Urban Farm Traffic Report

FEATURES

FARM MARKET REPORT

A note from the people at Your Local Farmers Market Society:

"Farmers Market Construction Update: As you may know, there will be construction happening at both the West End and Riley Park Market sites during the upcoming market season. We will be continuing to operate "business as usual" during this time and ask that you stick with us while we get through these less than ideal circumstances. The Riley Park Market will temporarily operate out of the parking lot of Riley Park Community Centre (across the street from our usual site - entrance off of 30th Avenue) on June 13 and will return to the Nat Bailey Stadium parking lot on June 20th. The West End Market will operate all summer on Comox Street while Nelson Park is being landscaped and upgraded - we can't wait to see how it looks when it's done!

Thank you for supporting our markets and our vendors and we look forward to a great season! Special thanks go out to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation - Queen Elizabeth District, The Vancouver Canadians, Mole Hill Community Housing Society and The City of Vancouver for working with us on arrangements for the coming season."


Also of note: The Kitsilano Farmers Market is due to be open on Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm, from July 15th to October 14th at the Kitsilano Community Centre parking lot at 10th and Larch.

Bike to Market Day will be June 20, 2007. Avoid parking and driving troubles related to construction by biking to the Riley Park Farmers Market on June 20. BEST will be offering valet bike parking at Nat Bailey Stadium and you'll receive a free bottle of water (or refill your own bottle) when you show your helmet at the market information tent.

One last thing: With regard to farm product prices these days, you might want to read the Toronto Star article posted in our media section below.




THIS WEEK'S FEATURED WINE

A local wine layered with aromas of sour cherries, strawberries, tart cranberries and tobacco.

Find it here.

Filed in DRINK/A Bouquet of Rose

DINE AND DASH


Looking for a cheesy line of work? Les amis du fromage "might" be looking for a counter person for their West 2nd location. We say “might� because although their want ad came in today, their website states they are NOT hiring at this time. It's safe to say though, that we doubt any large mice or nibblers should apply.


This is the grand opening week at Flo Tea Room and everything on the menu will be 10% off until June 17th. Manager Harmony Cheung (we love her name), recommends the 'sweet & sour pork meal', the 'spicy crispy chicken meal', the 'honey beef shortribs meal', the 'prawns with coconut cream sauce on rice', and the hot pots as a few of her favourites. She says you should also give the buble teas a try...the mango slush or mango green tea is “really delicious�.

Hey look who else is 15 this summer. It sounds like Bar None must have been in the nursery with CityFood mag back in 1992. While our birthday celebration will take place later in the season, Bar None is having its anniversary party tomorrow night. From 8 to 11 it’s an invite-only situation but they open the doors to the public at 11.01 p.m. For more info click here.



TODAY'S PRESS RELEASES

Chef Michael Allemeier isn't just into fine dining, like any regular guy, when the weather is up for it, he likes to get out the barbecue coals.

Italians know that life is dolce and Victoria's Ottavio's knows how to celebrate that better than most.

THE MEDIA HOUND






Effects of biofuel policies begin to creep up the food chain

In their bid to combat climate change, governments around the globe have been busy encouraging the use of alternative energy sources, such as biofuels. But as more farmland is devoted to growing corn for ethanol, less is available for its use as food - and as feed for cattle, hogs and poultry. A recent report by Statistics Canada showed that, for the first time in 25 years, B.C. farmers had a loss in net income of $62 million in 2006, compared to a profit of $47 million in 2005 and $177 million in 2004. One of the main reasons for the loss was a downturn in hog farming. It experienced feed-cost increases of 20 to 30 per cent - specifically due to the high demand for corn as a feedstock for ethanol production. And even though many B.C. hog farmers d on't feed corn to their stock, these high corn prices have driven up prices for other grains. Now analysts are saying that rising grain prices will gradually work their way onto grocery store shelves both at the meat counter and in dairy products, bread, cereals and other foods. Complete story in the Toronto Star.


The Outside World:

This month's Vanity Fair features a 10 page article on Tokyo's sushi market.

Actor Dan Ackroyd expected to announce Niagara winery.

Why do Filipinos eat so much spam? What might happen to you if you walk around in a hat made from porkchops? Find out in Meatpaper, yes a new online magazine that is ALL about meat.

When dark chocolate goes green. Salon profiles a small chocolate producing company that has taken the eco route.

The Daily News leaked that a former employee of Per Se is about to publish a gossipy tell all about Thomas Keller's famous New York restaurant, however the author claims the quotes were taken out of context.