A day-by-day primer on where to get the goods.
Along with the Ex and some brutal humidity, August delivers an abundance of fresh produce to Toronto. It’s not just the peak season for perennial late-summer fave corn on the cob; if you’re a cauliflower aficionado or an heirloom-tomato buff, it’s time to rejoice. The city is teeming with farmers’ markets—here’s our day-by-day Grid guide to the local fruit-and-veg scene. Now eat your greens (and yellows and reds).
MONDAY
Sorauren Farmers’ Market (#RON)
Fruits, vegetables, bread, preserves, and cheese (much of it organic) are available from Clover Roads Organic Farm, Kind Organics, De La Terre Bakery, Wheelbarrow Farm, and Monforte Dairy.
Hot-ticket item: Augie’s Gourmet Ice Pops stand always draws a line-up of youngsters looking to get a taste of cool flavour combos like watermelon, lime, and mint.
What’s for dinner?: New this year, the West End Food Co-op has a stall selling panini sandwiches, homemade hummus, and an ever-changing selection of salads.
Open year-round. 3–7 p.m. Sorauren Avenue Park, 50 Wabash Ave.
TUESDAY
AppleTree Market (#MID)
This midtown market has relocated from Yonge and Eg. It looks better than ever, offering bread from St. John’s Bakery, cheese from Monforte Dairy, plants and herbs from Kawartha Ecological Growers, and a great selection of chocolate, flowers, preserves, and meat.
Hot-ticket item: Organic gourmet Ontario popcorn from Culinarium, made fresh to order.
What’s for dinner?: Fill up on pulled-pork sandwiches or steak-on-a-bun from Loïc Gourmet, which sources all its naturally raised meat from Cumbrae’s, Brome Lake, or Niagara Food Specialties.
To Oct. 17. 3–7 p.m. June Rowlands Park, 220 Davisville Ave.
East York Farmers’ Market (#EYK)
This east-end gem offers seasonal produce (including apples, cucumbers, and peppers), along with pies, bread, meat, preserves, and honey from local farmers.
Hot-ticket item: The fresh beans and cauliflower from both Hillsview Farm (Mulmur) and Willowtree Farms (Port Perry).
What’s for lunch?: Each week, Kountry King cooks sausages, peameal bacon, and steak, and serves them up on buns.
To Oct. 30. 8 a.m.–2 p.m. East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave.
Riverdale Farm Farmers’ Market (#CBT)
Great for fresh-baked bread, ethically raised meat, and a variety of homemade preserves.
Hot-ticket item: Fergus, Ontario’s Best Baa Dairy makes high-quality sheep-milk cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
What’s for dinner?: Chef Pascal Poilbout creates sweet and savoury crêpes using organic ingredients; he even has vegan and gluten-free options.
To Oct. 30. 3–7 p.m. Riverdale Farm, 201 Winchester St.
Ryerson University Farmers’ Market (#DTN)
Arranged by MyMarket (an organization created to ensure only Ontario farmers participate), this weekly event features nearly a dozen farmers, selling everything from produce, cheese, bread, and baked goods to fresh-cut flowers and hand-made beauty products.
Hot-ticket item: Poutine aficionados (and university students looking to create Quebec’s famous dish at home) know to get their cheese curds from Primeridge Pure Dairy.
What’s for dinner?: Colombo’s Pizza brings a truck down from the Danforth every week to serve its famous arancini (fried rice) balls.
To Oct. 23. 3–7 p.m. Ryerson University, Gould and Victoria.
SickKids Hospital Farmers’ Market (#DTN)
This pint-sized market, also part of the MyMarket family, is big on local produce and baked goods.
Hot-ticket item: Come early for the rainbow radishes from Collins Farm Produce in Puslinch.
What’s for lunch?: Delectable buttermilk muffins and slices of pie from Loffredo Fruit Farms.
To Oct. 23. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. SickKids Hospital, 555 University Ave.
Stonegate Farmers’ Market (#ETO)
Specializes in local, organic and non-organic produce, honey, bread, cheese, and meats.
Hot-ticket item: The ethically and naturally raised beef from Kitchener’s Green Gate Farms.
What’s for dinner?: The Stonegate Community Health Centre holds a weekly barbecue, hawking affordable hot dogs, hamburgers, and veggie skewers.
To Oct. 9. 4–7 p.m. Stonegate Plaza, 150 Berry Rd.
Trinity Bellwoods Farmers Market (#WQW)
Bread, meat, cheese, and produce are the name of the game at this west-end market. Check the frequently updated website to find out what’s in season.
Hot-ticket item: Gorgeous (and large) heads of lettuce from Twin Creeks Organic Farm are popular with the west-end crowd looking to make Korean ssam wraps at home.
What’s for dinner?: Ali’s Fish Shack offers fish sandwiches, fritters, and rotis.
To Oct. 30. 4–8 p.m. Trinity Bellwoods Park, 790 Queen St. W.
Tangible proof that August is the yummiest month
Click here for a close-up view of this breakdown detailing when Ontario fruits and vegetables are in season,
according to the Simcoe County Farm Fresh Marketing Association.
WEDNESDAY
Bloor-Borden Farmers’ Market (#ANX)
This Annex market showcases local produce, including ripe Ontario peaches and multi-coloured heirloom tomatoes.
Hot-ticket item: The fresh raspberries and peaches from Niagara’s Sun-ray Orchards.
What’s for dinner?: Every other week, Orangeville’s Speers Farms makes a mean hot-beef-on-a-bun, using their own antibiotic-free meat.
To Oct. 24. 3–7 p.m. Green P lot at Lippincott St. and Bloor St. W.
Montgomery’s Inn Farmers’ Market (#ETO)
The market sells everything from bread that’s baked fresh in the inn’s wood-burning oven to halal meats, artisanal cheese, fresh-cut flowers, and beauty products. The striking 180-year-old grounds are a perfect backdrop.
Hot-ticket item: The hand-formed breads from the inn’s bakehouse always sell out. Go early to get a loaf of white sourdough, peasant, or date-walnut bread.
What’s for dinner?: Babi & Co.’s stellar Indonesian street food: Its menu includes pork satays, yellow-curry grilled chicken wings, and veggie-stuffed tofu with peanut sauce and a sweet soy salsa.
To Dec. 5. 3–7 p.m, Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke.
Nathan Phillips Square Farmers’ Market (#DTN)
If you happen to be paying taxes at City Hall, ease the pain by picking up seasonal produce, smoked meats, or fresh flowers. Vendors include Thames River Melons (for fresh strawberries) and Monforte Dairy (for an array of artisanal cheeses).
Hot-ticket item: Tweed, Ontario’s Elfsong Apiaries has a unique selection of blooms, including sweet peas, a distinctly scented, old-fashioned flower that’s extremely rare.
What’s for lunch?: The Pie Roll Maniacs always have a selection of sweet and savoury mini-pies and turnovers, including a Tex-Mex pie roll.
To Oct. 17. 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St. W.
University of Toronto Scarborough Farmers’ Market (#SCR)
There are organic breads, teas, and nuts from The Well-Healed Pantry, sausages and smoked meats from Kountry King, sauces from Joy of Harvest, knitwear from Simple Smiles, and pickled produce from Toorshi Foods.
Hot-ticket item: Addictive, salty-sweet caramel corn from Stewart’s Kettle Corn is popped in a big drum right in front of you.
What’s for dinner?: Bonfire Catering brings its brick-oven pizza truck, and creates two on-site specials each week.
To Oct. 3. 3–7 p.m. 1265 Military Trail.
Next Page: Thursdays to Sundays
