All You Need Is Right Here!

written by Nicole Jacobs,
Market Manager
Market operates Thursdays, 3-7pm, 
INDOORS, at 875 Dufferin St 
*full vendor list here

So here we are! Almost halfway through March, and also well into daylight savings. And for you school-agers, parents, and educators, Happy March Break! And if you’re wondering what to do on Thursday afternoon, be sure to pop by the Dufferin Grove Market. Great food, great vendors, and a great community – all within the space of a beautiful urban park.

And as you can see (from our feature photo), a tasty baguette also awaits you! Be sure to check in with the lovely Amanda, of Johnson Family Bakery, to pick one up this week.



Amazing swiss chard from Nith Valley Organics – come early for these! 


So what else has been going on? Most of us (by now), are aware that March is also “Women’s History Month” – yahoo! Hopefully you’ve taken a moment or two, to tell some of the amazing women you know, just how amazing they are.

This week, by shining a brief spotlight on “the amazing” Sabrina, (who represents Fisherfolk.) Sabrina joined the “Dufferin Grove family” in early spring, (of 2024.) So she’s actually nearing her one-year anniversary with us!

Can you remember when she started with  Dufferin Grove? (If not), here’s some shots of her very first market day with us! Isn’t she adorable?? 💜 (Sorry Sabrina – forgive me!) 😂

Some of you may remember these pics, (from a previous newsletter, in March, 2024.) Good times! Apparently, sustainable seafood is just hilarious! Keep smiling Sabrina – we love it! 🙌

And here’s a recommendation I shared, in that same newsletter, (regarding Fisherfolk’s incredible black cod.) Quick and easy – enjoy!
“Just pan-sear some black cod, with a little oil. Add some lemon-pepper seasoning (if you like), and off you go. That was my dinner last Thursday night – yum!”

A “bear-faced” Nykole, of Noki Farms, holding a basket of her “bear’s head” mushrooms – beautiful! 🍄

Just Who (Or What) Is “The Dufferin-Grove-A-Saurus”?

Great question, right? Well sadly, I can’t really answer that. But feel free to ask Marc this week! Yes, I’m speaking of Marc Nair, our incredibly-talented, “poet on-demand”, (pictured above.)

At last week’s market, Marc wrote a poem to Rodrigo, (of Plan B Organics), called (as you might have guessed), “The Dufferin-Grove-A-Saurus”. I also read it aloud in the market space, (towards the latter part of the day) – maybe you heard? Either way, it was quite fun! However, I’’m still not sure what/who, a “Dufferin-Grove-A-Saurus” is exactly. Clearly, the “open-to-interpretation” aspect, was all part of the fun! All the same, you’ll definitely want to visit Marc, at his “Poetry Dispensary”. 

Rodrigo, (of Plan B Organics), talking with market shoppers.

Vendor News..
Full vendor list here.
This week, we’re welcoming back “From Lex’s Pantry”. Delicious seasonings and spice rubs -and Lex always has great samples!



For Next Week, (March 20th..)
At long last, Green Florin returns! (On March 20th), we’ll be welcoming back Vasile – FINALLY! I’ve definitely been missing his amazing selection of nuts, dried fruit, preserves, and oils.

Also back on March 20th, is ChocoSol! David was also away for a few weeks, (after a brief return on February 27th.)  But he is back next week for another pop-up! (After that, he will pause until the outdoor season.)

And finally, Colette of Urban Harvest, is also back next week. It’s not too early if you’re wanting to start planning your spring planting, and get a jump on your seed-shopping! 
Full vendor list here.

Hot and tasty, lentil soup from Magic Oven

Potato balls, with dip, from Estelle’s Caribbean Cuisine – delicious!

Shop Local?? We’ve Been Doing That All Along!
Yes indeed. Brilliant Dufferin Grovers like yourself, have always known what the best response is, to: “how (and where), can I shop more local?” The answer is showing up at the market – every Thursday afternoon, 3-7pm. If you’ve been supporting the market, (and other similar  local markets), well done! (FYI), Dufferin Grove Market goes all the way back to 2002. 💪

 

Plan B Organics’ incredible bounty. Plan B was selling these certified-organic cucumbers at less than half the price of what No Frills was charging – for conventional!

Community Farmers’ Markets like ours, (as well as CSAs), are among the best ways to protect local farmers, and to also strengthen our sense of community. Not to mention, supporting these spaces, also helps to both protect and prolong, our local food system, as a whole. 
Thanks for understanding that your presence matters.


Now what of these US tariffs? Not a pleasant topic for sure – but all the same, here we are. And harmful as they are, on the positive side, there certainly are more folks, now asking questions – and trying to make more conscious decisions about their food, (and non-food) purchases. Excellent!

Multiple varieties of sausages from LinkHaus.

However, it’s also true that situations like this, (and conflict in general), can often bring out some of our worst qualities. Not all of us may be in a position to make the same decision(s) at the same time. And what may make immediate and/or “obvious” sense to some, may not, to others. So all in all, let’s also remember to be kind to each other – we will get through this.

Sourdough varieties from Johnson Family Bakery

I mention all of that because I came across an email from the folks of Karma Co-op, (shared by Ellen Manney), through the Dufferin Grove listserv. Thanks Ellen! xo

Fesh baklava from Alma Bakery 

The full message from Becky (Karma’s Produce Purchaser), can be found here. But here are some key takeaways:

1 – (From Pfennings Organics) – “shifting away from American imports is not as simple or straightforward as it might seem. Relationships between farmers, suppliers, and retailers like Karma, are built on trust – and building trust takes time. Pfennings prioritizes local produce in their offerings, but they also work with organic and fair-trade farmers, outside of Canada to fill in the gaps.”

2– (From Karma themselves): “shopping for ethically sourced, fairly-priced, low-waste & environmentally-conscious products – local whenever possible, sometimes imported – is more impactful than buying exclusively Canadian, at large monopolistic for-profit, grocery chains, owned by billionaires.”

Seth, of Forbes Wild Foods, patiently helping a customer make “delicious choices” – go Seth!

Wow! So I’m sure you knew much of that already – and good on you! I just know that “the Karma folks” definitely said it better than I could have! Karma Co-op has also been a good friend to Dufferin Grove – (as you may have seen them set up at the market, several times last summer.) Either way, hopefully some of that resonated with you.

Meet Kaytlin! (Our newest volunteer. ) 

At the Dufferin Grove Market, volunteers truly make the difference. Last week, Kaytlin helped out at the market for the very first time – and liked it so much, that she’ll be back this week as well! If you see her around the market, please feel free to say hello.
And if you, (or someone you know) have interest in volunteering with the market, please drop us a line – info@dufferingrovemarket.ca.


Longer daylight hours are here – cheers to that!
See you Thursday,
-Nicole

Delicious sweet & spicy dried mango, from Kalmplex Snax

VENDORS_March 13, 2025

Growers:

• Plan B Organics
• Nith Valley Organics
• Noki Farms

Meat & Fish:

• Link Haus (gourmet sausage)
• Fisherfolk
• Nith Valley Organics (lamb & chicken)

Eggs:

• Nith Valley Organics

Bakeries:

• Johnson Family Bakery 
• Alma Bakery

Prepared Foods:

• Magic Oven
• Estelle’s Caribbean Cuisine
• Link Haus (grilled sausage & chips)

Preserves & Specialty Items:

• Forbes Wild Foods
• Kalmplex Snax
• From Lex’s Pantry – welcome back!

“Extras”:

• Poetry (with Marc)
• Ice Skating! (only til March 16th)
• Women’s History Month! 

Take a lap or two on the ice rinks, one last time this season. This will likely be the last week for ice skating at Dufferin Grove. Spring’s a-comin’! 💜