Local bounty on full display at Kamloops Farmers Market for Thanksgiving weekend

KAMLOOPS — Laden with fresh produce from farms around the region, the cornucopia was overflowing at the Kamloops Farmers Market on Saturday.

Shoppers were in search of supplies for their Thanksgiving feasts.

“I’ve got things you’d normally see by the end of August or early September,” Thistle Farms owner Dieter Dudy says. “I still have beans, we still have peas today, which amazed me. Any number of things that are still available, so people on Thanksgiving, they’re thankful for all the bounty they can enjoy.”

While turkey is the traditional protein served at Thanksgiving, some aren’t fans of the popular poultry.

“Controversial, but I don’t really like turkey. At all,” one Market-goer tells CFJC Today.

“Do you like ham?” her friend queried.

“I’ll eat a ham,” the turkey disliker says. “I think [turkey] is just too dry. There’s not enough flavour to it. Or maybe my family’s just not cooking turkey right.”

It appears that for some, the sides are the star of the show for Thanksgiving dinner, while the poultry is less popular than purported.

“I actually prefer the sides over the turkey, itself,” another market-goer says. “ I like the stuffing, I like the Brussels sprouts. Cranberry sauce. I like Brussels sprouts with bacon and cheese on them.”

Others are even eschewing turkey in favour of other proteins and plans, altogether.

“Actually, my daughter is going to do Thanksgiving this year, and she’s opted for prime rib,” Dudy says.

“I’m having a bit of a girl’s night,” the Brussels sprout fan explains. “We’re not doing turkey, we’re just eating cheese.”

But even if you’re not eating turkey, there’s one thing about the holiday that makes it so special to many.

“Pumpkin pie,” the ham lover says.

“Yeah, pumpkin pie,” her friend agrees. “And I love getting together with the family, too.”

Okay, so there are two things that make Thanksgiving so special.