 One of the best parts of visiting Horton Farmers’ Market is discovering something new. From unusual vegetables to handcrafted products, there are always unique finds waiting to be added to your basket. If you’ve ever picked up an unfamiliar item and thought, “what would I even do with this” you’re not alone. From oddly shaped veggies and banana jam to dill pickle pizza and taco flavoured cheese curds, Horton always has something fun and unique to discover. The good news is that trying something new doesn’t have to be intimidating. Here are a few market finds you may come across at Horton and some simple ways to use them at home. Lavender Lavender is one of those market finds that many people admire from a distance, but aren’t always sure how to use. Many assume lavender is strictly a relaxing aroma used in soaps, candles, and lotions, but it can be consumed as well – lavender is surprisingly versatile. At Horton, you can find culinary lavender, dried bundles, teas, soaps, candles, lotions, and other handcrafted products. Culinary lavender can be used in baking, lemonade, simple syrups, and tea blends. Lavender sugar and extract is a delicious addition to baking, adding it to batter or simply sprinkling on top of a sweet treat. Lavender simple syrup is a fun and floral addition to any coffee or tea – hot or cold. If you’re new to lavender, start small. Its floral flavour can go a long way, making it a fun ingredient to experiment with in the kitchen.
 Honey At first glance, honey may seem familiar, but local honey offers much more variety than many shoppers realize. The flavour, colour, and aroma can vary depending on the flowers visited by pollinators, creating unique characteristics from one jar to the next. Honey can be stirred into tea, used as a natural sweetener in baking, drizzled over yogurt, oatmeal, cheese boards, and my personal favourite, grilled cheese. Some shoppers even enjoy comparing different varieties to discover their favourite flavour profile. You may also come across flavoured honeys at the market. Infused with ingredients like garlic, lavender, hot peppers, or fruit. Flavoured honeys can add a unique twist to both sweet and savoury dishes. Try drizzling hot honey on pizzas, adding fruit honey to tea or toast, or pairing flavoured honey with cheese and crackers for an easy appetizer. Another pollinator related product you may spot at the market is bee pollen. These small golden granules are collected by bees as they gather pollen from flowers. Bee pollen has a slightly sweet, floral flavour and can be sprinkled over yogurt, smoothie bowls, oatmeal, cereal, or salads. If you’ve never tried it before, start with a small amount and experiment with different ways to enjoy it.  Mushrooms While most grocery shoppers are familiar with white button mushrooms, farmers’ markets often feature specialty varieties such as oyster, lion’s mane, morels, shiitake, and other unique fungi. Specialty mushrooms can add rich flavour and texture to a wide variety of dishes. Oyster mushrooms are delicious sauteed with butter and herbs, while lion’s mane is often praised for its meaty texture. Many varieties work well in pasta dishes, stir-fries, soups, risottos and grain bowls. Microgreens and Herbs These tiny greens may be small, but they pack a surprising amount of flavour. Microgreens are harvested shortly after sprouting and are often available in a variety of types, including broccoli, pea shoots, spicy mixes, and more. They can be sprinkled onto sandwiches, salads, soups, grain bowls, and even pizza for an extra burst of freshness and colour. Microgreens are ready to eat, making them one of the easiest market finds to incorporate into your meal. Fresh herbs can sometimes feel just as intimidating, especially when you come across varieties you don’t regularly use. Herbs like basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, thyme, rosemary, lemon balm, and mint can elevate simple dishes with very little effort. Add herbs to salads, pasta dishes, marinades, sauces, infused water, or homemade dressings for an instant boost of flavour. Anyone looking to add more greens and fresh flavours to their meals without much effort should definitely start with microgreens and herbs.
Unusual Vegetables Every market season brings a few vegetables that puzzle some shoppers. Fortunately, many unusual vegetables are easier to prepare than they appear. Kohlrabi appears early in the season at Horton. With its round bulb and leafy stems, it looks quite intimidating at first. However, its flavour is mild, crisp, and slightly sweet, often compared to broccoli stems or cabbage. It makes for a great addition to salads, slaws, and stir-fries (Gardening at USASK, 2026). Even the leaves can be cooked and enjoyed similarly to kale or spinach. Garlic scapes are the curly green flower stalks that grow from garlic plants. They have a mild garlic flavour and can be used in many of the same ways as garlic cloves. They’re excellent in pesto, stir-fries, omelets, pasta dishes, and roasted vegetable mixes. Fiddleheads are another interesting market find. They are tightly coiled young shoots of certain fern varieties and are one of spring’s most distinctive seasonal vegetables. Before eating, fiddleheads should be cooked thoroughly (Bergo, 2023). Once prepared, they can be sauteed with garlic and butter, added to pasta dishes, mixed into salads, or served as a simple side dish. Their earthly flavour and limited season make them a special treat many shoppers look forward to each year.  Talk to Vendors One of the greatest advantages of shopping at a farmers’ market is having direct access to the people who grow, make, and sell the products. If you see something unfamiliar, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Vendors are happy to share preparation tips, serving suggestions, recipes, storage advice, and even their favorite ways to use the products. You may discover a new ingredient, new recipe, or a new favourite food. So next time something catches your eye at Horton Farmers’ Market, take a chance on it. You never know what delicious discovery might end up coming home with you.
References
Bergo, A. (2023, January 22). Fiddlehead Ferns: Identifying, harvesting and cooking. Forager. https://foragerchef.com/how-to-identify-and-cook-fiddlehead-ferns/ Kohlrabi - Gardening at USASK - College of Agriculture and bioresources. gardening. (2026). https://gardening.usask.ca/gardening-advice/gardenline-nested-pages/food-plant-pages/vegetables/kohlrabi.php
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