There have been rumblings for the past year that the Preston Street BIA is working towards starting up a year-round farmer’s market. I’m sure the area residents and food businesses are salivating at the prospects of having easy access to fresh, local meats and produce nearby.

Last fall, the first Little Italy Farmers’ Market came to life in the Adult High School Parking Lot at the corner of Preston and Gladstone, and again for three weekends leading up to Christmas. Building on the positive momentum, the Little Italy Farmers’ Market returns for an extended run this year: every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May 7 until October 8. There are two exceptions: the June 11th Market will be held across the street in the Il Postino Parking lot and the June 18th market will be cancelled for Italian Week.

According to Chris Penton, the market manager, the vendor list is growing and so far it includes vegetables, eggs, and meat as well as specialty items like all natural dressings and local jewellery made by one of Ottawa’s youngest entrepreneurs, 11-year-old Grace Eriksen.We’ll see some familiar faces like Pascale and her decadent all-natural ice cream and Hall’s apple market, but there will be some farms that are newer to the market scene, including a recent start-up Knock Out Cattle Company with its grain fed Angus beef and Goodwood’s Farm with its all-natural lamb, chicken and turkey. Robert Harrop of TOD Enterprises offers an unusual pair of products: metal works and seasonal lettuce.

For a full list of vendors visit: www.prestonstreet.com or find it on Facebook.