It’s farmers market season again, and Toronto is bursting at the seams with beautiful farm-fresh produce. With markets open each day of the week and in practically every locale, nowโs the time to grab a few reusable bags and your sunglasses and explore!
Head to Sorauren Park just off Roncesvalles Avenue, admire the community garden and explore the weekly farmers market. Running strong since 2008, youโll find plenty of sustainable produce, plus local arts and music events.ย
Where: Northwest corner of Trinity-Bellwoods Park (Dundas Street West and Shaw Street)
When: Open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., May 7 to October 29
Dedicated to educating visitors about food sources and sustainable agriculture, the Trinity-Bellwoods Farmers Market offers seasonal, local selections, including craft cider, fresh fruit, squash, pickles and more. Come rain or shine to explore.
Where: Riverdale Park West (Sumach Street and Winchester Street)
When: Open 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., May to October 22
A reintroduction of the former Riverdale Farmers Market (Torontoโs first organic market), which ran from 2001 to 2015, the Cabbagetown Farmers Market promises to bring locals a variety of sustainable food. Enjoy an afternoon of shopping dozens of farm and artisan stalls offering items like wagyu beef, fresh leafy greens, baked goods and more.
Providing Annex residents with delicious local produce since 2008, this year youโll find sumptuous bread, rich honey and all your farm favourites. Enjoy live music and plenty of vendor stalls to shop. Come rain or shine.ย
When: Open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 5 to Oct. 25
Head to city hall and grab yourself a bushel of apples, some whisky-infused baked goods, maple syrup and maybe even a juicy watermelon. Meet with local farmers and vendors and enjoy a wide variety of fabulous foods โ and, hey, maybe youโll even meet the new mayor.ย ย ย ย
When: Open 4 p.m. to 7:30 pm, May 23 to October 17
Amid a backdrop of colourful graffiti, shop equally colourful produce in Corktownโs Underpass Farmers’ Market. Come rain or shine, and enjoy an ice cream sandwich while exploring the many stalls beneath the bridge. Youโll find items like microgreens, brioche, homemade jams and even doggy treats.
Where: Dufferin Grove Clubhouse (northwest corner of the park)ย
When: Open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., year-round
Started in 2002, Dufferin Grove offers one of Torontoโs longest-running farmers markets. In the summer, expect up to 30 vendors offering farm-fresh options, including premium meats, dairy products, heirloom seeds and organic fruits and veggies.
Where: Church on the Queensway parking lot (1536 The Queensway)
When: Open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., June to October
Drop by Etobicokeโs Sherway Farmers Market throughout the summer, and have your pick of perfectly ripe berries, colourful peppers and farm-fresh eggs. Indulge in fresh Ontario asparagus and the juiciest tomatoes around.ย
Where: Northeast corner of Withrow Park (Carlaw Avenue and McConnell Avenue)ย
When: Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., June to mid-October
A Riverdale favourite since 2006, the Withrow Park Farmers Market offers an array of fresh produce from local and organic farms. Explore forty stands featuring everything from honey and baked goods to wine, fresh eggs and cheeses.
Where: The white tent behind St. Lawrence South Market (125 The Esplanade)
When: Open from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., year-round
Not only is St. Lawrence Market recognized as one of the top ten food markets in the world (according to National Geographic), but it also has a stellar farmers market. Come early and peruse bountiful farm produce, including winter greens, summer peaches, harvest pumpkins and spring flowers. No matter the time of year, thereโs plenty of great stuff.
When: Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 18 to October 26
At the Junction Farmerโs Market, sustainability and fair trade are at their core. Explore fresh local food thatโs not only healthy but supports farmers and their communities, too. From one-of-a-kind ceramics and artisan cheeses to rare mushrooms and Niagara-grown fruit, youโll find it here.
When: Open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., May to October (outdoors), November to April (indoors)
Visit Torontoโs largest farmers market at the historic Evergreen Brick Works. Featuring sustainable healthy foods across 60 vendors, youโre sure to find just what youโre looking for โ from specialty products to quality honey or a pint of fresh strawberries.
When: Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 12 to November 3
With over 55 vendors each week, this well-loved market, which recently moved from Ashbridges Bay Park to Greenwood Park, has been running since 2011. Drop by to enjoy live music, fresh-cut flowers, organic leafy greens and plenty of goodies.
When: July 7, 21, 28; Aug. 11, 25; Sept. 8, 22, 29; open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Little Jamaica is hosting an amazing ย group of vendors at the Afro-Caribbean Farmers Market throughout the summer. Happening on various Sundays each month, the website notes that the farmers market will offer “culturally appropriate fruits and vegetables from the Caribbean islands and continental African countries, along with a healthy mix of clean produce grown by our local urban farmers from the diaspora.” Some of the city’s beloved Caribbean spots are involved.
Rows of red and orange tomatoes, stacks of asparagus and mounds of potatoes โ your senses will be delighted when you visit the Eglinton Way Farmers Market in Forest Hill. Grab some artisanal dips, fresh meat and harvest veggies and enjoy a morning of great food and fun.
When: Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 28 to October 15
@deeplyrootedfarmersmarket/Instagram
This new-ish farmers market focuses on Black and Indigenous vendors and on combating inequalities in food systems by circulating money within Black and Indigenous communities. “Our market will be a place where our community can teach, learn and connect with one another โ to share their different cultures through their food,” the website says.
