guts to handle.

Jeff: Don't worry about the politicians. When oil is $ 7.00 a gallon at the pump, people will know exactly what to do. They will send the right message to the politicians. For example, I don't know why we're spending billions of dollars to pro-up the auto-industry that's due to obsolescence by triple-digit oil prices. We should be investing billions in public transit instead of putting more cars on roads.

Isabelle: If Europe can do it, we can do it, right?

Jeff: Exactly. But here's the difference. In Europe, they've already been paying those prices for the last 10 years. When we start paying those prices, we'll become European. It's all about price. When gas is $ 7.00 a gallon, people won't have to buy my book. They'll know exactly what to do.

Isabelle: Can you tell me more about the concept of Carbon tariff on imports?

Jeff: I'm just saying this: if we're going to close coal plants and pay 3 times as much for our electricity...Now I know in Montreal you're blessed with hydro-electric power but that's not the way it is for most people in North-America outside of Quebec and Manitoba who have hydro-electric. It's coal plant or gas. California doesn't allow coal plants, so their power prices are 3 times as much as Texas. But if we are going to, all of a sudden, shut coal plants around North-America and pay 3 times as much for our electricity and then find out that China is building 800 coal plants, that does not make a whole lot of sense. So what I'm saying is we can't stop China from building coal plants, but what we can do is say : "if your steel factory gets its power from coal, from dirty power, we're going to charge you a tariff so that you pay the same price for your carbon emissions as our steel producers pay for their carbon emissions. In other words, you don't gain any economic advantage by using dirty power.

Isabelle: And what are the chances that someone will stand up to China and say that?

Jeff: The chances are excellent once we start paying 3 times more for our own power to close a coal plant. Because there's no point us making economic sacrifices for the environment if they're just going to be building coal plants like mad. Again, we can't tell them what to do, but what we can do is make sure they gain no economic advantage when they trade with us by using dirty power.

Isabelle: That would certainly fix 2 problems at once: the environmental one and the unfair trade that's going on.

Jeff: Exactly. And I think that's coming. There are some big changes and some big challenges but you know, it's not all doom and gloom. At as I say at the end of the book, in many respects, the new small world around the corner may be a whole lot more livable than the big one we're about to leave behind.

Isabelle: As a parent, I must tell you that I hope you are right. And in the meantime, I'm getting myself a ZENN Car!

Jeff: Now that makes sense! That's why I say: the key is not about the Bank of Canada, the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister of Canada or the Premier of Quebec. It's not about those guys. It's about you and me and the decisions we make everyday in our lives.

Isabelle: And I think that's the most uplifting message of your entire book. Thank you very much for writing it, and thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it

Jeff: Thank you and best of luck with your website!

Tell us what you think about Jeff's theory by next Sunday, August 30th. We will then randomly select a FINAL winner who will receive an autographed copy of  "Why your world is about to get a whole lot smaller."

Image source: China Digital Times

Last week, while out for a long overdue lunch with my mom, I had a rhubarb crisp for dessert. Susie of the Jasmine Tea room in Altona, Manitoba had made it that morning with local rhubarb and served it with vanilla ice cream. I swear it was like nibbling on summertime. This first taste of local food has made me excited for the local produce available in my region and hopefully my garden too (keep your fingers crossed).

As we journey through our beautiful vast country we have not been disappointed by the selection of foods available to Canadians (read our other posts on local foods available in British Columbia & Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Maritimes). We are half way through our local foods cross country adventure; let's see all the delicious treats Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador have to offer.

Quebec
Quebec not only has local foods but it has foods available year-round, foods like cheeses, milk, eggs, flour, seafood and charcuterie (cured meats) to name a few. The region around Montreal has some of the richest black earth in northeastern North America, and 90% of Quebec's growers are within a 60Km radius of the city.

Le Marché du Vieux-Port  of Québec city open daily may to Christmas and then Thursdays through Sunday the rest of the year. This market gives you delights like cheese, foie gras and pates, cranberries, maple products, rabbit meat, fruits vegetables and so much more. This market mirrors rural life even though you never actually leave the city.

Pomme en Fête is available from March to December and located in the Lower Laurentian region of Quebec, about 45 minutes north of Montreal. This is where you can stroll between 40 farms, orchards, vineyards and other businesses involved with agri-tourism. You will also find some pick your own farms as well. There are several kinds of apples grown in this region and here is their harvest calendar.

Quebec boasts an impressive choice of organic foods: beef, goose, bison, goat, chicken, turkey, and even ostrich, eggs, grains, milk, fruit, vegetables, maple product and medicinal herbs. To find an organic producer in your region just use  Transformation Alimentaire Quebec's handy search engine.

 

Montreal's main Farmers markets are the Jean Talon Market, the Atwater Market and Place Faubourg. Learn about them here. There are many other markets and stands around town and on the outskirts as the agriculture around Montreal is vast and rich.

Finally, do not forget to read this website in detail: Équiterre. This organization is building a social movement by encouraging individuals, organizations and governments to make ecological and equitable choices, in a spirit of solidarity. They have lots of resources and ideas not only for local food but for a sustainable lifestyles as well.

Newfoundland and Labrador

I am sure this is a sentiment that Newfoundlanders are tired of hearing but they certainly do have some interesting location names. Wordplay.com has a humourous list some of my favourites are: Ha Ha Bay, Bumble Bee Bight, Bad Bay, Bacon Cove, Traytown and Harbour Harbour. This unique style of naming didn't stop with locations as some of their culinary staples are also exceptionally named: Brewis(hard bread), Jigs Dinner(traditional meat and potato dish), Lassy Mogs and Figgy Duff(pudding). One thing for sure, fish and seafood are main staples, specifically Codfish. Other local goodies include Pease Pudding - which is made of yellow split peas, Bakeapples Preserves, moose meat, and others.

Lester's Farmers market is a 150 year old tradition located on Lester's Farm near St. John's. Along with the market there is a petting barn, corn maze, a pumpkin festival and a U-pick strawberry patch. Open Daily from 10 a.m to 6 p.m.

After a wonderful first year, the St. John's Farmers Market will be open once again. Open for the 2009 season since June 6th every Saturday until November, when the hours will change to 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.. 

Cormack's Farmer's Market located in Deer Lake (western Newfoundland) has all the ingredients of a lush farmers market including fresh cream and butter. Open daily June - August from 9 a.m to 8 p.m. offer.

Riverbrook Farms Country Market, in Corner Brook is one of the largest vegetable farms on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. Open: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, Monday to Saturday; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays (June to December).

Canada is certainly one tasty country! Don't forget to leave a comment of your favourite local food, market or recipe, we love hearing from you!

Image sources: Flickr TyeGuyII, Max Shepp, Transformation alimentaire Quebec,  St. Johns  Farmers market