Fresh Off The Vine & Feelin’ Fine! 🍅🍅🍅

written by Tien Nguyen
Market operates Thursdays, 3-7pm, 
in Dufferin Grove Park 
*full vendor list here

Hello Friends! Hope everyone is staying cool; August has full-throttled ahead with her heatwaves. Thankfully, she is also generous with her tomato harvest. With some slices of heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozz, basil, and a simple balsamic dressing, you too can have yourself a delicious Caprese salad – or as I’d like to call it: summer’s best feature!
And the “feature tomatoes” this week, are those of Sundance Harvest. And yes – they do taste as beautiful as they look.

Full vendor list here.

Juicy “sun sugar” tomatoes from Plan B Organics

And Monforte Dairy regrets having to miss last week, but WILL be back at this week’s market – with lots for you to pair delicious, market-fresh tomatoes with!

 

This week, we’ll have many other returning vendors as well. In addition, we’re having our annual “Tomato Fest”! Yes, you read that right! All things tomato-related, jammed-packed (pun intended ), into the market day! (August 14, 2025 – 3:30-6:30pm, at the market.) 

Tasting, Trivia, and FUN – don’t miss out! And please share recipes if you have them. Either at the market, or send to: info@dufferingrovemarket.ca.

Heirloom tomatoes from Nith Valley Organics

Also, please allow me to introduce myself – my name is Tien, (your author this week.) I am very proud to be a new voice for the market’s newsletter! I have been a fan of the DGFM for years. And this year, I am also volunteering at the Community Fridges stall! If you’re curious about what we do: CFTO will take donations from you in any form (food, staples, essentials, etc.) and distribute them all across different Community Fridges, located throughout Toronto. To let you know, the fridges are publicly-accessible, and available for anyone who needs them. Feel free to donate (or take away) food, at any time!

Please visit the  CFTO stall, to learn more about what we do, and what you can do to help! You can even score a free Zine!

Fresh strawberries from Reyes Farms – they’ve still got ’em! 🍓🍓

Just as delicious, as those gorgeous strawberries (but in a very different way ), are these incredible Swedish Knots – golden-baked goodness, from Johnson Family Bakery.


Vendor Updates.. 
Full vendor list here.

                                     

Market layout, for August 14, 2025 – (or click here.)

Hooray for ice cream! Honey’s Ice Cream will be back at the market this week, with lots of delicious vegan flavours to choose from. Maybe (business owner), Ashley, will even
get some more “face art” done by our talented face-painter, Isabel. Great job Isabel! 👌

Sopsicles Toronto will also be back this week. Be sure to try their pina colada flavour – the perfect treat for this summer heat!

And please be aware that Jiggy Popz is not at the market this week, (but returns next week, on August 21st.)

“Variety pack” cherry tomatoes from Aldergrove Farm – we’ll be slicing these up for you to taste, at “Tomato Fest” this week. (August 14, 2025 – 3:30-6:30pm, at the market.)
 

Fresh-baked sourdough, along with a number of incredible pastries – available every week, from Robinson Bread.
 

Steadfast Brewing Co is this week’s craft brewer.- (also carrying non-alcoholic varieties.)

And feel free to come with an “empty belly” to the market. With so many delicious, (ready-to-eat) prepared foods at the market, it’s hard to imagine that you’ll be leaving that way!
(Top to bottom: Tacos from Uno Dos Tacoz, jerk chicken from Estelle’s Caribbean Cuisine, pakoras from Magic Oven’s, and empanadas from Tapioca Toronto. 

Full vendor list here.

Kooner Farms will once again, have their most egg-cellent eggplant!

Golden chanterelle, foraged by Forbes Wild Foods. Did you know that these are prized for their apricot-like aroma and rich nutty flavour? My fav way to prepare them is a quick stir-fry with browned-butter and garlic! How would you use these little beauties?

Coming Soon..

Great news! Repair Cafe will be at next week’s market, (August 21st – 3-6pm.) So get ready to bring in whatever you’ve got, that needs fixing! But I’ll give a reminder next week also.


Art In The Park!

Clay & Paper Theatre’s performance of “The Machine”, was a huge hit at last week’s market. Many of you came out and showed support – thanks for that!  

                                                   

Beautiful sunflowers are still available from Knuckle Down Farm. Pick some up at the market, and be the reason someone smiles today.

Thanks for reading – have a fun time at the market! 
~ Tien Nguyen
 
Vendor List_August 14, 2025

Growers:

• Plan B Organics
• Nith Valley Organics
• Noki Farms
• Reyes Farms
• Sundance Harvest
• Aldergrove Farm
• Urban Harvest
• Knuckle Down Farm
• Kooner Farm

Meat, Fish & Dairy:

• First Fish
• Monforte Dairy
• Nith Valley (lamb & chicken)

Eggs:

• Nith Valley Organics

Bakery: 

• Johnson Family Bakery
• Robinson Bread

Prepared Foods:

• Estelle’s Caribbean Cuisine
• Tapioca Toronto 
• Magic Oven
• Uno, Dos, Tacoz!

Preserves & Specialties:

• Forbes Wild Foods
• Kalmplex Snax (dried fruit)
• Sopsicles Toronto
• Honey’s Ice Cream
• Green Florin
• House of Tigernut

Brewery:

• Steadfast Brewing Co

“Extras”:

• Tomato Fest!
• Community Fridges
• Flavour Harvest
• Face painting (with Isabel)
• Poetry (with Marc)
• Music: “Fat Quarter”
   

*Every Thursday, 3-7pm – in Dufferin Grove Park



Mervyn knows what’s good! This precious creature has been coming to the market for many years – with “the help” of his owner, longtime market-supporter, Alissa. You may have seen this little guy at the market, under the table of his favourite organic farmers, looking for healthy scraps – smart dog! As I’ve stated already, “Mervyn knows what’s good”! 🐶💜💜

(Photo taken August 7, 2025.)