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Old Strathcona Farmer's Market
Categories: Food Specialty Food Fruits & Veggies Food Farmers Market Fruits & Veggies, Farmers Market [Edit]
10310 83 Avenue NorthwestEdmonton, AB T6E 5C3
(780) 439-1844
- Hours:
Sat 8 am - 3 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Old Strathcona Farmer's Market
17 reviews in English
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Review from Matthew L.
Edmonton, AB
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Admittedly, I haven't checked out the City Market yet, so I don't have another year-round Edmonton farmer's market to compare this to, but I have to give props to the Old Strathcona Farmers Market. The place is a zoo, but I enjoy the bustle. And it's almost like organized chaos, I never had to wait more than 30 seconds to purchase anything.
While the hot-house tomatoes aren't quite as sweet as the field tomatoes from the summertime, it's great to eat local tomatoes. While most stalls price tomatoes at $3/lb, you should be able to snoop around for bargains. I bought a 3lb bag of heirlooms for $5.
Local carrots, beets, squash, peppers, parsnips, kale, spinach, and onions were all available at reasonable prices, or at least comparable to that at Save On Foods or Wild Earth (and less expensive than Planet Organic).
And the apples (from the Okanagan Valley) are a great bargain - I bought 5 Honeycrisp apples for $5 - they normally cost at least $1.50 each at a supermarket.
I also bought some locally made Gruyere from one of the two cheese purveyors and some Perogies.
I also bought some Montreal-style bagels that lacked flavour, but not everything can be perfect.
And while there are sellers of local fish and other meats, I can't comment on the quality or selection, as I keep a vegetarian house. And for a vegetarian house, this market is fantastic. -
Review from George H.
I went to OSFM to torture myself today and to get to know what the market has to offer. It was torture because I am currently on the Master Cleanse that doesn't allow for any food. With all the booths offering free samples of their wares it took all the self control in the world to stay strong. While walking each isle I still wanted to research my options for my first meal after the cleanse.
I found a few gems that I will be going back to:
1. Kim Chee Place - Korean cuisine that looks like it has some really tasty kimchi. They also have have gyoza's and a few canned spices. It's run by a real Korean family and I trust their food to be genuine.
2. Don Antonio's Mexican Food - This booth had fresh corn tortilla's in both large and small sizes. I love Mexican cuisine so I'll have to come back.
Now a little bit of constructive criticism: I found that the prices for all products were atleast 15-25% higher than most places. I guess there is no tax added to the prices but I found it pretty steep. Especially the meat locations. Frozen packaged meat shouldn't be that expensive no matter how organic or far away it came from.
Overall I will definitely be coming back to OSFM but I am looking forward to trying out other farmer's markets in the city to compare. -
Review from Janine E.
Edmonton, AB
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had a great time at the farmers' market! I have only been to the St. Albert one and so checking this one out was great! The boyfriend and I took the trolley (it stops literally beside his condo) right to the doors of the Market! I bought a bagel for breakfast and we wandered around, trying samples and admiring the flowers! We found some AMAZING salsa and bought some pears as well. I love the idea of buying food locally, it's better for the local economy and for yourself! I haven't checked out the down town market, but I will definitely be doing so in the near future! The farmer's market always put a smile on my face because of all the delicious fresh vegetables and fruit!
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Review from Natalie C.
Halifax, NS
8/15/2011
LOVE the market :)
This is by far my favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning. Arrive early and get to know your venders... over time they'll get to know you too. It is a wonderful relationship to have, I love learning about the different offerings and it's even quicker when the venders put what you want aside for you.
I've recently moved away from Edmonton and will definitely be missing this sweet market with a small-town feel! -
Review from Angela E.
6/30/2011 4 Check-ins Here
What a fun place! Make sure you go early to get the best selection and avoid the crowds.
Wandering the aisles is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Vendors are friendly, and if you're a regular you get to know them. Open year-round, and in a convenient location, it's hard to beat OSFM for fresh, local food. -
Review from Jacqueline S.
Edmonton, AB
8/21/2011
I don't frequent the OSFM as much as the downtown market, but I still enjoy stopping by here. I love that it's open year round. The selection is pretty decent, although I think I prefer the downtown market.
It can get pretty crowded, but if you're patient there are lots of tasty things to be found here. -
Review from Farees K.
4/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really like farmer's markets, but I am really on the fence with this one.
Pro's
. Centrally located, close to Whyte
. Open year round
. Reasonable parking
Con's
. Too busy, don't let go of your kids
. Cafeteria food is poor considering surrounded by fresh produce
. Produce is overpriced
. No focus crafts vs. produce vs. meat vs. food vendors
In all the crowds and lack of focus annoy be about this place. Fresh food or crafts or trendy other stuff, not all three done badly.
I will still go as it is very close to my place, but just as a place to kill time and get free samples not much else. -
Review from Aditya R.
Talk about doing something nice on a Saturday morning. The Old Strath. market is a lively market to spend your Sat. morning browsing through the various fresh vegetable shops, speciality goods (I bought chimichurri sauce today) and so on, whilst drinking a cup of coffee. Of course, I live quite close to the market and nothing makes me happier than to find myself free on a Saturday morning to go down and get some fresh fruits, vegetables and bread for a good quality brunch at home!
Of course, in summer there are a lot more options of fresh produce, however I do agree with Jessica L.'s review that the downtown market is quite a bit better. Given that the Strath market is open through the year, I still give it a 4* rating owing to its viability. Although the downtown market's better, I still think the Strath. market is pretty high up in quality. Also, it must be added that they have great spring-time potted herbs and plants that are so accessible to pick up (as opposed to going to Home Depot!).
All in all: A good atmosphere with great kettle corn, decent produce, awesome speciality goods (did you know that in these last few months a Montreal-style bagel shop has opened up there?) and open through winter. It's a great way to meet up with friends in winter, since options aren't so vast. -
Review from Katie F.
6/7/2009
I used to come here regularly when I lived here, so it was the perfect was to spend a Sat morning/afternoon when we were back in town. Not much has changed about it over the years although there has been some vendors come and go :( My favorite bison seller has disappeared, but otherwise, most of the other booths I went to regularly are still there.
Lovely selection of fresh food, produce, gift items, and plants. It's nice to support local farmers and artisans. I love the pesto booth in particular, the kettle korn outside, the cream cheese from Bagel Latte and just browsing and sampling. Often super crowded and a bit hard to find parking.
Prices have definitely gone up over the years - some vendors are charging up to $7 for containers of their dips which I think is overpriced, so I left with a few select items. Meats are reasonable in price. Produce is gorgeous, but that's one area where Vancouver is actually cheap compared to Alberta - I had forgetten how expensive fresh fruit is here!
Definitely a great way to pass the time on a Saturday, followed by some shopping on Whyte! Ahhh, good memories of my university years! -
Review from Francesca K.
Edmonton, AB
3/26/2010
The farmers market is a great place to spend an afternoon on a Saturday. The place can get pretty darn busy, especially on nice days, but it is worth fighting the crowds.
This place is awesome for a couple good reasons. First of all, everything is local. You really get a sense that you are helping "your fellow man" when you buy things from here. The people working here are literally farmers from just outside Edmonton, selling their produce or meat or whatever. The place smells so lovely and there is always music playing.
The other great thing about this farmers market is that it is open year round, which is more than I can say for most markets (especially with a winter climate like ours).
Of course, the market is less busy in the off season, and the selection goes down a bit, but it is still an awesome place to enjoy a Saturday afternoon! -
Review from Jessica D.
Edmonton, AB
4/3/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Early bird gets the worm! Don`t dilly daddle making your way to this market, you`re going to miss out ! Just a block away from Whyte Ave shines the Old Strathcona Farmer`s Market. There`s tons and tons of vendors ranging from produce, to clothing, to sweets and awesome homemade food. In my recent visit I had a bit too much of a sleep in and got to the market around 2pm finding that a lot of the vendors had either sold out or were already packed up. I love that this market it year round and kind of gives me a knowledge as to what`s seasonal for best value and when to expect the prices to drop. I have yet to try anything from the kitchen as I`m usually too busy scoping for samples, (shame on me !), but I will soon, I promise!
Have kids? There's people doing face painting and making balloon toys ! There's tons of positive attitude gleaming off the people providing entertainment here and it's definitely not a thing to miss. This market is open year round but Alberta awesomely has only really 2 months of summer so you better make it out! -
Review from Jeanette B.
Edmonton, AB
10/21/2008
Purple potatoes! Yes, they actually do exist, naturally, and you can find them at the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market. I agree with Lauren; this is a great way to spend a Saturday. If you want the best selection, it's best to show up in the morning, because the good stuff sells out fast. I'm not a morning person, at all, so I usually miss out, unfortunately.
I'm a big believer in organic and free-range meat, so I buy a lot of chicken or turkey here. The sausages from Sunworks farms are great, because they contain only natural ingredients with no fillers, and they are gluten-free too!
Although a lot of what's sold here is organic, I most appreciate this food, because it's local. I'd choose local over foreign organic products any day. Everything here is more expensive, but I can vouche that the taste and quality is well worth it. Try an organic, locally-grown carrot--you'll never go back.
Other than the purple potatoes, I also love the kettle popcorn you can get at the little cabin booth outside. Careful though... it has three addictive qualities: sweet, salty, and crunchy. -
Review from Lauren N.
10/20/2008 1 photo
The Old Strathcona Farmers' Market is a great way to spend a free Saturday morning or afternoon, and support local farmers at the same time. There are tables and tables of fresh veggies and fruits, meats, cheese, baked treats, and even seafood.
Of course, they're busiest in the summer, but they're open year-round so you can still enjoy the market in the winter. I like to come here in the summer for the ice cream, but in the winter they have more crafts available, just in time for the holiday season. Some things here tend to be a little more expensive than at the store or grocers, but practically everything is organic, and it's all local so you'll really be supporting the local farmers.
The market has a tight-knit community feel to it, since it's all about local roots. You get nothing but a healthy and feel-good experience here. -
Review from Amy W.
Medicine Hat, AB
3/18/2011
I love waking up early on a random Saturday morning and coming to the market. The atmosphere is great if you come before about 10 am so you can actually enjoy browsing before the crowds hit. The only thing I noticed was that when I would go in the summer for fresh vegetables, I would usually end up buying from the shops at the back of the market (not at the main entrance) as it seemed to be a bit cheaper. The market hasn't changed much in the year I've lived near it, but it's definently worth checking out.
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Review from Nicole B.
Edmonton, AB
10/20/2009 3 photos
The Farmer's Market is always an adventure on Saturday morning! It's fun to meander up and down the aisles with a friend. But be warned, with all the fresh food on display, you might not be able to resist!
I love the Farmer's Market because of the culture. Everyone has their booth set up with the best of the best and no one harasses you or tries to lure you in - it's just an honest day's work!
There are some really unique things to take a gander at too. Some of the homemade jewelry and clothing are quite fetching.
The hustle and bustle of all the market-goers are part of the fun too! I always enjoy myself when I go to the Farmer's Market - even if I don't buy anything, I still have a good time! -
Review from Paula K.
9/26/2010
The Old Strathcona Farmer's Market is a tradition for many people on Saturdays. It is definitely the largest farmer's market in Edmonton and one of the few ones that operate year-round. There is a huge selection of fresh produce, crafts, and homemade foods. You can also get some food here for lunch and there is a small seating area. It gets very packed especially during the winter, and the same vendors are usually there week after week. I like to go and just look at the many different items there and usually run into a few people I know. The musical buskers also add a homey touch.
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Review from Jessica L.
Edmonton, AB
9/29/2009 1 Check-in Here
How I wish I could love this market just a bit more...but I can't! This is a great place for specialty food items and fresh fruits and veggies as well as lots of crafts. However, its the specialty items and crafts that make me love it less than the downtown market. It feels more commercial as the booths are permanently set up. I also find the meat is MUCH more expensive here than downtown. This market has its place if you are looking for dips for parties as this place has more salsa and dips than an Epicure party. However, it would be an expensive price tag for those looking to eat organic and more local foods.
