Mother-daughter duo are rising stars at the Wainfleet market

Nadine Larente and her mom Charlene Flikkema run the Wainfleet Bread Box from their Highway 3 home, as well as being regular vendors at the Wainfleet Farmers Market ~ Luke Edwards photo

By Luke Edwards

After trying, and loving, her homemade sourdough bread, friends of Charlene Flikkema encouraged her to start selling loaves. She put four loaves out in the roadside stand in front of her Wainfleet property and posted on social media about it.

They disappeared in a heartbeat.

“So the next week I put out eight loaves, and they all sold,” Larente said.

Now she and her daughter Nadine Larente run the Wainfleet Bread Box, selling all things sourdough at their Highway 3 home and weekly at the Wainfleet Farmers Market. They have a wide range of sourdough items from classic and flavoured loaves, to scones, cinnamon rolls and muffins.

What makes them unique from what a shopper might buy in a large scale grocery store is authenticity, Flikkema said. Whereas others might use yeast, or even add artificial sourdough flavouring to give their loaves a sourdough feel, Flikkema and Larente use their own starter and a long fermentation period to get that distinctive taste.

The pair will often branch out and offer specialty treats based on the time of year, such as chocolate peppermint during Christmas.

One of the great things about starting the business and being a regular Wainfleet market vendor is the opportunity it’s afforded them to learn more about the area. They moved to Wainfleet in 2021.

“Meeting new people and getting to know our community,” Flikkema said, when asked about what makes the market special.

While they do specialty loaves - some like the jalapeno cheddar are quite popular - Flikkema said quite often she and Nadine prefer simpler options, like a slice of toast and butter in the morning.

In addition to being regulars at the market, they also take orders. For more information visit wainfleetbreadbox.ca or follow them on Facebook.