To celebrate the corn harvesting season in B.C, the Coquitlam Farmers Market will be holding a small corn festival with a corn cooking demo and some fun corn facts at our next market, August 11th. Our local farmers will be bringing a selection of freshly harvested corn varieties for sale. Today’s blog is a showcase of some corn varieties brought for sale by our various vendors!
Peaches and Cream Corn
This distinctive variety is best known for its mix of yellow and white kernels. Enjoyed for its sweet flavor and tender texture,
peaches and cream corn is a variety to enjoy. B.C farmers plant this variety in the late spring and early summer, when warm soil temperatures and the moist, well-drained soil provide ideal growing conditions. Under full sun, it is one of the fastest maturing corn varieties, and goes from seedling to harvest in only 70 days. As such, it is generally available midsummer. A good starting crop for beginner corn growers!
At the Coquitlam Farmers Market, you can find the Peaches & Cream variety at Maan farms and Mandair farms. Stop by for a sweet treat!
Yellow Sweet Corn
Yellow Sweet Corn is the term for a group of general varieties that are bred for human consumption. Most corn species grown worldwide are
not suited for cooking, and are used in animal feed, oils or processed foods. Yellow Sweet Corn, however, contains a recessive mutation that turns the starch in the kernels to sweet sugar. Although this makes for a delicious, nutritious treat, the simple sugars more prone to decay and must be cooled right after harvest and eaten fresh.
Yellow Sweet Corn prefers temperatures between 60F and 100F in moist, well-drained soils. Harvest occurs in 60-100 days from a late spring or early summer planting. Make sure to enjoy this treat while it lasts!
General yellow sweet corn can be found at Crisp Organics.
On July 14, 2019 we hosted our first ever Blueberry Dessert Competition. This competition took place as part of our annual Blueberry Festival. We had 8 delicious entries and below are the recipes for the Top 3!
CAKE
2 3/4 c unbleached flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
I c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp lemon flavour
1 Tbsp lemon zest
6 eggs
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 c milk
1 1/2 c blueberries (1/2 cup used for decoration)
1. In one bowl, mix dry ingredients together (flour, baking powder, salt)
2. In another bowl, mix wet ingredients, in order, except milk (butter, sugar, vanilla, lemon flavor, lemon zest, eggs, olive oil)
3. Alternating dry ingredients and milk, add into wet mixture. Mix just until combined. Begin and end with dry ingredients.
4. Stir in blueberries. Pour into 2 x 8″ cake pans (buttered and floured).
5. Bake in 350 degrees oven for 25-30 min. Test with toothpick.
6. Let cool completely before icing cakes.
ICING
1 ½ c butter
4 ½ c powdered sugar
3 Tbsp heavy cream
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 c blueberry puree (cooled – recipe below)
Blueberry Puree
Cook 1 ½ c blueberries with just enough water to cover berries. Bring to boil, reduce heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture reduces by about ½. Cool!
1. Cream butter
2. Alternately, add powdered sugar and cream (add vanilla to cream) to butter, starting and ending with powdered sugar.
3. Stir in cooled blueberry puree.
4. Icing for 2 x 8” cakes!
5. Decorate with remaining blueberries!
6. Enjoy!
2nd Place: Blueberry Cheesecake Susan Wilander, Baker
INGREDIENTS
Crust
9 whole gingersnap cookies
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
3 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin (measured from 2 envelopes)
12 ounces Philadelphia-brand cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 cups fresh blueberries
Topping
1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon sugar
4 1/2-pint baskets blueberries
2/3 cup blueberry jam
1/4 cup Blueberry liquor (reduced over low heat to 2 tbsp
RECIPE PREPARATION
Crust
Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until cookies are finely ground. Add butter and vanilla; process until moist crumbs form. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Bake crust until deep golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool.
Filling
Pour 1/4 cup water into small saucepan; sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir over very low heat just until gelatin dissolves. Set aside.
Blend cream cheese, cream, sugar, and lemon juice in processor until smooth. Add berries; puree until smooth (some blueberry bits will remain). With machine running, add warm gelatin mixture through feed tube and blend well. Pour filling into crust. Cover; chill overnight. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Release pan sides. Transfer to platter.
Topping
Beat cream and sugar in medium bowl until firm peaks form. Spread cream mixture thickly over top of cheesecake. Place berries in bowl. Heat jam in small saucepan over low heat until just melted add reduced liquor . Pour jam over berries; toss to coat. Mound coated berries in center of cream, leaving 1-inch plain border. Chill cake at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup (No. 1 medium grade)
1/3 cup butter melted
2 eggs
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Blueberries
1 box president’s choice puff pastry
Combine the first 6 ingredients Spray 2 12 cup muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray. Unroll pastry sheets and cut each sheet into 12 pieces. Fit each muffin tin with a piece of the puff pastry, stretching out a bit to fit. Line bottom of muffin tins with blueberries. Pour filling over blueberries, filling to just under the top of the crust. Bake in a 375 degree oven 20-25 minutes, until filling is set and pastry is golden. Remove from oven, run knife around the edge to loosen any stuck bits. Let cool in pan for 20 minutes, then remove. When cool, top with a dollop of Golden Ears Quark, or mascarpone cheese.
It can sometimes be a struggle to get your children to eat their vegetables and healthy eating takes time to learn. It is important to be patient and persistent, but in order to avoid creating negative relationships with the food, it is also important to not to force them into eating foods they avoid. Before you get frustrated and throw in the towel, try some of these tips for making food fun for kids.
5 Tips to Make Food Fun For Kids:
Create pictures with food – give food faces by cutting up vegetables, or better yet, give your child the cut up veggies and have them create pictures with the food
Use fun shapes – grab a cookie cutter or knife and get creative, cut carrots into stars or sandwiches into hearts
Make a game out of it – challenge them to eat the whole rainbow of colours on their plate or use silly names for food to make it more child-friendly; broccoli can become a tree and your child the giraffe or dinosaur
Serve it up differently – sliced veggies and fruit not going over well? Try making them into kebabs, using dip options like yogurt for the fruit and hummus for the veggies can keep it fun and interesting
Get them involved – involving children in food selection and preparation can be just what they need to have a little fun with mealtime
On Sunday August 4 our POP Club kids will be having fun as they get involved in food selection and preparation as they make greek salad. Learn more about the POP Club here and visit us at the market to register.
The POP Club is a farmer’s market-based kids program. Children (ages 5 – 12 years old) will learn about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation through fun activities all season long.
Each week children will earn a $3 market token to use towards any fruit or vegetable of their choice. There is no cost to participate and the program runs every Sunday rain or shine!
It is one thing to teach our children the importance of eating vegetables, and another thing to actually get them to eat veggies and enjoy them. While it is best to encourage children to change their eating habits to include more vegetables, sometimes you might have to resort to hiding vegetables in foods as an easy way to get nutritious food into their daily lives.
Below are some recipes with hidden vegetables in them, perfect for your sometimes fussy eaters:
Sweet Potato and Peach Smoothie (recipe from www.easycookingwithmolly.com)
Ingredients:
1 Large Sweet Potato – cooked & mashed
2 Medium Fresh Peach – chopped
1 Cup Milk – use vegan options if need be
½ Cup Ice – OPTIONAL
1 Tsp Fresh Ginger
Pinch of Cinnamon
Pinch of Salt
Directions:
1. Place all the above ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth.
2. Transfer in Glass and serve chilled
Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese (recipe from www.soyummy.com)
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup carrots chopped
1 ¼ cup Butternut squash
2 boxes macaroni
2 cups cheese of your choosing
1 cup whole milk or milk substitute
Directions:
1. Pour 6 cups of water into a large pot and bring to a boil. Pour in macaroni.
2. Take a large sieve and place it on top of the large pot where the macaroni is cooking. Add carrots and butternut squash. Cover with a lid and let boil/steam for 15 minutes
3. Drain macaroni and place the pot back onto the burner. Using your sieve and a rubber spatula, begin mashing carrots and butternut squash through the sieve. You should have a purée in the large pot. If your sieve is too fine, you can always blend the veggies and then add them back to the pot.
4. Add milk and stir constantly, then add cheese blend and continue to stir until all ingredients are well mixed.
5. Add cooked macaroni and mix. Let cool and serve.
On Sunday July 28 our POP Club kids will be learning new and interesting facts about their favourite vegetables found at market. Learn more about the POP Club here and visit us at the market to register.
The POP Club is a farmer’s market-based kids program. Children (ages 5 – 12 years old) will learn about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation through fun activities all season long.
Each week children will earn a $3 market token to use towards any fruit or vegetable of their choice. There is no cost to participate and the program runs every Sunday rain or shine!
Local food is food that is grown or farmed close to the place of sale and preparation. At the Coquitlam Farmers Market, all of our farmers grow and raise their products locally.
Why eat locally produced food?
The aim of eating local is to connect food producers (our farmers) and food consumers (you!), this develops self-sufficient food networks, improves the local economy, and strengthens the environment and community. Local foods also promote sustainable farming practices such as organic farming. Consuming local food also allows you to see the local variety in fruits and vegetables which means you get to enjoy fresh and in-season foods!
Here are just a few of the fruits and vegetables that are in season that you can find at the market:
Blueberries, cherries, cucumber, raspberries, salad greens, apricots, carrots, swiss chard, garlic scapes, zucchini, fava beans, nectarines, and so much more!
On Sunday July 21 our POP Club kids will be learning about what local food means, the benefits of eating local, and about what fruits and vegetables are in season at the market. learn more about the POP Club here and visit us at the market to register.
The POP Club is a farmer’s market-based kids program. Children (ages 5 – 12 years old) will learn about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation through fun activities all season long.
Each week children will earn a $3 market token to use towards any fruit or vegetable of their choice. There is no cost to participate and the program runs every Sunday rain or shine!
It’s blueberry season at the market, which means you can get your hands on a variety of fresh local blueberries! Not only are they delicious but they are also high in fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K! Blueberries are also said to have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables. Come by the market this Sunday to learn more about the blueberries offered, and of course, sample them! Below are some blueberry snack ideas your kids (and you) will love:
Frozen Blueberry Bites (recipe from www.Hellofresh.com):
In a bowl combine 1 cup greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon honey, and the seeds of 1 vanilla bean. Pierce each blueberry with a toothpick, dip into the yogurt mixture to thoroughly coat and then place on a lined baking sheet. Freeze for at least 45 minutes, and enjoy!
Blueberry Fruit Leather (recipe from www.blueberrycouncil.org):
In a blender puree 2 cups baby spinach, 1 cup greek yogurt, 1 cup blueberries, 1 cup pomegranate juice, 1 cup ice cubes, and 2 tablespoons of chia seeds until smooth. Divide between two glasses, and enjoy!
other great ideas: blueberry oatmeal cookies, blueberry bark, blueberry fruit leather, blueberry granola
On Sunday July 14 our POP Club kids will be learning how to follow a recipe as they work together to make blueberry chia jam. learn more about the POP Club here and visit us at the market to register.
The POP Club is a farmer’s market-based kids program. Children (ages 5 – 12 years old) will learn about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation through fun activities all season long.
Each week children will earn a $3 market token to use towards any fruit or vegetable of their choice. There is no cost to participate and the program runs every Sunday rain or shine!
Benefits of Buying Locally Grown Food: How Farmer’s Markets Help the Community and Planet Guest Blog by Westwood Total Health
More and more, people in Coquitlam, Port Moody and Port Coquitlam are seeing the benefits of purchasing locally grown food. According to McGill University, “There are many definitions of ‘local food’, but the concept is based primarily on distance. Many people like to purchase food locally by starting within their own community, then moving out to the region, province, country and so on. This type of food consumption is the basis for the popular 100-mile diet, which promotes buying and eating food that’s grown, manufactured or produced within a 100-mile radius of the consumer’s home.”
Here are 6 benefits of buying local food:
1. Local Food Contains More Nutrients
Most food travels a great distance to get to Coquitlam. In the winter, you see produce from South America, The United States and Mexico in the grocery store. In order for produce to arrive fresh, the University of Toronto Food Services tells us, “it is often harvested early so the produce doesn’t spoil on the journey, packaged with preservatives and beaten around on the way. Once produce is harvested, it begins to slowly lose its nutritional value. The longer it has to travel and sit in the store before it makes its way to your fridge, the less nutritional it is.” For food containing the most nutrients, check out your local farmer’s market and pick up locally grown, seasonal fare for your entire family to enjoy.
2. It’s Better for the Environment
“In Canada, particularly in winter, most fruits and vegetables are transported at least 2,500 km from their point of origin to your table,” says Caritas Canada. “While it may seem like you’re paying more for those local fruits and veggies, you’re actually paying for the quality rather than the convenience. Imported produce must be transported in, a costly business. In a way, you are paying more for the greenhouse gas emissions of importing those tomatoes than you are for the actual tomato,” reports the University of Toronto Food Services. At a time when we are all conscious of our impact on the environment, we may need to give up eating those fresh blueberries from Chile over the winter. But we don’t have to sacrifice blueberries altogether. Purchase locally grown blueberries and other fruit in the summer, freeze, and enjoy all winter long in smoothies, crisps, muffins, waffles and pies.
3. It Supports Local Farmers
Farmers derive their income from the food they produce. When you purchase food locally, you are supporting local farmers, “so they can keep farming. That helps to create affordable, nutritious, high quality food for the future. When you buy local food, you are helping to preserve our valuable farmland for future generations,” states UnlockFood.ca
4. It’s Better for the Local Economy
Of course, keeping our money flowing through the local economy benefits other local businesses as well. According to the University of Toronto Food Services, “when you invest your money in local produce, that money goes to [local] farmers, to aid in continuing their business, and will likely be reinvested further into the community by them as they use local services and products to run their own establishments. This circulation of currency allows the local economy to flourish. Additionally, opting for local can also reveal any gaps in the local market which the community can fill, resulting in more jobs and a little more self-reliance.”
5. Local Food Tastes Better
Many of us have grown fruit and vegetables in our own backyard gardens and we do this because it’s more flavourful than the produce coming from the other side of the world. Vancouver Farmer’s Markets state, “Many of our farmers harvest their produce the day before and sometimes even the morning of each market to ensure peak freshness. Producers who sell at farmers markets are also more likely to grow unusual and heirloom varieties of fruits and veggies that contain better flavour, while seafood vendors and foragers bring products that are wild harvested and indigenous to the region.”
6. You Get to Know The People in Your Community
Visit any local farmer’s market in summer or winter and you have the opportunity to meet local growers and the people in your community. It’s a hub of activity and a pleasant, relaxing way to spend a couple of hours, sampling local fare and getting to know your neighbours.
About Us Westwood Total Health is an award-winning chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage therapy clinic and has been providing health and wellness care to families in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 2006. Since 2013, we have been consistently voted favourite natural health clinic by readers of the Tri-City News. Visit us at the local Coquitlam Farmers Market where we offer free postural and spinal stress screenings. Our goal is to make the Tri-Cities the healthiest community in the country. Won’t you join us?
Getting children involved in meal prep helps them to understand what is going into their bodies. Children involved in meal prep also tend to make healthier choices when it comes to food and therefore are likely to eat more fruits and vegetables. Additionally, teaching them at a young age allows their skills to develop and strengthen, which they can take into adulthood.
4 Tips for getting children involved in food prep:
Allow them to make choices – this makes your child feel important in the kitchen. Show them a cookbook and let them choose some recipes for you to make together
Delegate tasks – delegating tasks between children not only speeds up the cooking process but also allows them to take ownership and pride over the meal
Let them be creative – meal prep doesn’t need to be by the book. Let your child try cutting the veggies in different shapes, add ingredients, not in the recipe, and share their ideas with you. Be supportive of their ideas so that they are not discouraged
Get them to measure – knowing how to measure quantities of ingredients is important, as well as teaching them how to portion their meals.
On Sunday July 7 our POP Club kids will be learning about the importance of vitamins as they create their own fruit salads. learn more about the POP Club here and visit us at the market to register.
The POP Club is a farmer’s market-based kids program. Children (ages 5 – 12 years old) will learn about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation through fun activities all season long.
Each week children will earn a $3 market token to use towards any fruit or vegetable of their choice. There is no cost to participate and the program runs every Sunday rain or shine!
Plants are living organisms that are extremely important to life on Earth. Plants provide food for both humans and other animals. They are crucial in allowing us to breathe by converting the CO2 we breathe out back into oxygen for us to breath in. Additionally, Earth is covered in thousands of edible plants and provide us with variety in our diets and necessary nutrients. Plants are made up of many different parts, each with their own important role that it plays for the plant.
Parts of a plant:
Roots – roots are a vital part of a plant’s structure that plays a role in both its ability to survive as well as thrive
Stem – stems are attached to the roots and carry water and nutrients to the rest of the plant
Leaves – leaves are where the food for the plant is made in a process called photosynthesis. Leaves capture sunlight and use it to make sugar for the plant.
Flower – flowers are the reproductive units of plants and create seeds. Flowers are bright to attract pollinators which helps with fertilization.
Fruit – fruit are the seed factories of plants; formed during fertilization. Seeds are dispersed by wind, water, and animals, under the right conditions the seed will then form another plant.
On Sunday June 30 our POP Club kids will be learning about the different parts of a plant as well a what role they play, learn more about the POP Club here and visit us at the market to register.
The POP Club is a farmer’s market-based kids program. Children (ages 5 – 12 years old) will learn about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation through fun activities all season long.
Each week children will earn a $3 market token to use towards any fruit or vegetable of their choice. There is no cost to participate and the program runs every Sunday rain or shine!
Farmers are valuable members of our communities and by getting to know them you can make meaningful connections in the community and form strong and lasting relationships. Farmers are continuously hard at work growing crops, harvesting, raising livestock, and so much more all while ensuring the best quality products are brought to consumers.
Five reasons to get to know your farmer:
Knowing where your food comes from – learn their practices and choose a farmer with values that align with yours
Challenge your perspectives – ask questions and learn from your farmer, this can be valuable and very educational
Support your local economy – choosing to get to know your local farmers and buying from them improves the local economy, cuts down on transportation costs, and helps the environment
Support – farming is labour and time intensive, their livelihood depends on people choosing to support local farm fresh produce and animal goods
Build relationships – getting to know your farmers will build relationships not only between you and the farmer but will also build your relationship with food, it is good to be able to trust the people providing you and your family with food
Next time you are walking around the farmers market don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to the farmers, ask questions, thank them for their hard work, and build lasting relationships with them and the food you and your family consume.
On Sunday June 23 our POP Club kids will do an activity where they get to know the farmers at the market, learn more about the POP Club here and visit us at the market to register.
The POP Club is a farmer’s market-based kids program. Children (ages 5 – 12 years old) will learn about fruits and vegetables, local food systems and healthy food preparation through fun activities all season long.
Each week children will earn a $3 market token to use towards any fruit or vegetable of their choice. There is no cost to participate and the program runs every Sunday rain or shine!
