Let Food Help Your Mood! 🙌

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

Yes indeed! Eating good food, can certainly help with mood – but you already knew that! 😁
And perhaps shaping your food into fun and beautiful snowflake patterns, can boost mood even more? Well either way, it definitely can’t hurt! Perhaps that’s what Lillian, our brilliant market photographer, was thinking, (with our feature photo.) Fun!
Feel free to pick up some favourful garlic, from Nith Valley Organics this week – you’ll definitely want to “try this at home”! 💜

Pioppino mushrooms and microgreens – both available from Noki Farms.

As we’re well into the third week of this brand new year, surely many of us have thought about this “great concept” known as wellness. And why shouldn’t we?
Well that being said, hopefully we’ll agree that local farmers’ markets, like ours, can (if you let them), play a key role in your wellness journey. On a weekly basis, adding insurmountable value. But again, pretty sure you knew that! haha

Fresh kale bunches – pick up some at the Plan B Organics stall.

Essentially, just being in community-focused spaces, (like the Dufferin Grove Market), does so much to enhance mood. Along with the many healthy food options they offer, environments like these, (in most cases), emphasize socio-economic inclusion, as well as allowing for social connection. Also, there’s actual farmers! 💜
And at Dufferin Grove, (thanks to Marc Nair), you can even leave with some (on-demand) poetry! Fresh food, AND “fresh rhyme”? What a market we have. 🙌

Kalmplex, of Kalmplex Snax, (centre), surrounded by “the magic of the market” – and not minding it one bit.

Parsnip, cabbage and kabocha squash – all from Nith Valley Organics. Super tasty, and super healthy. Take your pick – take all three! 

“Veggie bags” – super-simple, super-nutritious. Prepared fresh, and with love, by Gabriella – (Rodrigo’s mom, of Plan B Organics.) How can you say no? Half the work is already done for you!

Fresh rainbow trout from Fisherfolk – loaded with nutrients, including essential healthy fats. Also, it’s just extremely flavourful!

Dried lobster mushrooms, along with lobster mushroom powder, from Forbes Wild Foods – treat yourself.
Ok, so clearly, lots of “mood food” is just waiting for you, at the market this week. But if ever you’re in doubt, feel free to “default” to dark, leafy greens. Check in with both, Plan B Organics and Nith Valley Organics, for “powerhouses” like kale, spinach, swiss chard, dandelion, and more! (All were available at last week’s market.)
And here’s a few more goodies for this week’s “shopping list”.

Fermented foods, including sourdough from Johnson Family Bakery, are great for gut health, and digestion. Other “great fermenters” are Plan B‘s sauerkraut, and kimchi.

Eggs! Quick and easy – also a great source of choline, which helps with balancing mood and reducing stress. Look to Nith Valley Organics for these. (Duck eggs are also available.)

Vendor News..
Full vendor list here – (for January 16th.)
This week, a pop-up vendor that was with us last fall, will be returning – Piccolo Farm Organics.

PFO specializes in fresh pasta, pesto, tomato sauce and focaccia. A few words from owner, Steve D’Alimonte, (pictured above):
“PFO started in 2021, by selling Italian vegetable varieties/vegetables commonly used in Italian cuisine (including various salad greens, herbs, tomatoes, garlic, onion and chili peppers, to name a few).  PFO has since evolved into becoming a “value-added farm” where, in addition to our veggies, we also incorporate our crops into several prepared food items including spinach-infused pasta, sauces and pestos (basil, arugula and fennel) – as well as focaccia.”

Also returning this week, is Bitter Better. They’ll once again have their amazing selection of HTB products. (Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat.) Also, their teas are just incredible – talk about  mood-boosters!

A delicious roti from Estelle’s Caribbean Cuisine will, no doubt, warm your mood – and your belly! Try one this week – both vegan and meat options are available.

Josh, of Magic Oven serving up some yummy hot soup last week – paired with a samosa? Or is that a burrito? Either way, a very delicious combination!

Gourmet grilled sausage from Link Haus, who started with us last week. Their sausages are also for sale, raw. Full vendor list here.


Plans For This Saturday? (January 18th..)
A FREE block party and art auction, are happening this Saturday, that Kalmplex would love for you to know about! Details: January 18th 12-5pm – at Artyards, (116 Avenue Rd, just south of Davenport.) 

So many reasons to be at the market each week. We really couldn’t do it without you.

Thanks everyone,
-Nicole 
*every Thursday, 3-7pm – INDOORS, (at 875 Dufferin St)

VENDORS_January 16th, 2025

Growers:

• Plan B Organics
• Nith Valley Organics
• Noki Farms

Meat, Fish & Dairy:

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

Eggs:

• Nith Valley Organics

Bakery:

• Johnson Family Bakery 

Prepared Foods:

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

Preserves & Specialty Items:

• Forbes Wild Foods
• Kalmplex Snax
• House of Tigernut
• Piccolo Farms Organics – (fresh pasta and pesto)
• Bitter Better

“Extras”:

• Poetry (with Marc)
• Ice Skating!

Sharing is caring – thanks for sharing your Thursday afternoons with us.