Fresh and organic produce, rotating food trucks, fresh chicken and eggs, and artisan and gourmet foods: These are just some of the plans for a biggest-yet North Delta Farmers Market.
Following a "soft" opening on Mother's Day (May 10), the market will spend its third year outside Sungod Recreation Centre, 7815 112 St.
And unlike its first two years at the Firehall Centre for the Arts (then called the Firehall Farmers' Market), this produce market will run every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Nov. 1 – and the Dia de los Muertos Festival.
The produce is expected to arrive shortly.
"We are eagerly awaiting news of early season strawberries, and have been promised to be one of the first markets to have them," says organizer Anne Janzen. "Our farmers are busy in the fields and preparing to bring a bounty of fresh produce as it becomes ready to harvest."
For smaller producers, the market will dedicate one booth to the Gardeners Club, where backyard gardeners can sign up and bring their surplus harvest to sell.
A new feature is the New Vendor Showcase, which will be juried and will promote the best up-and-coming artisans.
"It will be the customers who decide which vendors they want to see back every week as we tailor (the market) to this new location," says Janzen.
Pointing to a knoll just north of the Sungod parking lot behind the McKitrick Garden, Janzen says there's a perfect spot for live music once the market hits its stride.
Previous markets have also included pottery, paintings, photography, jewelry, fabric arts, woodwork, glassware (stained, blown, fused, painted and etched), clothing (knit, woven, dyed, silkscreened and painted), home and garden decor, and greeting cards from Watershed Artworks.
The market's twin will be the Tsawwassen Saturday market, running each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Oct. 31 at Earthwise Farm and Garden, 6400 3 Ave.
To apply as a vendor or for more information, visit northdeltafarmersmarket.com or email farmfreshevents@gmail.com
Other local outdoor markets:
• The Surrey Urban Farmers' Market runs on Wednesdays from 1-6 p.m. from June 10 to Oct. 7 at Surrey City Hall Plaza, 13450 104 Ave. The hours are new this year.
• Back for a second year, The Surrey Night Market runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 6-11 p.m. from May 29 to Sept. 20 at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 60 Avenue and 175 Street.
• The White Rock Farmers' Market runs each Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May 24 to Oct. 11 at 15154 Russell Ave. beside the Whaling Wall. Free parking; dog-friendly.