It’s a sure sign of spring when the farmers’ market returns to town.

The Hinton Farmers’ Market starts up for the season on March 31, and Barb Holub of Hinton, who is managing the market, said the re-opening marks its 29th year. 

 The market offers a wide range of items from bedding plants, veggies, fruit, baking, frozen meals, frozen perogies, frozen cabbage rolls, hot lunch of perogies, cabbage rolls, sausage, and more. The market also has herbal products, sewing for children and moms, jewellery, juice, meats, jams and pickles, ladies purses, wine from around Alberta, and ladies clothing – to name a few. The items available vary every week. 

Vendors come from all over the area, said Holub. The vegetable and bedding plant grower comes from Spruce Grove, and the market hosts vegetable growers from the Edson area. The fruit grower comes from Vernon, B.C. and has been at the market for more than 25 years. 

The farmers’ market is held at the Hinton Centre every Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting the last week of March and running until the third week of December each year.  

The Christmas Craft Show and the farmers’ market are held together on the first weekend of November each year. This year the event will run from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 4 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 5. This year, the third annual Cookie Walk will accompany the craft show and market. 

“We also have markets in Jasper on Aug. 10, Sept. 8 and Nov. 20,” said Holub, adding that there are many Jasperites that attend the Hinton market each week along with the usual Hinton patrons. “The Jasper market is run by Greg Van Tighem, and most of the Hinton vendors attend the Jasper market.”

This year for the first time the Hinton Farmers’ Market will have a booth at the Hinton and District Chamber of Commerce Trade Show on April 29 and 30. The market will feature two draws for $50 in “Market bucks”. There will also be tasty samples of various items available at the market.

When queried as to who or what started the Hinton Farmers Market, Holub confided that all of the local records were destroyed in a house fire, and the only available information starts 28 years ago.

Visit the Hinton Farmers’ Market on March 31 and check out what they have to offer while enjoying free coffee and donuts.