A bounty of local produce in the Thunder Bay area has been a welcome psychological antidote to this summer’s spate of forest fires and smoky skies.

“It’s safe to say that we’re in the midst of a bumper crop of fresh local vegetables, due to the adequate heat and rain we’ve had these last few critical weeks,” Kakabeka Farmers Market volunteer Wendy O’Connor said on Monday.

O’Connor said some of the stand-out veggies include locally-grown greens, summer squash, beets, carrots, cucumbers and garlic.

Meanwhile, crops at Lakehead University’s agriculture research station just west of Thunder Bay, as well as farms near the city, haven’t disappointed growers.

“Very good growth every where,” said station director Tarlok Sahota Singh. “Rains have been adequate and timely.”

The Kakabeka market

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