EDMONTON – Edmonton’s City Market Downtown has been recognized as the best Farmers’ Market in the world by a National Geographic travel blogger.
Andrew Evans, National Geographic’s digital nomad, spends the majority of his time travelling the world, visiting some of the rarest spots on the globe.
This August, Evans made a stop in Edmonton, where he visited West Edmonton Mall, ate dinner at The Cavern, and spent an afternoon at the City Market Downtown.
“He does a sneak attack, drops in and checks things out,” said Dan Young, Chair, City Market Downtown.
And it appears as though the market made an impression on the blogger, as he rated it Best Farmers’ Market in his Best of 2013 blog. According to the blog, one of the highlights for Evans was Brad Smoliak’s Bacon Jam.
“I think he liked the diversity of product,” Young said of the market as a whole. “It was the blend of more of where urban meets rural, I think; and of course the excitement of the market, is what he enjoyed.”
The year-round market, which takes over 104 Street in the summer and City Hall in the winter, offers a wide variety of locally made products.
Young says to be recognized by Evans is a great accomplishment and believes it raises awareness for the market and its vendors.
“Of course there’s a certain sense of pride that goes along with that, but it’s really an opportunity to get the word out that the vendors we have, the kind of products that we bring are all handmade. We have artisans that make their own stuff, we have lots of crafters, those kind of guys and ladies, as well as folks who are right from the farm.”
WATCH: Shane Jones speaks with Dan Young on the Global Edmonton Weekend Morning News
The City Market Downtown is open every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, visit the market’s website.