Calling all donut lovers! The much anticipated, Royal City Donuts will be participating in the Coquitlam Farmers Market this season. But before digging in, here’s some more information about who they are and what their products are all about.
Jonathan and his wife, along with their team of fellow donut lovers want customers to experience the balance of unique ingredients that are put into each batch of their donuts.
I want them [customers] to think they are getting more than they expected in terms of flavour and quality.
Royal City Donuts has strived to bring a European style treat, made by hand with care and quality ingredients into the local market. With an expanding team and an eye for food trends, we can expect new things from the company.
My wife has contributed greatly, and now with two members joining the team we are starting to forecast a month in advance with ideas to play with. The trends in the food scene are also very influential with sweet and savoury being so predominant.
(Courtesy of Royal City Donuts)
Continuously forecasting a month in advance, Jonathan says himself and his team are always mindful to balance new blends of interesting flavours while still maintaining the integrity of the donut.
Once you do a few markets or pop ups in the same place you want to keep things interesting and give people a reason to check you out again and again.
With excitement building around the company, Jonathan says Royal City Donuts will concentrate on summer markets for now, but talks about what’s next for the company are already in the works.
We would love to have our own, industrial space where we can do higher production for breweries, coffee shops, corporate and large scale orders while having a small store front where people can get their fix.
Royal City Donuts already has a supply partnership with Hive Cafe in New Westminster and customers can expect continued creativity with their donuts.
I am passionate about food, flowers and all things local.
A surprise to many, Joanne Frances-Wilkinson’s company blossomed from her family’s love for fresh and local foods.
My grandparents were farmers but the love of flowers came from my mom whose garden was always a showstopper. Using edible flowers and herbs in teas and preserves comes from my personal belief that food heals the body and soul.
Much of Joanne’s inspiration for many of Culinary Blossom’s products come from the beautiful West Coast seasons, favourable growing conditions and local food that is available.
Growing is weather dependant so it’s all about combining the best of what nature has to offer for the coming year. Deciding which combinations will be the tastiest for the upcoming season is part of the exciting creation process. That’s why there’s always something new on the horizon at Culinary Blossom!
Joanne first begins by planting in both the winter and following spring growing seasons. Once the flowers and herbs are in bloom she takes a stroll through her gardens, tasting flowers and herbs along the way.
Our seasonally inspired preserves and teas are small-batch handcrafted in Langley using our garden fresh flowers and herbs. Combining them with local fruits, berries and veggies is how we create our deliciously unique products. We use no preservatives or additives, offering only pure good food that is purely good for you. Simply put, we believe it’s the way nature intended.
Joanne then takes these edible flowers and herbs, and infuses them into her preserves and teas.
It is a passion and privilege to share nature’s goodness with others. Knowing where our food comes from is so important to our health and wellbeing.
Joanne loves the opportunity to connect with the community at farmers markets. She says local, seasonal food is a constant source of inspiration.
Local food is fresh with superior quality and flavour. Buying local keeps the local economy solid and reduces your carbon footprint. We invite you to taste the difference local and homegrown makes!
SPOTLIGHT FEATURE SALE: This Sunday at the Port Moody Farmers Market, Nasty Free Naturals will be offering a special deal just for you. If you stop by her booth and ask for the spotlight deal, you will get to purchase “Bug Off” Spray for $9 (regular price $10.) *This offer has now expired.*
Q. Nasty Free Naturals are 100% All Natural, Healthy, Handmade Home and Beauty Products. Why did you decide to start making these products at home? A really good friend of mine got me started on my all-natural journey years ago. She taught classes on how to make all-natural product. I loved her classes and my own passion was born from them. It began with me tinkering with it for fun, making product for my family and friends. Once my two boys came along, I realized I didn’t want to work in Corporate Downtown anymore. I was encouraged by my growing fan base of friends and family to pursue my aromatherapy “hobby” as something I could do while allowing me to be flexible for my boys. I received my certificate in Aromatherapy from West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy and my little business was born!
Q. What goes into the process of making one item? Every item is different. But it really starts with me doing my homework. Knowing the reputable suppliers for essential oils and ingredients. You wouldn’t believe how different they can be! I work in small batches. I try to never make more than 12 to 16 of any product at a time. It allows me to maintain a fresh supply for my customers and also maintain my own strict level of quality control.
Q. Why are your products so popular? Thank you for calling my products popular! I think my loyal customer base comes from trying the product and it working for them. I love nothing more than having someone come back to me and saying “I love your deodorant/bug-spray/face cream” … Word of mouth has been a huge part of my success as well, and for that I am thankful! I’m also very chatty with everyone who comes by. I love answering all their questions. In doing so, it’s very helpful for them to make their decision because they now know the ingredients in what they are buying; why those ingredients are in there and their benefits.
Q. Some of your most popular items are the sunscreen and bug spray. They offer the same protection as the ones we buy in stores except for the fact that they are chemical-free. If that is the case, why are they still made with chemicals and why do people still buy them? I wish I could answer that. The fact that these known carcinogens are still allowed in these products is beyond me. As for why people still buy them, I honestly think they just haven’t done their homework. Knowledge is power. And when you know better, you can choose better. Slowly but surely people are coming around.
Q. You primarily sell your products on your website and at the farmers market. Why do you think farmers markets are such an important part of the community? I love the sense of community that they foster. Seeing families out spending time together, picking up their fresh local food for the week ahead, supporting local. I see a lot of the same faces each week. My boys love the markets and all their amazing offerings. They know most of the vendors by name, and the customers too. It’s just a wonderful vibe.
Q. What are some of your favorite products to make and use? My favourite products to make and use are my Soothe the Soul Peppermint and Eucalyptus Bath Salts. I am seriously addicted. Also, my Bug-Off Bug Spray. I am not exaggerating when I say I am an absolute magnet for mosquitos. MAGNET. As is my oldest son. So my Bug Off is a life saver for us. It really works! Products I use every day and I cannot be without is my line of Face Food. Cleanser, toner and most importantly, my Green Tea and Rose Moisturizer. I would have to say that moisturizer is one of my favourite products to make. There is something about watching the magic of all these incredible ingredients coming together to make this beautiful, creamy lotion! It gets me every time!
Thank you to everyone who played along in this week’s Facebook & Instagram giveaway for a chance to win a $10 credit to spend at the Port Moody Farmers Market. This weeks winner is Jenny Gasparini via Facebook. Congratulations and please send an e-mail to admin@makebakegrow.com to claim your prize.
Our last day of the Port Moody Winter Farmers Market is almost here, this Sunday April 26. The end of the Winter Market also signals the start of our Poirier Street Farmers Market starting May 10.
Of course we want to go out in style as well as tide you over for your farmers market needs until the Poirier Market opens, so we are teaming up with 7 of our awesome market vendors to bring you an amazing giveaway! And when I say amazing, I really mean it! Valued at $160, here all all the fabulous goodies you could be getting in the Winter Market Grand Finale Giveaway:
1. 7 Kids Foods
Homemade Marinara Sauce and 3 different flavoured Coconut Creams
When local mom blogger, Hillary With 2L’s visited our farmers market with her adorable son, she posted about her adventure and we are sharing it all with you!
When you think of the farmers market, you likely think of local produce. Which isn’t totally off base; the Port Moody Winter Farmers Market is a great place to find beautiful produce. The farmers market has so much more to offer than mountains of radishes and bushels of kale though.
Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of piles of gorgeous produce.
When I told Grady we were going on an adventure to the farmers market last Sunday, the first thing out of his mouth was: “they got cookies there?” I told him they do have cookies there (thanks to the lovely Sweet Thea! Pro tip: try the lemon tart. You will die it’s so good.) He thought about it for a minute and then clarified “we get the cookies?” As soon as I confirmed, my little negotiator agreed to a trip to the market and we were on our way.
Our very first stop? Cookies, obviously.
The Port Moody Winter Farmers Market is more than just a place to stop to grab some groceries. It’s an experience. There are food trucks so you can grab a yummy snack. There’s live music and space for the little kids to run around and dance without knocking over any shoppers. Many of the vendors offer samples and all of them are happy to talk about their product. Grady was absolutely charmed by the pictures of the farm animals hanging out with Barrie’s granddaughters at Redl’s Home-Grown Beef while I hemmed and hawed over what I should buy (everything sounded amazing and it’s tough to not buy one of everything when it’s local beef raised on the pasture with no hormones, antibiotics, steroids, or any other nasty stuff.) It’s a different level of service than what I experience at the grocery store. The vendors are proud of what they’re selling and it shows.
The selection of products available is extensive without feeling overwhelming. We managed to come home with our beef and cookies, but also snagged two giant bags of gorgeous organic kale from Ripple Creek Organic Farm (I know this is going to make you roll your eyes at me but seriously, I have never tasted kale like the kale I bought from Ripple Creek.) We also brought home an amazing loaf of bread from A Bread Affair ( it had cheese and roasted garlic in it, have mercy), wildflower honey and a beeswax candle from Vlad’s Apiary, and a dozen organic eggs from Rockweld Farm.
Our market haul!
Buying from and supporting locally-owned businesses is important to our family. Shawn and I both work for locally-owned small businesses so we see the value in keeping our dollars in the local economy; we worry about the environmental impact of buying food from far-off places (it’s been painful to cut back on favourites like fresh pineapple and papaya in favour of fruit that grows closer to home but we believe the effort is worth it); and we don’t want to see our neighbourhood turn into a no-personality zone of big box stores and chain restaurants.
The Port Moody Winter Farmers Market runs on Sundays from 10am – 2pm until April 26th and then the Poirier Street Farmers Market will run May 10 – October 25th on Sundays from 9am – 1pm. You can find the market on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter and Instagram (psst – they’ve got a cool social media contest on now where you can win Market Money and products from the vendors so keep an eye out for the hashtag #makebakegrow!)
Farmers Markets are traditionally known for their fresh produce and prepared foods from local farms and businesses. And although that is very true, the markets also offer so much more from handmade bags, soaps and marshmallows to chemical-free sunscreen, tandoori mix and chai.
One of our weekly market shoppers, Salma from The Write Balance has been is sharing some of her favorite Farmers Market buys.
1. Organic Apples
Since reading about the dirty dozen, I’ve been a lot more diligent about washing my fruits and vegetables thoroughly and buying organic and local whenever I can. The farmers markets had at least five different types of delicious, organic apples so I had to pick some up. My favourite part, besides the sweetness? No pesticides to worry about.
2. Natural Beauty Products
When I walked by Nasty Free Naturals at the Farmers Market, for some reason, I was compelled to stop. And am I glad I did! All her products are 100% chemical-free and all natural. I ended up picking up a delicious smelling Body Butter Bar, Dark Chocolate & Orange lip balm (which my 3-year old has stolen from me) and a balm for sore and aching muscles. Next time I want to get their natural Sun Screen.
3. Homemade Seasonings
I also stopped by Amazing Foods to check out their food and ended up taking home a tandoori mix (we love tandoori chicken!) and fennel chai tea which I’m making right now. Mmm, chai.
4. Pickles
My husband loves pickles and once we tried these from JJ’s Country Cookin’ we were hooked! I love that if you save the pickle jar and bring it back, they give you a discount on your next purchase. It’s being thrifty and recycling all in one.
5. Marinara Sauce
My head turned as I was strolling by the 7 Kids Foods stand so I stopped to try their marinara sauce. Omg! It was so good! I picked up a packet for our next pasta night. I know the kids will love it. There is also a great story behind the owners who are two friends with lots of kids between the two of them. One day they decided to put their talents to work and created affordable healthy food to help out parents.
6. Cravings Kettle Corn
There is no photo for this delicious treat that I picked up as we were leaving the market. The reason is that it didn’t last long enough to make it home for the photo. Trust me, this was one snack you’ll want to try next time to you go to the Port Moody Farmers Market!
What is your favourite thing to pick up when you’re at the Farmers Market
