Market Report: Baskets and Blends

Summer meals start with great ingredients, and this edition of Market Report has both close to home and from around the world.

Fill your picnic basket at Calgary Farmers’ Market West, then explore the global flavours and remarkable story behind The Spice Merchant.

PICNIC BASKET ESSENTIALS

When you feel the call of summer, there’s no better way to answer than with a handcrafted picnic lunch sourced from the vibrant aisles of a farmers’ market. We love stopping at Calgary Farmers’ Market West because it’s perfectly positioned for an afternoon at Bowness Park or for stocking up on your way to the mountains.

For this Market West-inspired basket, start with crusty sourdough from Yum Bakery. Throw in an aged Grizzly Gouda from Sylvan Star Cheese (a Canadian Cheese Grand Prix winner) and add a charcuterie spread with cured meats from Luc’s European Meats.

Next, tuck in a jar of fresh basil pesto from Gull Valley Growers (drizzle it on top to instantly elevate almost anything). For crunch, pick up a bag of from Going Nuts. And don’t forget to cool things down with cold-pressed lavender lemonade from Better Juice Bar.

A great picnic is part food, part logistics, part vibe. Choose items that travel well and don’t forget ice packs, utensils, napkins and reusable containers. Find yourself a shady spot, spread out a cozy blanket, cue a mellow playlist and let your market haul shine!

Calgary Farmers’ Market West | 25 Greenbriar Dr. N.W. | 403.240.9113 | calgaryfarmersmarket.ca

THE SPICE MERCHANT

Fresh out of high school, Stephen Gollan left Canada to travel the world while building a photography career. A visit to a market in India changed his path.

“The spices were just incredible,” he recalls. What began as importing spices for his own kitchen soon grew into The Spice Merchant, first supplying farmers’ markets across Alberta and B.C., and now operating from Crossroads Market.

Gollan works directly with small producers, buying spices only at harvest to ensure freshness. His blends are designed to reflect authentic regional cooking. “Too often, spice blends taste nothing like what I’d eaten in those countries,” he says. “Some things shouldn’t be tampered with.”

One of the shop’s most distinctive offerings is Ushguli, a Georgian blend of mountain coriander seed, wild caraway, blue fenugreek, marigold petals and fermented garlic. It’s currently available from only one North American retailer: The Spice Merchant.

The business has also expanded into single-origin chocolate made from cacao beans sourced directly from growers in about 10 countries. Alongside its Crossroads Market storefront, The Spice Merchant ships its products across Canada.

The Spice Merchant | Crossroads Market | 1235 26th Ave. S.E. | thespicemerchant.ca | @unchartedbackpacker

About the Author: Erin Jenkins

With messy hair and a big appetite, Erin is constantly in search of the next great meal (ideally with a view). As a writer whose secret dream is to open a restaurant, the opportunity to cover the local food scene with Savour both makes her hungry and keeps her full. Erin loves connecting with local businesses and producers, whose passion and love for their craft and community is always worth celebrating. Erin is also a musician, and you can catch her band, Crystal Eyes, playing a local show (usually at the Palomino!).