Farmers Market @ Symons Valley Ranch

[BigDL]

Symon's Valley Ranch has been sold and now is a "Farmers Market". Just opened 3 weeks ago, my sister just told me about it.


Right now there is only a few stalls but the venders were saying that in October or so they will be opening the lower level with more stalls and i think next spring will have a brewery and a pub in the lower level as well.

I can't wait, now I don't have to go to the south to get to the farmers market.

[403ep3]

It's very good for the value of the houses around that area = :burnout:

I don't normally go to farmers markets so I was shocked at the prices. They are probably normal and I'm just a cheap asian.

[Lex350]

Remeber the days when farmers markets had good value? Most of them are way over-priced now.

[NoMoreG35]

"organic" = 3x the price ;)

[Kaos]

Awesome! So close to home. Thanks for the news!

[schocker]

Originally posted by BigDL
a brewery and a pub in the lower level as well.

Good, I miss the restaurant there, they had great wings!
Haven't been to the farmers market though yet, will have to check it out sometime as it is just down the road.

[speedog]

Originally posted by BigDL
Symon's Valley Ranch has been purchased by the guy that runs Calgary's Farmers Market.

This seems odd as the Calgary Farmers' Market is owned and run by a non-profit organization (The ABC Farmers' Market Society (http://www.calgaryfarmersmarket.ca/location_and_history)) as it has to be in order to qualify as a government of Alberta approved farmers' market (only 5 in Calgary) and the people running this market are all women (link (http://www.calgaryfarmersmarket.ca/about_us)) as per the Calgary Farmers' Market's own web site.

More digging has revealed that the current chief operating officer for Symons Valley Ranch, Darrell Komick, used to be associated with the Calgary Farmer's Market but was fired from his position as their general manager back in 2009 due to an internal decision (link (http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/news-views/news/disorder-and-lack-of-communication-frustrate-vendors-3891/)).

Considering the above, I find it difficult to believe that the guy running the Symons Valley Ranch market currently has anything to do with the Calgary Farmers' Market. Never the less, I hope the Symons Valley Ranch market is successful and aspires to become a government of Alberta approved market.

[BigDL]

Originally posted by speedog

This seems odd as the Calgary Farmers' Market is owned and run by a non-profit organization (The ABC Farmers' Market Society (http://www.calgaryfarmersmarket.ca/location_and_history)) as it has to be in order to qualify as a government of Alberta approved farmers' market (only 5 in Calgary) and the people running this market are all women (link (http://www.calgaryfarmersmarket.ca/about_us)) as per the Calgary Farmers' Market's own web site.

More digging has revealed that the current chief operating officer for Symons Valley Ranch, Darrell Komick, used to be associated with the Calgary Farmer's Market but was fired from his position as their general manager back in 2009 due to an internal decision (link (http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/news-views/news/disorder-and-lack-of-communication-frustrate-vendors-3891/)).

Considering the above, I find it difficult to believe that the guy running the Symons Valley Ranch market currently has anything to do with the Calgary Farmers' Market. Never the less, I hope the Symons Valley Ranch market is successful and aspires to become a government of Alberta approved market.

*shrug* just what 2 of the vendors there were telling me.

[doomdealer]

I went there with my wife just this past Saturday.

The place is definitely a lot smaller than Calgary Farmer's Market, but it's also a much shorter drive for people living on the North-edge of the city.

The place was pretty packed and they had a decent number of food vendors (about 6 or so). Food prices were about the same as the Calgary Farmer's Market.

Since I'm el-cheapo, I brought my own drinks from home which made the lunch more affordable.

[Cos]

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[speedog]

Just a bit of side info, if a market is not a government of Alberta approved farmers' market then they are basically an unregulated market - only approved markets can call themselves a "Farmers' Market" in Alberta and they have to adhere to some very strict regulations and such (link (http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/All/apa6620?opendocument)).

This mean that in Calgary that there are five (5) Alberta Approved Farmers' Markets with those five being Calgary Farmers' Market (Calgary's largest indoor market), Grassroots Northland Farmers' Market (Calgary's oldest and largest continually running outdoor market at 22 years), Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers' Market, Kingsland Farmers' Market and South Fish Creek Recreation Association's Farmers' Market.

The other markets in the city of Calgary are not Alberta Approved Farmers' Markets meaning the produce can come from anywhere and that you may see things like Avon or Tupperware sales people setting up booths and some of these markets may even take in flea market type of vendors - markets in Calgary that fit into this category include the Blackfoot Market, the Crossroads Market, the Triwood Market, the Thorncliffe-Greenview Market and the Symons Valley Ranch Market. These markets also don't have any guidelines to follow with respect to food safety as they are unregulated and only would be shut down if a food inspector happened to visit them and find issues - approved markets have very strict guidelines to follow and food inspectors regularly visit them to ensure the rules are being met.

[speedog]

Originally posted by Cos
"please let there be simple simons..... please let there be simple simons...."
Now at Calgary COOP - link (http://www.simplesimonpies.com/locations.html).

[schocker]

Originally posted by Cos
"please let there be simple simons..... please let there be simple simons...."
I thought you can buy those at coop now?

I thought though that symons valley was bought out by developers in order to build homes across 144th ave. That was the story awhile ago. Not that I am complaining as it would make that road even worse since sage hill drive is CLOSED FOREVER!!!

[Cos]

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[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Originally posted by Cos




Yeah but they carry the shitty leftover types. Vegitarian taco? kidney pie? Where is my curry! where is my beef taco!

They do sell the good soups at COOP though.

I have found most of the good ones at the COOP in the Hamptons, Beef and Onion and Jamaican Curry are my favorites.

[BigDL]

yeah simple simons is there now, the older guy that was at the other markets was there on Sunday.

[speedog]

Originally posted by BigDL
yeah simple simons is there now, the older guy that was at the other markets was there on Sunday. http://www.symonsvalleyranch.com/

[Kloubek]

My family went to a flood benefit BBQ they had there maybe 3 weeks ago. I had no idea the place had been converted to a Farmers-style market, and I only live around the corner in Kincora. Some marketing might serve them well.

[BigDL]

Just read some of those links speedog, thanks for the info :)

[viff3r]

Originally posted by Kloubek
My family went to a flood benefit BBQ they had there maybe 3 weeks ago. I had no idea the place had been converted to a Farmers-style market, and I only live around the corner in Kincora. Some marketing might serve them well.
Word. Their marketing has been horrible. The wife and I stumbled upon it a couple weekends ago. The place was pretty busy, I hope it does well. Having a Phil & Sebastien within a 5 minute drive has made me very happy :)

As for Simple Simon, their pies aren't that good IMO. We bought a few to try them out, the first 2 made me queesy and the 3rd was pretty bland. We tried one of their soups too, which was super tasty. But after looking at the nutrition info & ingredients I see that they use MSG and a ridiculous amount of salt for flavouring. Anything can taste good with enough salt. Not sure why these guys are so popular :dunno: