Moose Jaw has two farmer’s markets — one on Langdon Crescent and one in Wakamow Valley — that are open every Saturday from about 8 or 9 a.m. to about 1 p.m. and if you haven’t been out to browse yet, you’re missing out!
Homegrown Farmer’s Market on Langdon Crescent
The Homegrown Farmer’s Market on Langdon Crescent is Moose Jaw’s longest-running — it’s been around for over 20 years. It is a traditional farmer’s market, with only homegrown, locally produced, handcrafted booths allowed.
Lisa Fuchs started selling homemade treats on the crescent just this year. She sells perogies, cookies, breads, and other snacks that are simply delicious. She said she has enjoyed everything about being at the market except for the occasional rain. Meeting people as they shop is her favourite part.
Teafluent is a loose-leaf tea shop selling custom-made blends for both amateurs and experienced tea connoisseurs. Owner Davis Semenchuck used to be in the restaurant business and had an ambition to open his own coffee shop. Unfortunately, he concluded, the market in Regina is saturated — so he settled on tea instead.
Teafluent’s flavours include coconut chai, lime gelato, pineapple mango green tea, peach rooibos, and strawberry oolong.
“I get all of my fruits, herbs, spices from local farms around Saskatchewan,” Semenchuck explained. “And then all the tea leaves imported from Asia — since you can’t grow them in Saskatchewan. … I’m really enjoying (the Homegrown Farmer’s Market), the crowds have been great, there’s a lot of unique vendors, and I’m really happy to be a part of it.”
Judy is a vendor from Swift Current selling homemade repurposed jewelry and pictures stamped onto banana-fibre mats from Africa. She comes out for the market whenever she has time and said that business has been steady on each occasion.
“This is jewelry I made from recycled materials,” she said, pointing to various pieces. “Recycled coconut shells, these are beads, these over here are coconut shells and cow horn bone.”
Wakamow Farmer’s Market
The Wakamow Farmer’s Market is a new fundraising initiative for the Wakamow Valley Park. This is its second year and it has been a wild success.
Wakamow decided not to go the traditional route. All vendors are welcome, leading to a wider variety of goods, although they are not all artisanal.
The Robinson family, consisting of older brother Kurt and his wife Nikki, as well as Moose Jaw city councillor Kim and his wife Tina, are set up at Wakamow with their food truck, Robbie’s Notorious Streatery.
Kurt has been in the food business for a long time, including founding the restaurant chain Kelly O’Bryan’s in BC.
“When we semi-retired, I thought, ‘Ah, I kinda like the food business, so let’s do something.’ Then this truck became available, so we said ‘yeah, let’s give it a try.’”
Gabriella “Gabby” Carmona Mendoza was born and raised in Mexico City, but she’s been living in Canada for about 12 years. She sells delicious authentic Mexican food at her booth.
Mexico City has a population of over 9 million in the urban area — and over 21 million in the greater metropolitan area. When Gabby came to Moose Jaw, she said, she and her family thought, “This is called a city here?”
Homemade Heaven bake shop began after proprietor Helen Gordon retired in 2015.
“That year at Christmastime, I made way too much Christmas baking,” she explained. “I have five sons, and I gave everybody trays. I gave my friends trays. I still had too much. So I put a couple of pictures on an auction site, and it blew up, and that was the beginning of this.”
Helen always does a brisk business and said she loves being in Wakamow Valley, chatting with people, enjoying the summer weather, and selling her eyebrow-raising variety of cakes, pies, cookies, candies, and other delicacies.
