Thanksgiving weekend marks the end of outdoor farmers’ markets for the year

This Thanksgiving weekend marked the last of the outdoor farmers’ markets in the Edmonton area.

Both the Downtown Farmers Market and the St. Albert Farmers Market had their last day on Saturday, and patrons of the Callingwood Farmers Market braved the chilly weather on Sunday.

While some markets temporarily moved indoors for a portion of the winter season, vendors like the sausage lady say that an outdoor farmers market like Callingwood creates a different culture than an indoor market.

“We’re a hardy bunch, honestly. A lot of us, our work is outdoors. We’re a farm, we raise Black Angus beef and Berkshire pigs on our farm, and everything we do is outside. So to bring that to an outdoor space is something that we’re good at,” said Nina Ulmer, the Sausage Lady.

Brian Donahue, a Callingwood Farmers’ Market patron, saying, “One of the things that I love about the Edmonton area is the commitment people have to support local, and it’s a delight to do it here. Lots of good stuff to see and buy.”

Edmonton’s outdoor markets typically reopen for business sometime in May.