In case you were wondering, you know, if maybe you weren’t sure, I just thought I’d let everyone know that it’s strawberry season. How’s that for a luscious image?

Despite all the recent fuss about certified markets, I still have a soft spot for the Wednesday market at Nathan Phillips Square. The idea of a market in front of city hall dates back to the first days of our city, and even if this market does include the occasional reseller with boxes of goods from the food terminal, there are still more than enough vendors who are selling their own produce to make it a worthwhile trip.

That’s not to say everyone isn’t feeling a bit of pressure from the whole idea of certifying farmers, despite the many faults the certification system currently has. Many of the vendors at the market today either had all of their produce tagged as being from Ontario or like the folks at Willowtree Farms, had signage indicating that everything they sold was grown on their own property. I noticed a couple of vendors with Foodland Ontario signage as well.

Whatever the case, there are plenty of great farmers at the Nathan Phillips Square Market (some of whom also vend at the certified Liberty Village market on Sunday), and I’m looking forward to enjoying the fruits of their labour well into the autumn.

This week’s swag includes strawberries, rhubarb and peas (give peas a chance!) from Willowtree Farms; a big bag of Empire apples from the wonderful gentlemen at Brantview Apples and Cider, and apricot almond jam from Andrews Scenic Acres. The strawberry and rhubarb will become a pie for husband Greg, and because strawberry-rhubarb pie is not my favourite, the apples will make a pie for me. Yay, pie! I have no plans for the peas yet - I may just sit and marvel at them; they make me happy in a way I can’t fully explain.

Other vendors include Caledon Springs Farms (strawberries and peanuts), Theissen Farms (plants and herbs), Elfsong Apiaries (honey and flowers), Bilski Farms (fruit and vegetables - these guys have the best concord grapes at the end of August), Thames River Melons (who have mostly strawberries right now), and Domenic’s Meats. This is actually only about half of the regular vendors and this market gets much busier as the season progresses.

And again, I’d ask our readers to please not take this whole “certification” business too seriously. While the intent of the process is definitely commendable, there are still plenty of actual farmers out at other markets selling the stuff that they have grown on their own land. It’s wholesome, delicious locally-grown food, and they deserve your business.