Rosebud Country Market sets up shop online

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: May 1 2020 Strathmore Times

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

The Rosebud Country Market, consisting of various products locally made and sourced within Alberta, accepts online orders until Wednesday at noon for pickup that Saturday. During the inaugural market on April 25, The Wheatland Band entertained customers through a social distancing concert. Photo Courtesy of Betty Jane Janzen

The Rosebud Country Market, consisting of various products locally made and sourced within Alberta, accepts online orders until Wednesday at noon for pickup that Saturday. During the inaugural market on April 25, The Wheatland Band entertained customers through a social distancing concert.
Photo Courtesy of Betty Jane Janzen
The Rosebud Country Inn has recently adapted their business model to offer an online market that helps area residents purchase local produce, food and home items, and gives vendors a safe option to sell their goods.
The Rosebud Country Market officially opened online on April 19 and is stocked with products such as herbs and vegetables, farm fresh eggs, locally made artisanal goat cheese, gouda, yogurt, meat, sauerkraut, honey, juice, hand sanitizer, soap, laundry soap, baking and much more.
“I came up with the idea of the market after many conversations with friends pondering just how to help our community with one of life’s necessities – food – and in also thinking about making an income while safe distancing. And the idea of having an online market offering took root,” said Betty Jane Janzen who, along with husband Ken, co-own the Rosebud Country Inn.
The inn’s season should have begun on April 17 with the opening of the now cancelled spring show at Rosebud Theatre. The Janzen’s received word the week of March 16 the spring show had been cancelled, and by March 21 they had 58 cancellations, prompting them to search for other ways to make income to pay inn expenses and upkeep.
Janzen partnered with Elly Krogman who has experience with farmers’ markets through her family’s greenhouse, Doef’s Greenhouses, and the pair set out to find vendors.
Products for sale via the Rosebud Country Market website can be viewed, ordered and paid for online at rosebudcountrymarket.com. Deadline to order products is Wednesdays before noon, and pickup is on Saturdays from noon to 3:30 p.m. Orders can also be made by phone at 866-677-2211.
“I believe that people should have access to great food at a reasonable price. We are normally isolated in our little hamlet, but at this time it is even more apparent,” said Janzen. “We also wanted to provide a venue whereby our vendors could market their wonderful products.”
Janzen and Krogman hope to expand the market both in terms of finding new Albertan vendors to offer more products and reaching more customers. In the future, they also anticipate evolving the Rosebud Country Market into a full farmers’ market.