Farmers Markets: Making Food Shopping Fun

Written by Jill // July 22, 2011 // Featured-1 // No comments

Now that it is fall, getting out of the huge super markets is so easy, as farmer’s markets dot the city every weekend. And it is a super fun time. They are kid-friendly and dog-friendly. Shop for local free-range meats and crazy fresh farm-picked produce—think apples and squash—and cool artisan breads and jams. You get a chance to talk to the farmers and the growers and make a connection. The kids love meeting the “farmers” too! You will get a real sense of where your food is coming from. You’ll actually find the tastes are sharper and more exaggerated. The cool thing is that there’s this sort of cumulative effect here. You’ll find yourself wanting more of this food and less of the other stuff. Peppery arugula, tomatoes that snap, meats that you know are antibotic and hormone free. This is how food is suppose to taste. Go hungry as there are loads of samples, and plenty of local food vendors.

It also makes meal planning that much more inspiring.

Vancouver Farmers’ Market Picks

I love Trout Lake Farmers market in east Van. Make an event out of it. Love going in the am… and having a fresh homemade Cinn buns and tea on the bench by the lake before I shop the market Trout Lake Farmers Market
North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake Between Templeton and Lakewood south of the 13th Avenue Alley Saturdays, 9am – 2pm each week, May 8 – October 23

I also love the West End Farmers Market. it is a small block and you really feel like we live in a small town. Also a great park to soak up the sun right there.
1100 Block of Comox Street across from Nelson Park at Mole Hill
Saturdays 9am – 2pm each week, June 5 – October 23

Kitsilano Farmers Market
2690 Larch Street at 10th Avenue, Parking Lot of Kitsilano Community Centre
Sundays 10am – 2pm each week, May 23 – October 24

Main Street Station at Thornton Park
1100 Block Station Street along Thornton Park across from the VIA Rail Station and near the Main St Skytrain Station
Wednesdays 3pm – 7pm, June 2 – September 29

Toronto Farmers’ Market Picks

Appletree Market
200 Eglinton Ave. W.
Thursdays, 3-7 pm, April 22-Oct 28, 2010
www.appletreemarkets.ca

Bloor-Borden Farmers’ Market
Green P lot, Lippincott and Bloor St.
Wednesdays 3-7 pm, June 2 to October 27, 2010
www.my-market.ca

Distillery Historic District Farmers’ Market
55 Mill Street (at Parliament)
Sundays, 10 am – 4 pm, May 2 to September 26, 2010
www.thedistillerydistrict.com

Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers’ Market
873 Dufferin St. (in Dufferin Grove Park)
Thursdays, 3 – 7 pm, Open all year
www.dufferinpark.ca/market/wiki/wiki.php

Etobicoke Farmers’ Market
Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall
Saturdays, 8 am – 2 pm, June 5 to November 6, 2010

Guildwood Village Farmers’ Market
The Guild Inn, 191 Guildwood Parkway (at Kingston Road)
Thursdays, 2-6:30 pm, June 10 to October 7, 2010
www.marketsbythebluffs.com

Liberty Village Farmers’ Market
(Liberty St – Atlantic Ave)
Sundays, 9 am – 2 pm, June 6 to October 31, 2010
www.my-market.ca

Metro Hall Farmers’ Market
55 John Street, near King St.
Thursdays, 8 am – 2 pm, May 27 to October 14, 2010
(no market on Canada Day)

Montgomery’s Inn Farmers’ Market
4709 Dundas West, Etobicoke
Wednesdays, 3-7 pm, July 1 to October 6, 2010
www.montgomerysinn.com

Nathan Philips Square Farmers’ Market
Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St. West
Wednesdays, 8 am – 2 pm, June 2 to October 13, 2010

North York Civic Centre Farmers’ Market
Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St.
Thursdays, 8 am – 2:30 pm, June 3 to October 28, 2010

Queen’s Quay Terminal Farmers’ Market
207 Queen’s Quay West (outdoors, southwest corner)
Wednesdays, 3-7 pm, June 2- October 11, 2010

Riverdale Farm Farmers’ Market
201 Winchester (in Riverdale Park)
Tuesdays, 3 – 7 pm, May 11 to October 26, 2010
www.friendsofriverdalefarm.com/market.htm

St. Lawrence North Farmers’ Market
92 Front Street East (at Jarvis)
Saturdays, 5 am – 5 pm, Open all year
www.stlawrencemarket.com

Scarborough Civic Centre Market
Albert Campbell Square, 150 Borough Drive, Scarborough (near McCowan & Ellesmere)
Tuesdays, 8:00 am – 2:30 pm, June 15 – October 19, 2010
www.toronto.ca/indulge/albertcampbellsquare.htm

Sherway Farmers’ Market
North Parking Lot, Sherway Gardens Shopping Centre, Corner of 427 and The Queensway
Fridays, 8 am – 2 pm, May 7 to October 29, 2010

Sick Kids Hospital Farmers’ Market
555 University Avenue
Tuesdays, 9 am – 2 pm, June 1 to October 26, 2010
www.my-market.ca

Sorauren Farmers’ Market
40 Wabash Ave. at Sorauren
Mondays, 3-7 pm, May 17 to Oct 25, 2010
Winter Markets the third Monday of every month
www.westendfood.coop

The Stop’s Green Barn Farmers’ Market
The Green Arts Barn, 601 Christie Ave. (entrance from Wychwood)
Saturdays 8am – noon, year-round
www.thestop.org/green-barn-market

Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market
Northwest corner of Trinity Bellwoods Park near Dundas and Shaw
Tuesdays, 3 – 7 pm, May 11 to October 26, 2010
www.tbfm.ca

Weston Farmers’ Market
GO Train Parking lot, John St. (Weston Rd. & Lawrence Ave W.)
Saturdays, 7 am – 2 pm, May 29 to October 30, 2010

Withrow Farmers’ Market
725 Logan Ave (in Withrow Park)
Saturdays, 9 am – 1 pm, May 22 to October 30, 2010
www.withrowpark.ca/wiki/wiki.php.

Calgary Farmers’ Market Picks

Calgary Farmers’ Market
H6, 4421 Quesnay Wood Drive SW
Calgary, Alberta T3E7K4
Friday & Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 9am-4pm

Halifax Farmers’ Market Picks

The new Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market
www.halifaxfarmersmarket.com

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