Late start for plants not hurting farmers' market

Cathy McKechnie has been selling her wares at the farmers' market for five years.
Originally from Bethune where she and her husband, Morley, have a market garden, McKechnie sells in Bethune as well as Moose Jaw. She sells a variety of items, all homegrown and homemade.
"We sell all the vegetables as they come into season. Right now it's radishes, lettuce, spinach and green onions," she said. "There will soon be peas in about three weeks and then the green beans come in. We just sell all the vegetables as they come into season."
"I do some baking as well," said McKechnie. "I bake pies, buns and bread and cinnamon buns. I also have pickles, relishes and jams that I make throughout the year. I have quite a variety of different things."
Due to the cold spring, most of McKechnie's vegetables are at least three weeks late.
"Everything is late," she says. "Some things just didn't grow right from the beginning. Due to poor germination, some of the stuff is just starting to come up now. So yes, for sure, things are behind."
As for the most popular items, McKechnie finds the radishes and green onions seem to be doing extremely well this year.
"The pies usually go pretty quick, as well. I do take orders as well though," she said.
Betty Jane Boucher, a customer for three years, loves McKechnie's pies.
"I usually come throughout the summer to get the pies. They're so good." she said.
"I also like the fact that all the produce is fresh and I am supporting a local grower," added Boucher.
The farmers' market occurs every Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the zero block of River Street West.

Danica Kindrachuk can be reached at 691-1255.