St. Jacobs Market District

Canada’s Largest Farmers’ Market

The Market Blog

Stress-Busting Foods

Filed Under:  The Market Blog

Foods to Consume During Times of High Stress

by Jennifer Barnes, Holistic Nutritionist

Stress can actually be a good thing, and we need a bit of stress in our lives to keep us going. It helps us get up in the morning, stay motivated to get things done. In these ways, stress can be good. The problem happens when we have too much stress and the body flies into “fight” mode and releases a hormone called cortisol. Large amounts of this hormone are a key factor in many health issues. Some days you’re pumping too much cortisol, making you feel anxious and irritated.

This is why it’s so important to learn ways to reduce the stress in our lives, and diet can significantly help support the body during times of high stress.

Here’s a few foods that can help:

Blueberries

Blueberries have many health-promoting phytochemicals that help balance the body during times of high stress. This superfood contains anthocyanins and pterostilbene, which are antioxidants. These antioxidants can also help protect the brain and reduce cognitive decline.

Broccoli

The liver is the body’s main detoxification organ. It detoxes out excess hormones like cortisol, which is why it’s super important to support the liver during times of high stress. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli especially help the liver’s detoxification process.

Dark Chocolate

Magnesium is a mineral that helps with mood and better sleep by relaxing the muscles, making it an obvious solution for stress reduction. Sources of magnesium include pumpkin seeds, almonds, spinach, bananas, tofu, avocadoes – and yes, even dark chocolate!

Fermented Cabbage like Sauerkraut and Kimchi

Probiotics, found in supplements and fermented foods, support the adrenals and help manage cortisol levels. Fermented cabbage in the forms of kimchi and sauerkraut serve as effective probiotics. Sauerkraut is actually known to contain even more lactobacillus (“good” bacteria) than yogurt.

Ultimately, it’s super important to consume essential nutrients to support the body, especially during times of high stress. In addition to these, don’t forget protein, like eggs, lean meats and poultry, fish and shellfish, nuts and seeds, dairy, legumes and fortified soy beverages. Salmon in particular is an excellent source of protein and good fat.

For more tips about stress and its link to nutrition, visit www.jbarnesliving.com.

Vendor Spotlight: Find Your Perfect Pint at TWB

Filed Under:  The Market Blog

by Marshall Ward

You can taste the dedication to the art of brewing at TWB.

“We’re a tiny brewery out of Kitchener and we just turned five this February,” says Alex Szaflarska, one of the founding members of Together We’re Bitter (TWB).

“We are one of two cooperative breweries in Ontario, the other being our friends at London Brewing cooperative, and what we do is we bring democracy to the workplace in the way that we are run.”

At TWB, their vision was to create a business rooted firmly in their local community.

“And what better way to create community than with craft beer,” says Szaflarska.

TWB’s well-rounded lineup of high-quality brews is available in the Peddler’s Village at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market. Whether you love a hoppy IPA, a tart sour, or a crisp lager — or you’re open to trying something entirely new — TWB likely has your perfect pint.

“Our goal is to have something for everyone, so we like to have everything from dark beers to ambers to light ones, and one of my favourites that we have right now is the Volkssommer Kotbusser,” says Szaflarska. “It’s a mouthful, but it’s a delicious mouthful. It’s old German-style ale that used to be very popular before Bavarian purity law came into place because it was meant to be a light ale where you could add things to it, and we add ginger and honey to ours so it’s a really nice light, refreshing beer.”

Szaflarska says TWB is thrilled to have recently joined the community of vendors at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market.

“We love it,” she says. “It’s such a great community and we’ve gotten to know our neighbouring vendors here in Peddler’s Village. We’re excited to be in a space that really builds connections, builds community, and allows us to connect with people who may not stumble upon our tiny brewery on Mill Street in Kitchener on their afternoon walk. 

The initials “TWB” may officially stand for “Together We’re Bitter,” but the pun does not apply to the people who bring the place to life.

Together They’re Brewing. Try Waterloo Breweries. Taste Wonderful Beer. 

Vendor Spotlight: Quality is King at Cloverleaf Farms

Filed Under:  The Market Blog

by Marshall Ward

There’s always a bustle at the counter of Cloverleaf Farms in the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market — and there has been for decades.

The longtime market shop, located in the main market building of the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market offers a huge selection of farm-fresh meats including smoked loin chops, peameal bacon, New York striploin steak, double-smoked ham, pork souvlaki, and much more.

“My son was trained in Germany as a butcher,” says Hilde Sheid, co-owner of Cloverleaf. “When he came home he decided to open his own business.”

If you’re looking for quality meat selections from a family-run local business, you’ll find everything you want at Cloverleaf: scratch-made schnitzel, kabobs, breakfast sausage, jerky, and all varieties of sausage (including, in time for Kitchener-Waterloo’s annual tradition, homemade Oktoberfest sausages).

Cloverleaf is also well-known among market patrons for their tangy sauerkraut and delicious pepperettes, in flavours like honey garlic, jalapeno, sweet and spicy, smoky bacon, teriyaki, and spicy hot. 

Customers come from far and wide for Cloverleaf Farms products, confident that the quality of the product — and the customer service — is always guaranteed. 

“Believe it or not,” says Sheid, “we have customers that come from Barrie, Niagara, Toronto, Milton, Hamilton, London, and Windsor!

Some of them pre-order because we have a nice store in New Hamburg right on the 7/8 highway, and then we bring it here. They’re happy with our meat because it’s still the same good quality we’ve been doing since 1984.”

Vendor Spotlight: Get Energized with Produce Express

Filed Under:  The Market Blog

by Marshall Ward

There’s a vibrant energy that radiates from Produce Express, which has two locations within the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market. 

Everything alive and colorful — bright, ripe fruits and fresh vegetables, from lush purple plums, peaches, grapes, mangos, and cherries to avocado, corn, carrots, beans, tomatoes, and watermelon.

Behind the counter too, the place is brimming with energy — attentive young staff members who are wise beyond their years in customer service. 

Retail manager Mike Rysken cultivates that lively spirit at Produce Express, and customers have come to appreciate it. 

Rysken employs mostly teenaged staff who bring a natural energy and enthusiasm to the market. “I think it’s very important to give young people an opportunity to have a job,” he says. “I really value the enthusiasm and passion that young people bring. We’re here to sell lots of fruits and vegetables, but at the same time we’re here to have fun and create a great customer experience.”

Both locations of Produce Express operate year-round in the market building, and outdoors spring through fall. 

In the summer, Ryksen said their strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries are the best-selling items. “We get big crowds, with people coming from all around because they love our berries.”

Ryken’s voice soars over the hustle and bustle of the outdoor market: “Get your berries here, four for 10, super sweet berries, folks, come on by — what a deal!”

Next time you’re in search of delicious, healthy, farm-fresh produce, head to Produce Express at the market. You’ll feel the energy too. 

Nutrition Made Simple: Yellow Bean & Dill Salad

Filed Under:  Recipes, The Market Blog

Yellow Bean and Dill Salad is a nice picnic choice and a good side dish that can be served with any grilled BBQ meat.  This recipe is gluten and dairy free for those with food restrictions. 

Recipe by Jennifer Barnes, Holistic Nutritionist

SERVES 2

Ingredients

  • 3 cups yellow beans (trimmed, fresh or frozen)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped sweet onion
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
  • 2 tbsps yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Finely chop dill and onion and set aside.
  2. Mix mustard and honey together in a small container until well blended and set aside.
  3. Bring salted water to boil in a large pot. Add yellow beans, cover and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes or until desired tenderness is reached.
  4. Remove yellow beans with a slotted spoon and let cool.
  5. Once the beans have cooled, add the onion and the dill.  Add the honey mustard dressing and mix well.  Add sea salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy!

Notes

This salad also works well with a combo of yellow and green beans.  

More Tang
Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to the honey mustard dressing.

More Dill
Cut up dill pickles and toss together with the bean salad.

Sweet Pickled Onions
Replace raw onion with chopped up pickle onions for more zest.

St. Jacobs Market District

Farmers' Market

878 Weber St. N. (519) 747-1830

Thurs 8am - 3pm | Sat 7am - 3:30pm

Market Road Antiques

845 Weber St. N. (519) 746-1999

Open 7 days a week | 10am - 6pm

St. Jacobs Outlets

25 Benjamin Rd. E. (519) 747-1830

Mon-Fri 10am - 7pm | Sat 9am - 6pm | Sun 11am - 6pm