Bountiful And Beautiful – Hooray For Summer Markets! 🤩

written by Nicole Jacobs, Market Manager

Market operates Thursdays, 3-7pm, at 875 Dufferin St 

*full vendor list here.

Bountiful and beautiful indeed! Just look at those gorgeous provisions from Nith Valley Organics (our feature photo.) And if you haven’t tried Nathan’s cherry tomatoes yet, I strongly recommend them – such flavour! But (if you can swing it), come early. 💪

Another thing to come early for is peaches – yes, it’s true! We briefly had some at last week’s market, from Reyes Farms. However, they were sold out before I could even get a pic, (sorry folks! 🙂 But Nacho tells me he’ll have way more this week – yahoo! 

And Reyes’ lavender was also a huge hit last week. That, I was able to get some shots of. The adorable bumble bee (pictured), clearly enjoyed it too. So nice seeing the bees “doing their thing”. Hopefully this one had a good time, buzzing around at our market last week.

Dried fruit varieties from Kalmplex Snax, (with a hint of cayenne.)  A great snack, with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. They’re all incredibly flavourful, but definitely try the pineapple! 🙌

The amazing “young crew” were holding things down for Plan B Organics last week – and doing such a fine job! You’ve probably seen Zappora, (left), as she’s been helping out Plan B, at the market, for some time. And alongside her, is Luca (whose dad, Alvaro, is one of “the Plan B brothers”!) Hard to believe I knew both of these two superstars, before they were even born. What a market we have. 💜

Vendor News..

So much happening this week – yippee! And as always, for the full vendor list, click here, (or just scroll.) 

Although they’re “technically” not a vendor, Repair Cafe is here this week, (July 18th.) Once again, just from 3-6pm. Look for them in the courtyard, on the west-side of the clubhouse building. And a reminder that It’s a one-item maximum. Because, for those that didn’t know, Repair Cafe fixes things, free of charge – but donations are always welcome. (RC returns next, on August 15th.)

And finally, Nature’s Way Organics comes to the market! Yes folks, it’s finally happening! And I’m not sure what to brag about more – the popcorn, the cucumbers, the sweet potatoes, the heirloom tomatoes, the “Oooh La La” hot sauce, or even something else altogether? Geez, I could definitely go on and on – but just come to the market, and see for yourself!

And if you’ve been wondering about dessert crepes, wonder no more! Crepe de la Crepe is back this week, with their delicious selection of sweet (and savoury) crepes. Stop by Ibraheem’s stall, and “treat yourself”! He will be at the market bi-weekly, (starting July 18th.)

BitterBetter also returns this week, with their incredible selection of teas, and Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat products, (HTB).  They also have a new product this week: HTB Cereal (pictured.) This is “pressed and slow-baked” – and also on special this week, with the purchase of their HTB pasta noodles.

Monthly vendors this week are: Sopsicles Toronto, BitterBetter, and Casa Shrooms. 

Our bi-weekly vendors this week: Green Florin, Pine & Ginga Juice, Maizal Tortilleria, and (now) Urban Harvest.

Scroll for the full vendor list, or click here.

And a reminder that Forbes Wild Foods is away, for an extended period – (returning on August 8th.) Jiggy Popz will also be absent from the market this week (as Sopsicles Toronto will be there instead.) Jiggy is back next week, (July 25th.)

A Vendor Congrats!

It was (obviously) no surprise to me, when I was reminded that we have incredible vendors at the Dufferin Grove Market. And a big thanks to all of you, for knowing that as well. Well it turns out that BlogTO, took notice of this too! They featured Johnson Family Bakery just last week, on their list of Best Bread in Toronto – wow! Way to go Chuck! (Click on the link for more details.)

Swedish Knots from Johnson Family Bakery.

Veggie Spotlight..

If you’re wondering just “what the heck” this (above) photo is of, you’re not alone. I only just learned about it last week. Cheyenne, of Sundance Harvest, introduced me to “tulsi”, (also called “holy basil”), by giving me a generous bag of it, and saying, “here Nicole, it makes a good tea”. And wow, was she right! I made an incredible pot of tea with it over the weekend, and was amazed by its calm and soothing flavour. (However, if preferred, the leaves can also be eaten raw.) And if you’re wondering about the health benefits, it just gets better. Tulsi can protect against infection, lower blood sugar, lower cholesterol, ease joint pain, and aid in digestion.”

Pick up some tulsi this week, from Sundance Harvest.

Free Compost Workshop!

Hi friends, if you’ve got some extra time this Saturday, and always wanted to learn more about composting, this is your moment! Skylar, of the Dufferin Grove Park Garden Co-op, wants folks to know about this wonderful opportunity. The Garden Co-op is presenting a Backyard Compost Workshop, with Alanzo Byfield, from Food Share. All are welcome.

The details:

Date & Time: Saturday, July 20th, 2024 – 10-11am

Location: North-end of Dufferin Grove Park, by the two green sheds & Circle Garden, (south of Gladstone/Dufferin Park Ave /west of the brick Field House bathrooms).

Contact: skylarhilljackson@gmail.com 

Reminder for Next Week:

Clothing Swap (and art workshop) July 25th!

Highlights From Last Week..

A big welcome back to Isabel! Our wonderfully-talented face-painter, Isabel, joined us back in 2022, and has “transformed” many market faces into works of art, ever since. Keep up the great work, Isabel! 💜(Look for her setup, near “the bridge”, (close to the woodshed.)

A little note of thanks from the folks at Karma Co-op. I actually ran into John (pictured), over the weekend, who took the time to thank me for the incredible response Karma has been getting, from “cheerful market-goers at Dufferin Grove”. Karma will be back at the market again this week, and would love to speak with you, about healthy alternatives to shopping at corporate grocery store chains – (aside from farmers’ markets, of course. 🙂

Planticia Foods – lovely Christine, and her incredible eats, are back at the market July 25th. 

Hooray for Thursdays! 🤸🏿‍♂️

-Nicole

*every Thursday, 3-7pm – in Dufferin Grove Park (at the north-end) 

VENDORS _ July 18, 2024

Growers:

• Plan B Organics
• Nith Valley Organics
• Reyes Farms
• Aldergrove Farm
• Noki Farms
• Urban Harvest 
• Nature’s Way – new!
• Kooner Farm 
• Sundance Harvest

Meat, Fish & Dairy:

• Rogers Ranch
• Fisherfolk
• Nith Valley (lamb & chicken)
• Monforte Dairy

Eggs:

• Rogers Ranch
• Nith Valley Organics
• Kooner Farm

Bakeries:

• Johnson Family Bakery 
• Robinson Bread

Prepared Foods:

• Magic Oven
• Estelle’s Caribbean Cuisine
• Tapioca Toronto 
• Crepe de la Crepe – new!

Preserves & Specialty Items:

• Kamplex Snax
• Green Florin
• Maizal Tortilleria
• Pine & Ginga Juice
• Sopsicles Toronto – monthly
• BitterBetter – monthly
• Casa Shrooms – monthly

Cidery/Brewery:

• Heartwood Farm & Cidery
• Blood Brothers Brewing

“Extras”:

• Repair Cafe! 
• “Corpus” – dance performance, at 4:30pm
• Karma Co-op
• Community Fridges
• Face Painting by Isabel!

Fresh flowers from Aldergrove Farm