News Archive
How Many Eggs in the Basket?
Or is it don't count your chickens until they've hatched? Often farmers are hesitant to crow too loudly about the harvest but it is important to celebrate that the land does produce and we have good food to eat.
Even though the raspberry canes did not look so good in spring and summer there were a lot of berries hiding under those leaves when it came time to harvest. We ate a few, sold a few and put many pounds away in storage so that we can bring you Poplar Grove Farm raspberry spreads all year long. We do grow some late bearing varieties. If you can visit the Potato Store in Winkler or come to the farmers market on Saturdays in St. Norbert, on the south side of Winnipeg, you can still savour the amazing taste of freshly picked berries.
We are preparing for our fall marketing campaign which will be called 'Summer in a Jar'! That's our plan - to serve up 12 months of summer - so that when the snow falls and the wind blows cold, you will have a promise wrapped up in that amazing Poplar Grove taste. Mmmmmm!
Poplar Grove Farm's Unconditional Guarantee
We used to talk about the unconditional guarantee at Eaton's department store here in Manitoba. It was a policy that gave confidence and satisfaction to customers. Two incidents happened at the St. Norbert Farmers Market that gave us a chance to exercise our own guarantee.
Early in the market a couple had bought a pint of fresh organic raspberries at our market stall and chatted with us for a bit. The woman had a large straw hat on. Soon after they left, the decision was made to lower the price of the berries by 50 cents per pint. Spying the hat amongst the throngs in the distance one of us ran after her and passed on the 50 cent discount. 'I'll be back next week,'she said with a smile.
Some time later a customer bought a whole flat of berries to put in the freezer at home. Her next stop was the vendor with the beef - across the aisle from us. When the crowd parted enough to see through to the other side, it was clear that the flat of berries had tipped off the table and she and her son were just finishing putting the now gravelly berries back in the box. We caught the teary eyed pair just before they reached their car and replaced the pints that were beyond salvaging. The shock and delight!! Customers for life - that's what Timothy Eaton was thinking about.
Fresh Raspberries Are Here!!!!
That wonderful flavour that was the impetus that moved us to start the Poplar Grove Farm raspberry spread project is here - the amazing zap you get from a mouthful of fresh raspberries. There are two places where you can purchase our fresh berries this summer - The Potato Store in Winkler and at the St. Norbert Farmers Market (Sat. 7AM - 3PM) in Winnipeg.
Although we can't bring the fresh raspberries all the way to our market stall at the Minneapolis Farmers Market the local farmers there have fresh berries so enjoy them while you can. We are pleased to offer you that fresh summer taste all year long.
It's been 6 weeks since Tom Janzen has been in Minneapolis on market days but you will find him cajoling the market regulars Saturday and Sunday, August 2nd and 3rd. Our stall is located in the Minneapolis Farmers Market Annex, 200 East Lyndale Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55405. The market website is www.farmersmarketannex.com.