Cullen: Treat yourself to locally grown produce
June 4, 2010
Mark Cullen
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
FARMERS’ MARKETS
Here is a partial list of farmers markets in the city of Toronto. For a more complete list of the farmers markets in the Greater Toronto Area go to www.farmersmarketsontario.com or www.markcullen.com.
Bloor-Borden Market: 365 Lippincott St. Wednesday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., www.my-market.ca
Brick Works Farmers’ Market: 550 Bayview Ave., former Don Valley Brick Works, Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; www.evergreen.ca
Distillery Farmers’ Market: 55 Mill Street, Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers’ Market: Dufferin Grove Park, 875 Dufferin St., south of Bloor. Thursday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; www.dufferinpark.ca
East Lynn Park Market: East Lynn Park, 1949 Danforth Ave. E.; Thursday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; www.my-market.ca
East York Farmers’ Market: East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave; Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Etobicoke Farmers’ Market: 399 The West Mall, Etobicoke Civic Centre; Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
High Park Organic Market: 1873 Bloor St. West, Friday noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Historic St. Andrew’s MyMarket: Parking lot at the corner of Adelaide St. W. and Maud St.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., www.my-market.ca
Liberty Village Market: 34 Hannah Ave. Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; www.my-market.ca
Markets by the Bluffs: Birch Cliff Village Farmers’ Market at 1512 Kingston Road, Scarborough, Friday 3 to 7 p.m.
Guildwood Village Farmers’ Market: 201 Guildwood Parkway, Thursday 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m..; www.marketsbythebluffs.com
Metro Hall Farmers’ Market: 55 John Street, Thursday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; info@ontariofarmfresh.com
Nathan Phillips Square Market: 100 Queen St. W., Toronto City Hall. Wednesday 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; info@ontariofarmfresh.com
North York Farmers’ Market: Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St. Thursday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June to October
Riverdale Farmers’ Market: 201 Winchester St., Riverdale Park W., Tuesday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; www.friendsofriverdalefarm.com
Sherway Gardens Farmers’ Market: Sherway Gardens Shopping Centre, N.E. corner of parking lot, Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sick Kids Hospital Market: 555 University Ave., Tuesday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., www.my-market.ca
Sorauren Farmers’ Market: Sorauren Ave. and Wabash, Monday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; www.westendfood.coop
St. Lawrence Farmers’ Market: 92 Front Street East (at Jarvis); Saturday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.; www.stlawrencemarket.com
Stonegate Farmers’ Market: 4 Park Lawn Road, Tuesday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; www.stonegatefarmersmarket.ca
Sunshine Garden Organic Market: 1001 Queen St. W.; Monday to Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Stop’s Green Barn Market: 601 Christie St.; Saturday 8 a.m. to noon; www.thestop.org/green-barn-market
Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market: Trinity Bellwoods Park, Shaw and Dundas St. West, Tuesday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; www.tbfm.ca
Weston Farmers’ Market: GO Train Parking lot on John Street, 1 block north of Lawrence Ave., Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Withrow Park Farmers’ Market: 725 Logan Ave., Saturday 9 am to 1 pm; www.withrowpark.ca
Yonge-Eglinton Apple Tree Market: 200 Eglinton Ave. West: Thursday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; www.dailyapple.ca
In 2005, Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon began a one-year experiment in local eating and they wrote a book about it called The One Hundred Mile Diet.
Their book inspired me to plant a one acre (.4 hectare) veggie garden and to begin thinking about how much food we could produce in our own yard. I call it the “100 Metre Diet.”
Whether you live in the heart of the city, the suburbs or the country, chances are you have been touched by the prevailing message of our time to take responsibility for what you put in your mouth. Perhaps more to the point, we are witnessing a new generation of parents who are taking greater control over what their young children eat.
While I encourage you to get out and plant your own vegetables, fruits and herbs, this week marks the beginning of the new business year for virtually every farmers’ market in the GTA. While the tomato seedlings in your yard are putting down roots, now is the perfect time to explore the wide world of farm fresh produce that is literally at your doorstep.
One of the grandest of them all is St. Lawrence Market at Front and Jarvis Sts. If you have not been to a farmers’ market for some time, this is as good a place to start as any. This time of year you will still find fresh Ontario asparagus, fiddleheads, lettuce, ginger, a wide variety of greenhouse crops like tomatoes and cucumbers, not to mention lots of annual and perennial flowers ready to plant in your garden or containers.
Local?
Wherever you choose to shop for farm fresh produce, do not assume that the seller is necessarily the grower, or for that matter, even knows who the grower is. It is not uncommon for a vendor to purchase their produce elsewhere and resell it at market. I am not suggesting that vendors will intentionally mislead you, but it is helpful to ask if the seller actually grows what they are selling.
Many vendors will invite you to their farm for a tour or to buy direct from them during the week. Some run a bed and breakfast from their property (like they don’t have enough to do). Many will hand you a brochure that describes their property or sends you to their website.
Organic?
Some markets present themselves as organic farmers’ markets. The Saturday market at the Evergreen Brickworks started out as organic but there were not enough purely organic growers to fill the market. That said, there are lots of organic producers of food found at most farmers’ markets — you just have to look for them or ask when you are buying.
Very Varied
Speaking of the Evergreen Brickworks, which opened for the season last weekend, here is a sampling of the vendors that you will find there most Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m:
• Bee’s Universe: Specializing in honey from buckwheat, clover and wildflowers and a wide range of bee products. Visit www.beesuniverse.com.
• Cookstown Greens: Baby salad greens, up to 35 ingredients; root vegetables, all grown from heirloom seeds and many featuring a range of colours (e.g. four colours of beets, six colours of carrots); seedlings; edible flowers and seasonal vegetables. Of interest is the fact that Cookstown sells produce to the House Of Commons — a different coloured beet for each political party? Call 705-458-9077, www.cookstowngreens.com
• Everdale Organic Farm and Learning Centre: Over the season, they’ll bring some three dozen types of vegetables to the market, along with a range of culinary herbs. Call 519-855-4859, email info@everdale.org or go to www.everdale.org
• Forbes Wild Foods: They don’t grow, they forage. Collected from across the country, offerings include fruit jellies and compotes, more than a dozen types of wild mushrooms, vegetables (e.g. milkweed pods, cattail hearts), syrups (birch, maple, rose), and dry goods (maple sugar, black walnuts, wild rice, etc). Contact: 1-877-354-9453; www.wildfoods.ca
Question of the Week
Q: You mentioned a spiral tomato stake in your April 24 column. Where can I find these stakes?
A: Mark’s Choice 78-inch spiral tomato stakes are available exclusively at Home Hardware. Visit your local dealer. If they don’t have these in stock, they can order them for you (Item # 5010-410). A similar product is available at Sheridan Nurseries and through Lee Valley Tools.
Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author and broadcaster. You can sign up for his free monthly newsletter at www.markcullen.com, and watch him on CTV Canada AM every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. (www.ctv.ca/canadaam.com). You can reach Mark through the “contact” button on his website. Mark’s latest book, The Canadian Garden Primer, is available at Home Hardware and all major bookstores.