2010 Food Markets and Fests in Switzerland

There are weekly fresh produce markets all over Switzerland (for a list, go to www.5amtag.ch, in the German version click on Taten & Worte, then Marktinfo; in the French version, click on Actions & Projets, Infomarché), but May through November is when the big annual markets and fests take place. Some options include:

May 4. Wil, canton St. Gallen. This May Market is also a cattle market, so some fine photo ops there. www.wiltourismus.ch (in the A-Z search, click on ‘M’ for Maimarkt).

May 14-15. Biel-Bienne, canton Bern. Huge farmers’ market in the town center - some 70 stalls selling fruit & veg, flowers, baked goods, meat, sausage, eggs, dairy products, honey, jam, syrup, mustard, oil, vinegar, wine and more. Crafts stands, demos (basket making, pottery), folk music and dancing, plus food stalls selling snacks round out the event. www.biel-bienne.ch (click on Leisure, then Top Events, then insert dates into Agenda search and select “Brauchtum/Märkte” - it’ll come up as the Bauern und Grünmarkt/Marché Paysan).

June 18-20. Zofingen, canton Aargau. The ‘’largest organic festival in the heart of Switzerland” is the way this big-ticket market bills itself. www.biomarche.ch.

July (date to be confirmed). Carouge, canton Geneva. Tomato Festival. www.umg.ch.

September (dates to be confirmed). Saignelégier, canton Jura. Switzerland’s largest organic market.  www.marchebio.ch.

September (date to be confirmed). Guerbetal, canton Bern.  ”Kabisfest” or Cabbage Festival  - this area is the largest producer of sauerkraut in Switzerland. www.guerbetal.ch/wb/pages/verkehrsverband/tourismusbuero.php and www.thurnen-sauerkraut.ch.

September (dates to be confirmed). Délémont-Courtemelon, canton Jura. Big terroir market. www.concours-terroir.ch.

October 3. Grangettes, canton Fribourg. Smoky, authentic - apples and pears are cooked down outdoors in great cauldrons to make the jam or filling known as vin cuit. www.skiclubgiboulees.ch/vincuit/index.html.

October (date to be confirmed). Corsier, canton Geneva. Pumpkin Fest. www.opage.ch.

October 15-16. St. Gingolph, canton Valais. Chestnut fest known as the Fête de la Chataigne. There’s usually a boar roasted over an open fire, and always  brisolée (typically, roasted chestnuts, butter, rye bread, pickles, walnuts, meats, cheeses, fruit, and a glass of local wine or must), and brisolée royale (the same as a simple brisolée, except the selection of meats and cheeses is greater). www.st-gingolph.ch.

October 16-17. Fully, canton Valais. Arguably Switzerland’s best-known chestnut fest. Stroll through a beautiful 15 ha grove of chestnut trees, and buy either a paper cone’s worth of roasted chestnuts or tuck into a more substantial brisolée. This is a big-ticket event, read all about it (sorry, it’s in French only) at www.fully.ch and  http://brisolee.isuisse.com/brisolee.htm.

October 24, 2010.  Greppen, Lucerne. According to organizers, Switzerland’s largest chestnut market. www.kastanien.net. (If website is still under reconstruction, call IG Pro Kastanien Zentralschweiz secretariat, 041 450 21 38).

November 3. Aarau, Canton Aargau. Carrot market. www.rueblimaert.ch.

November 13. Richterswil, Zurich. World’s largest turnip festival, not a vegetable market in that sense but with some 27 tons of carved, candle-filled turnips providing parade lanterns and decorating the town.  www.räbechilbi.ch.

November 23. City of Bern. Iconic annual Onion Market. www.berninfo.com.