What started off as a community-driven pop-up has quickly evolved into one of Toronto’s most popular Sunday gatherings. The family-friendly market takes place outdoors and operates out of Jonathan Ashbridge Park seasonally. It has grown from featuring a few local producers to hosting some of the best food pop-ups in the GTA. From cold brew coffee to flaky croissants and spicy jerk chicken sandwiches, it’s one of the best ways to spend a lazy Sunday morning.
Sorauren Farmers’ Market
50 Wabash Ave.
While most farmers’ markets in Toronto are weekend-based, this west-end market has built a loyal following that visits Sorauren Park every Monday for a small but well-curated list of local farmers and producers. The market is open year-round (it moves outdoors in the spring and summer months) and covers all the basics, such as meat, cheese, eggs and produce. You can even pick up a bottle of kombucha. Prepared meals are also available and are popular.
The historic, internationally renowned St. Lawrence Market – once touted as the best food market in the world by National Geographic – houses some of the longest-operating market vendors in the city. It is a destination for those seeking top-quality produce, meat, seafood, cheese or international ingredients. On Saturdays, a lively farmers’ market sets up on the south side with seasonally conscious producers from across the province. For fans of bacon (so, everybody), two St. Lawrence vendors are locked in a perpetual duel to lay claim to the city’s best peameal sandwich: Carousel Bakery and Paddington’s Pump.
When the original iteration of this farmer’s market launched in 2001, it was Toronto’s first organic market. Organic vendors are still the pride of this weekly gathering, like Samsara Fields Organics and Organic Vibes along with plenty of unique heirloom varieties and tasty snacks like fresh waffles from Waffle Huis (topped with compotes made by fellow market vendors) and gluten-free goodies from Molly B’s. The market runs on Tuesdays from 3pm to 7pm, May to October.
The Stop Farmers’ Market
601 Christie St.
This year-round market operates out of the historic Artscape Wychwood Barns space and features over 50 different producers and farmers from across the province. It has everything from Niagara apples to artisanally produced bee products. The market is a busy destination, with over 1,500 visiting it weekly. There’s also a market café with a variety of hot-food vendors to visit once you’ve fully checked off your grocery list.
Ten years running, the Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market remains one of the city’s largest and most popular weekend markets. It’s part farmers’ market, part pop-up hall. Set to the Brick Works’ rustic industrial aesthetic, the market sees farmers and food producers from Prince Edward County to Niagara put up seasonal produce booths from May to October. Bonus: the market also regularly features local wineries and breweries.
