Farmers' Markets - Beauty at a Lower Price

"The Babylonian Marriage Market" by orientalist Edwin Long


To my knowledge, Toronto has never had an outdoor wholesale marketplace such as Les Halles, the traditional central market of Paris (RIP 1971). But it presently has no shortage of retail Farmers' Markets, which usually set up camp one day a week, typically Saturday.

The City of Toronto publishes a list of Farmers' Markets operating within its boundaries. A more detailed market finder appears on the Farmers' Markets Ontario website. The FoodShare website and the Friends of Greenbelt Foundation website also display an extensive list of Toronto farmers' markets, with links to some of the individual market and market friends' websites.

Of late there has been clarification and definition of the source and quality of the produce for sale at these markets. Two new farmers' markets in Toronto, branded "My Market", at Liberty Village and Woodbine Centre, bear the Farmers' Markets Ontario certification of "Certified Local Farmers’ Market". Some, such as Dufferin Grove Organic, Riverdale Farm, Trinity Bellwoods and Withrow Park farmers' markets focus on organic and free range.

My favourite is the Weston Farmers' Market , which when managed by Laura Alderson, was described by Toronto Life Farmers' Market Overview as a "gem". It often had live acoustic music to enjoy with your morning cup of coffee.

The seasonal availability of fruit and vegetables at market is described on the Foodland Ontario website.