This large, year-round market really comes to life in the warm weather. ChocoSol features chocolate and coffee, Thorpe’s Organic Produce (near Millgrove) supplies fresh produce, and Beretta Organics has beef, pork, turkey, chicken, and lamb.
This east-end market emphasizes local produce, and has the added draw of weekly children’s crafts and face-painting sessions.
Perfectly situated for uptown workers, this market features seasonal produce like strawberries, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and pumpkins.
Set inside the garden’s beautiful grounds, the market emphasizes organic meat, cheese, and produce from vendors like Sausage Partners, Trillium Organic Farms, Monforte Dairy, Cherryvale Organic Farm, and many more.
Indulge Farmers’ Market (#ENT)
Another downtown option for fresh produce (like strawberries from Thames River Melons, and peaches from Kar-Dean Fruit Farms), Ontario cheese (from Monforte Dairy), and unpasteurized Canadian honey (from Staite’s Honey).
Hot-ticket item: Thames River’s watermelons and musk melons.
What’s for lunch?: Popular Tex-Mex restaurant Burrito Boyz sells a selection of its filling wraps.
To Oct. 11. 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. David Pecaut Square, 55 John St.
FRIDAY
Sherway Farmers’ Market (#ETO)
The Sherway market offers a wide range of produce, cheese, meats, baked goods, preserves, nuts, and prepared foods. Its website shows you what’s in season throughout the summer and into the fall.
Hot-ticket item: Fresh peaches from T & R Jones Family Farm.
What’s for lunch?: Butter cakes and Dutch-style waffle cookies from Schep’s Bakeries.
To Oct. 26. 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Sherway Gardens, 25 The West Mall.
Fairview Mall Farmers’ Market (#NYK)
While not as large as some of the downtown and west-end options, Fairview’s market still has a good selection of fresh produce, baked goods, and local meats. Plus, it’s on the subway line.
Hot-ticket item: East End Produce is flush with fruit and veg, including some of the ripest peaches and corn in the city.
What’s for lunch?: HoneyCrust Bakery has turnovers, strudels, pies, butter tarts, and sausage rolls.
To Sept. 28. 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Fairview Mall south parking lot, 1800 Sheppard Ave. E.
SATURDAY
Evergreen Brickworks Farmers’ Market (#ROS)
With between 65 and 85 vendors (most from the GTA), this is one of the city’s biggest markets, and a great place to find bread, produce, prepared foods, coffee, and preserves. Weekly food tastings and gardening workshops add to the fun.
Hot-ticket item: It’s all about the prepared food at the Brickworks. Jamie Kennedy’s fries always draw a line-up.
What’s for lunch?: Renowned chef Ezra Title makes pimped-out egg- and grilled-cheese sandwiches using, among other ingredients, Îles-aux-Grues cheddar, goat cheese, and caramelized onions.
Year-round. 8 a.m.–1 p.m. The Pavilions, 550 Bayview Ave.
John Street Farmers’ Market (#QNW)
Taking place in the courtyard of an old Anglican church, the city’s newest farmers’ market features local produce, breads, snacks, live music, fair-trade coffee, and art for sale.
Hot-ticket item: The hyper-local micro-greens from Fresh City Farms, grown in Downsview Park and biked directly to the market every weekend.
What’s for lunch?: Fresh squeezed orange juice from the Parlour Room Café, a loaf of sourdough bread from St. John’s Bakery, and some honey from the Toronto Beekeepers Co-operative’s stall make a winning combo.
To Nov. 3. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. St. George the Martyr Anglican Church, 197 John St.
Junction Farmers’ Market (#JNC)
With an emphasis on local, sustainable produce, The Junction’s market features nearly 20 vendors, including Bees Universe, Bizjak Farms, North Gate Organics, Wheelbarrow Farm, De La Terre Bakery, and Hogtown Charcuterie.
Hot-ticket item: The multi-seed and summer-dough loafs (made using Ontario-grown organic grains) from De La Terre Bakery.
What’s for lunch?: While you’re grabbing chutneys and curry sauces from Eudora’s Fine Foods, make sure to pick up a few samosas and other Indian-style snacks to sate your appetite.
To Oct. 13. 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Green P lot at Dundas St. W. and Pacific Ave.
St. Lawrence North Farmers’ Market (#SLM)
Held Saturdays throughout the year, this market boasts a comprehensive selection of Ontario seasonal produce, fresh baked breads, cheese and dairy products, flowers, prepared foods, and meat. There are nearly 50 vendors.
Hot-ticket item: Strawberries and blueberries, available at Marvin’s Produce, Moyer Farms, and Sovereign Farms.
What’s for lunch?: Nibble on cinnamon buns and scones from Ali’s Fresh Baked.
Open year-round. 8 a.m.–2 p.m. St. Lawrence Market. 92 Front St. E.
The Stop Farmers’ Market (#SCW)
Set at the beautiful Wychwood Barns, this massive market offers naturally raised meat from Green Gate Farms, chocolate from ChocoSol, natural soaps and honey from Honey Pie, wool from Stoddart Family Farm, and an assortment of fresh fruit, vegetables, and baked goods.
Hot-ticket item: Loaves from Toronto’s St. John’s Bakery usually sell out by 11 a.m.
What’s for lunch?: Samples abound at this St. Clair West institution, but for something more filling, try the seasonal burgers made by From the Kitchen using ingredients sourced directly from the market’s vendors. (Right now, their pork burgers are all the rage.)
Open year-round. 8 a.m.–noon. Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St.
Weston Village Farmers’ Market (#YRK)
Showcasing fruits, vegetables, and spices that reflect the diversity of the area, Weston’s market is also making a push to become more family-friendly with activities like face-painting, live entertainment, and bike tune-ups.
Hot-ticket item: Part of this market for 30 years, Gaeta Farms always draws a line for its fresh corn. The eggs from Vos Eggs and peaches from Joe’s Fresh are also crowd-pleasers.
What’s for lunch?: Droves of hungry market-goers line up for the famed peameal-bacon sandwiches at Grandpa Ken’s Back Bacon stand.
To Oct. 27. 7 a.m.–2 p.m. 14 John St., Weston Village.
Withrow Park Farmers’ Market (#DAN)
The market has adopted an ecological and local focus with regard to fresh produce and prepared foods. Sample the vegetables and eggs from Sosnicki Organics in Norfolk county, fruit from Feast of Fields in the Niagara Escarpment, breads from St. John’s Bakery, and meat from Weber’s Natural Meats in Paisley, near Lake Huron.
Hot-ticket item: Roma tomatoes (used for canning) are available in large quantities from Sosnicki Organics and Haystrom Farms.
What’s for lunch?: Leslieville’s favourite fishmonger, Hooked, serves up hand-held bliss with its fish tacos.
To Oct. 27. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Withrow Park, 725 Logan Ave.
SUNDAY
Liberty Village Farmers’ Market (#LIB)
A top-notch market for fresh produce (especially tomatoes, peaches, radishes, herbs, and lettuce), pastries, and baked goods.
Hot-ticket item: Cherry and grape heirloom tomatoes from VanHart Farms are great for salads.
What’s for lunch?: The muffins, butter tarts, and chocolate tarts from Sun-ray Orchards.
To Oct. 21. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Liberty St. and Atlantic Ave.
Leslieville Farmers’ Market (#LES)
With a mission to help east-enders buy food directly from its source, the Leslieville market is bigger than ever this year with nearly 30 vendors. They sell a mix of fresh produce,
baked and prepared goods, meat, fish, dairy, and specialty items (honey, wild foods, coffee, and organic seeds). Even better, the market has a user-friendly website with information about what’s in season, and lists all the vendors by first name so you can become besties.
Hot-ticket item: Chef J.P. Challet’s Le Matin stall was so popular at last year’s market, he was able to open a retail space at Queen and Jones. He’s back again this year, selling his legendary baguettes and croissants.
What’s for lunch?: Mr. Spinners (a.k.a. Melvin Laidlaw) makes juicy jerk-chicken sandwiches using ciabatta buns from Le Matin.
To Oct. 28. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Jonathan Ashbridge Park, 20 Woodward Ave.
