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"Support from residents has been incredible with many coming back every week. It's been a great season so far and we love meeting everyone and hearing what they think of produce and the different ways they have prepared it," said Kevin Tetzlaff, owner and operator of Tetzlaff Family Farms and first-time Farm Stand Program participant.
This Thanksgiving will mark the end of another successful season at over 30 farm stands across Calgary. Their farm-fresh food is often picked and prepared for sale straight from fields and greenhouses in less than a day, showcasing offerings from surrounding communities like Lethbridge, Olds, Carstairs and Didsbury.
"This is a cornerstone of our commitment to enhancing Calgarians’ access to nutritious and locally sourced food options, as well as building community connections and vibrancy within Calgary’s neighbourhoods," said Kristi Peters, Sustainability Consultant with Climate and Environment, City of Calgary.
According to Talena Klypak, a community farm stand host at the Coach Hill Patterson Heights Community Association, "The Farm Stand Program promotes knowledge of local fruits and vegetables, and it encourages residents to walk to their closest stand, take part in the conversation and cultivate a hearty community."
Supporting the CalgaryEATS! Food Action Plan, the program looks to address the critical issue of food accessibility, a challenge faced by many cities. With vendors popping up in community associations buildings, parks and transit stations, the program creates ease and accessibility to fresh, healthy food options. It also reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting food over long distances and sets a great example of how public health, environmental sustainability and economic vitality can intersect.
Explore a weekly community farm stand to find fresh, healthy food options and support local and regional farmers. Harvest is wrapping up, and produce will be fresh for all your canning, pickling and preserving needs-perfect for school lunches and Thanksgiving preparations.
Visit calgary.ca/localfood for a list of farm stand locations.
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