Our RV Adventures in North America: ST JACOBS FARMER'S MARKET

The Farmer's Market is so popular that they can sell out before the 3:30 p.m. closing time. Along with the Mennonite farmer's goods, there are also vendors selling all other sorts of things.

You know you are almost there when you come upon a horse and buggy along the road.
Their meat counters have the freshest meats I have ever seen. Below Teri is looking at the cold cuts that are so amazing. We bought some ham that was so lean and tasty.

Inside the large building, where much of the produce, baked goods, and food booths are, several Mennonite ladies are selling some of the farm produce. At most booths, Mennonite teens worked the booth with an adult.

At an outside stand-- just look at these gorgeous peppers. A few hours later, they were almost sold out.

Many other cultures were represented; like this Egyptian food stand. We also saw Polish, Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisine.

We ate a spinach turnover with Feta cheese and toasted sesame seeds, and for dessert we had Halva which is toasted crushed sesame seeds mashed to a paste with honey and Pistachio nuts added. Walter remarked to the owner that they had a good deal of Indian food, and she replied "Yes, but healthier."

Here they sold Perogie which is also a turnover, but stuffed with cheese and mashed potato. Also excellent.

There was always a crush of people at the meat and fish counters.

Another look at the farm products. So many people come to this market that by noon, there are no parking spaces and folks have to wait until someone vacates a spot.

This bacon is very popular and quite lean. Sausages, of all kinds, are very popular in Canada as are cheeses.

This area of food stalls was always busy and not just at noon.

In the center of this picture can be seen a women with red hair and a blue top looking towards a man who is bald with a blue shirt. We were sitting next to them and started chatting. They had two boxes of apple fritters and we ask what was so special about them as the line to buy them is always out the door and around the corner for the building. They gave us one to try and they were delicious. It is a dipped in batter apple ring that is fried and then sprinkled with sugar and was very excellent. They said we should get on line, which moves quickly, and at least see the process even

if we didn't want to buy.

So we got in line and quickly we were at the stand . Here the apple gets peeled by this machine.

While finishing up the last batch, the young lady, reaches for more apples.

Now the apples are dipped in a thick batter and deep fried.

Then they are set to cool a few moments and then sugared.

Orders are placed here and boxed to take home.

We couldn't resist!

The Engineers Without Borders Chapter at the University of Waterloo is demonstrating one of its engineering adaptations for extremely backward communities in Africa. This simple but efficient leg powered well water pump can be operated by even a small child.

Engineers Without Borders - International facilitates links and collaboration among its member groups toward improving the quality of life of disadvantaged communities worldwide through education and implementation of sustainable engineering projects

The treadle pump was developed by the team for farmers like in Ghana where less than 0.02% of crops are irrigated, making them prone to failure and famine.

Above, the crowds at the Farmer's Market.

Home baked breads, bagels, rolls, cakes, pies, and pastries.

Typical Mennonite buggy for bringing
things to market

Many flowers and plants were also sold.

The best cherries I have ever tasted. They are three to four times the size of the cherries we are used to seeing. Their flesh is deep red, sweet, and juicy. Your fingers get stained from eating them.