En Santé Winery from Brosseau received the Make It Award, presented to a farmers market vendor who makes their own product. En Santé is Alberta’s first and only organic-fruit cottage winery.
Deb and Duane Mertin of Pearson’s Berry Farm near Bowden received the Bake It Award for vendors who bake their own Alberta product. The Mertins are known for their Saskatoon pies, syrups and jams as well as a range of other berry products and beverages.
Innisfail Growers received the Grow It Award for vendors who grow their own product. Innisfail Growers is a group of five farm families who co-operatively bring their home grown produce to farmers markets throughout central Alberta.
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Gayle Rondeel, manager of the Rimbey farmers Market, received the Rise and Shine Award recognizing a manager or market sponsor who has shown innovation to improve their market. She has been instrumental in bringing the market from a few struggling vendors to an impressive 30-plus in Market in the Park.
The Medicine Hat farmers Market, sponsored by the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede, received the Spark Award recognizing innovation and growth through the use of multimedia for enhanced promotion of the market. They have expanded their promotional offerings from just their newsletter to radio and newspaper ads, reusable bags with the market logo and a website that shows all the vendors in the market.
Wade Sirois of Infuse Catering from Calgary received the Local Food Hero Award recognizing an institution, business or individual that purchases local food from a farmers market. Wade is frequently seen purchasing local food at the Calgary farmers Market and is a great supporter of educating consumers and producers about the opportunity in local food.
