5 Toronto Farmers’ Markets to Visit this Summer
Summer is a fantastic time of year to enjoy fresh seasonal produce while contributing directly to local food providers and growers. Unfortunately, the realities of the COVID–19 pandemic have forced many farmers’ markets exclusively online or closed them down completely.
Here are 5 farmers’ markets Torontonians can and should make a point of visiting this summer:
Sorauren Farmers’ Market
Open Mondays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and located in the wonderfully sprawling Sorauren park just west of Roncesvalles Avenue. This market offers everything from fresh fish, vegetables and deli products to the neighbourhood’s Polish specialties such as pierogies and pączki. Most vendors are set up to receive tap payments and 99% are still accepting cash.
East York Farmers’ Market
Operating on the grounds of the East York Civic Centre at Coxwell and Mortimer, the East York Farmers’ Market opens from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays. For just over 20 years, this market has been a favourite destination for fresh-cut flowers, fresh bread, fresh eggs, honey and artisan skincare products. Besides observing physical distancing, the market stresses that food is not permitted to be consumed on-site and vendors are prohibited from providing food samples.
Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market
Every Tuesday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine, this extremely popular, farmer-focused market is all about slow food; not fast food. Supporting local, sustainable and organic agriculture is Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ market’s guiding principle, and reflected in its offerings of bread, pickles, fish, wine and much, much more. Extra restrictions and precautions have been put in place to keep goers of this busy market safe.
Leslieville Farmers’ Market
Focussed on fostering engagement between market-goers and local environmentally responsible food producers, the Leslieville Farmers’ Market can be found in Leslieville’s Jonathan Ashbridge Park every Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Accompanying the multitude of fresh produce are prepared items such as waffles, popsicles, chocolate, empanadas and coffee. Some of this market’s new safety procedures include a one-way only travelling direction through the marketplace, no consumption of food on location, a strong recommendation of face-mask use, and extra patience.
Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market
The city’s largest farmers’ market is open on Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Running year-round, the market located off Bayview Avenue lays claim to offering the widest variety of local and seasonal food in the city. Evergreen’s community-based goal is to promote healthier food choices while supporting food systems that are ecologically and economically sustainable. Over 20 of the market’s vendors offer pre-order and pickup for shoppers that don’t have time to browse the site’s expansive fare. During August, the market encourages its visitors to sample varieties of the Nightshade family of plants such as tomatoes, bell peppers, chilli peppers, eggplants, tomatillos, ground cherries, and potatoes.
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