To be proclaimed every third week of August, the Alberta government has declared this week as Alberta Local Food Week, a time for people to experience and celebrate the provinces local food industry.

13-year-old local farmer and purveyor of fresh vegetables Carter Hazelhoff has been selling his produce at the Lacombe Farmers Market for the past 7 years, and he says farmers markets give people a chance to see directly where their food is from, and shake hands with the people who grow it.

“Well I think it’s good to support local, and for everyone to come in and see that they are actually talking mostly to the farmer, to the producer, and they get veggies that are grown in the area, or anything else that’s grown in the area.”

Hazelhoff company, Veggie Sales, has been growing and selling his own produce since his brother passed the tradition to him 7 years ago, and he takes pride is growing the freshest products Alberta has to offer.

“I grow it by myself, I water it, no chemicals used just organic everything…we grow sweet potatoes and I love that, I want to take over the farm someday but this is kind of a start. More than just potatoes, I grow zucchini, lots and lots of vegetables; pretty much any vegetable that can be grown in Alberta.”

The Lacombe Farmers Market runs every Friday from 9am to 1pm until October 5th at Michener Park.

Alberta Local Foods Week finishes up on Sunday, and with this weekend also being Alberta Open Farm Days, costumers have all weekend to purchase and tour locally made products and services at over 110 farms and culinary host sites.

You can click on these links for more information on Alberta Local Food Week, and Alberta Open Farm Days.