Best of Toronto
The Best Farmers Markets in Toronto
The weather is warming up and summer's marquee fruits and vegetables are well on their way to your kitchen. And the best place to get your share of this upcoming local bounty is at one of Toronto's many farmers' markets, most of which are now open for the season.
Market shopping is a great way to eat local, high quality, super fresh food. Talk to the people who grow and care for our food, and learn about different varieties, including heirloom and other flavourful varieties you won't find at No Frills. Plus, it reduces your carbon footprint, as nothing is shipped across the continent.
Farmers' markets are not just for your fruits and vegetables, although those items alone are enough reason to pay a visit. Expect to find meats and fish, herbs, honey, mushrooms, garlic, eggs, cheese, bread and other baked treats, preserves, jams and even plants and flowers.
Although Toronto has many farmers markets, they are all open on different days and times. This is good for farmers, as they can sell at multiple Toronto markets in a week. But it also means that your neighbourhood market may be open while you are at work. Thus, it is important to balance both convenience and opening times, along with a size and scope that suits your needs.
For some people this means stopping by Nathan Phillips Square Wednesdays before work or at lunch and then carrying the goodies home. It might mean a trip to Dufferin Grove Park after work or to Liberty Village after brunch. The Toronto Farmers' Market Network has a comprehensive list (and map) of markets, TasteTO sorts by season and day and NOW sorts by day.
Our list covers 15 of Toronto's markets, presented in no particular order - but there are more, and unfortunately that means good markets are left out, such as Distillery District, North York and Etobicoke Civic Centres, and the Downsview Merchant Market. But with the following list, you will find a market in the downtown core and many neighbourhoods radiating pretty far out.
As an avid market-goer myself, I have learned a few helpful strategies.
- Do a little tour of the market before you buy. Not all vendors have the same things, plus you can compare quality and prices.
- Bring some sturdy bags to carry your bounty. The market bounty can get heavy, and while most farmers have basic plastic bags, bringing your own helps the environment and makes it easier to carry everything.
- If you go early, you'll get the best selection but if you go late you might be able to negotiate the best prices.
- Some markets or farmers have websites or email lists, which are good ways to get information about what you will find at the market, recipes and other helpful information.
Check out our list for the days, season and hours of the markets, and links to more info.
Top photos from (two left) Withrow Park Farmers' Market and (right) jsaneb. Farmers' Market list photos from each market except: Brickworks by Scorchez, Nathan Phillips Square by Jen Chan, Metro Hall by Sandy Kemsley and St Lawrence Market by Faisal D.
Dufferin Grove Organic
THURSDAY 3pm - 7pm. South of Bloor on the east side of Dufferin, in Dufferin Grove Park. Year Round. More »
St. Lawrence
SATURDAY 5am - 5pm. 92 Front Street East (at Jarvis, North Building). Year Round. More »
Nathan Phillips Square
WEDNESDAY 8am - 2.30pm. Nathan Phillips Square (Toronto City Hall), Queen & Bay Streets. June to October. More »
Trinity Bellwoods
TUESDAY 3pm - 7pm. Northwest corner of Trinity Bellwods Park, 1053 Dundas St W (Dundas & Shaw). June to October. More »
Brick Works
SATURDAY 8am - 1pm. Between the Prince Edward Viaduct (Bloor/Danforth) and Pottery Road. May to December. More »
Riverdale Organic
TUESDAY 3pm - 7pm. Riverdale Park West (201 Winchester St). May to October. More »
Stonegate
TUESDAY 4pm - 7pm. 194 Park Lawn Road, next to St. James' Humber Bay Anglican Church. June to October. More »
The Village Market (organic)
SATURDAY 8.30am - 1.30pm. 9100 Bathurst at the Toronto Waldorf School. Year Round. More »
Weston
SATURDAY 7am - Noon. John St GO train parking lot (Weston Rd & Lawrence Ave W). May to October. More »
Sherway Gardens
FRIDAY 8am - 2pm. Sherway Gardens Mall, Corner of Hwy 427 and The Queensway. May to October. More »
Discussion
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Pssst... these aren't rated. The list is presented by Josh in no particular order.
Heck, isn't it right off a BIKE PATH? The roads around there are not bad either. Bayview, of course, has fast and aggressive traffic, but it also happens to have a wide paved shoulder. And Pottery Rd. is pretty tame, and has tons of cyclists.
So yeah, if you see something out of season sitting there nice and ripe, avoid it. Chances are not a shred of it is locally grown
If you go to that website, I believe it says that any farmer's market in Toronto that is certified by "My Market" only has farmers that sell their own produce and only from with in the Greenbelt.
The Liberty Village Farmer's Market would be an example of this.
This sort of thing should really be the standard
High Park deserves to have one of the city's best farmers markets.
Info: http://www.danfortheast.ca/
On that note, produce prices may be up this year as well, with the higher costs for the regional farmers to drive their trucks into town. <a href="http://blogto.com/city/2008/06/time_to_update_the_pumps/";>$40 for half a tank in a VW Golf</a> is nothing in comparison.
Living just down the street from the St. Lawrence Market, I go to the St. Lawrence Farmer's market almost every Saturday. It is by far my favourite in terms of variety and freshness and price of products. I have also been to the Riverdale Farm farmer's market and Liberty Village which are small in comparison, but alright.
I would like to go to the Brickworks market next!
The organic meat available there is fantastic! And there is not a lot of crafts there at all. But, if crafts are your thing, there's going to be a market taking over where THE STOP's farmers market used to be on the lan of the church. It's going to focus on artisan baked goods, crafts, and sustainable products and services. We here in the community are excited! www.wychcraftmarket.com
cam-man
http://www.greenbeltfresh.ca/region/toronto/farmers-markets/green-barn-farmers-market
cam