How to find Ukrainian products at farmers' markets?

In recent years, Calgary's farmers' markets have become veritable gastronomic venues, where organic fruits and vegetables are increasingly accompanied by products and dishes associated with Ukrainian cuisine. Every week, thousands of city residents head to the two largest markets — Calgary Farmers' Market and Crossroads Market — not only to buy fresh produce directly from producers, but also to find homemade pickles, varenyky, sausages, honey, and even ready-made dishes prepared by Ukrainian and mixed European chefs. Below is a detailed guide on how to navigate these spaces and leave with bags full of traditional flavors.

Calgary Farmers’ Market: two locations, one goal

Calgary Farmers’ Market operates in two locations — South (510 77 Ave SE) from Thursday to Sunday and West (25 Greenbriar Dr NW) from Wednesday to Sunday. Although this place is primarily for shoppers focused on local farm products, among the more than 100 regular participants, you can find those willing to share European traditions.

The first step is to go to the “Meet Our Vendors” section on the official website and sort the list by ‘South’ or “West.” Searching for keywords such as “Ukrainian,” “Eastern European,” or “Perogy” will help you quickly find those who offer varenyky, holubtsi, or homemade semi-finished products. For example, during the honey production season, it is worth paying attention to beekeepers, who often offer honey from Transcarpathia or Eastern Canada, and next to them you will find masters of farmhouse sausages similar to Ukrainian sausages.

The second way is to visit the multicultural food courts of both venues. Here, stands with ready-made dishes regularly change: borscht, deruny, or varenyky, prepared right on the spot. To make sure you don't miss the arrival of a Ukrainian or Eastern European chef, subscribe to the market's event newsletter, which announces European Food Week and Heritage Food Days, when stands from Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine take up several rows.

Crossroads Market: a melting pot of traditions

Crossroads Market at 1235 26 Ave SE is open every Friday and runs until Sunday from morning until 5 p.m. It is a unique combination of a farmers' market, a thrift store, and an antique shop, where among clothes and books you can find Ukrainian Fine Foods — one of the iconic stands with homemade semi-finished products and ready-made meals, operating at numbers 109 (frozen foods) and 135 (hot food).

To find Ukrainian products at Crossroads, you don't need to search through the crowd: just use the interactive map on the website, where numbers are reserved for specific categories. For example, the “Processed & Ready-to-Eat Foods” group includes stands with homemade pâtés, varenyky, stuffed cabbage rolls, and pies. On other days, the same place may feature Eastern European bakers or several local honey producers at once.

Seasonal events and themed fairs

Both markets regularly hold fairs before Easter and Christmas, when the number of Ukrainian products increases significantly. At the Calgary Farmers' Market, Easter cakes, painted eggs, and sausages appear in the run-up to Easter, and borscht is cooked over an open fire in a separate pavilion. In December, Crossroads Market hosts the Christmas European Market, where Easter cakes are replaced by Christmas gingerbread, honey cakes, and uzvar.

To make sure you don't miss out on these events, just follow both venues on social media and subscribe to their Telegram channels. Announcements are posted 2–3 weeks before the event, and you can often buy a ticket with guaranteed access to a limited batch of products from Ukrainian producers.

Practical tips for shoppers

When planning your visit, we recommend arriving in the morning, as this is when fresh batches of varenyky and holubtsi appear, as well as freshly baked yeast products. Be sure to bring a thermos for uzvar or teas from local herbalists, who often stand next to honey stalls. Don't be shy about asking sellers about the origin of the ingredients — farmers' markets are known for their openness, and stall owners will be happy to tell you about family recipes, the village where the vegetables are grown, or how the sausages are smoked.

If you are looking for a specific product, such as homemade fresh cheese or Gouda cheese from a farm in Alberta, use the online vendor catalog to filter by “Dairy” or “Cheese.” This will allow you to quickly map out a route between the stalls you need and purchase everything you need at once.

Finally, don't forget about eco-friendly containers: most vendors are willing to paint large glass jars for pickles or plastic trays for soups if you bring them with you. This way, you will not only support Ukrainian producers, but also the overall environmental responsibility of the Calgary community.

As a result, the Calgary Farmers' Market and Crossroads Market have become not only venues for local farmers, but also centers of cultural exchange where you can find authentic Ukrainian products and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of home cooking. Thanks to convenient online catalogs, themed fairs, and open-minded vendors, finding and buying Ukrainian products in Calgary has become easy, convenient, and enjoyable.