Krishika Jethani –
Allan Gardens’ historic Children’s Conservatory is now home to a new winter farmers’ market, with vendors growing their own produce. Organized by volunteer Hélène St. Jacques and event manager Li Xiao of Friends of Allan Gardens, the Saturday Farmers’ Market aims to tackle food insecurity.
Friends of Allan Gardens “thought what a great way to connect people by food that is locally produced right here in Ontario and Toronto…we’re really excited,” said Xiao.
Increased food insecurity after the Covid-19 pandemic has made people more aware of where food comes from, explained St. Jacques, and Allan Gardens’ edible garden has doubled in size in the last year.
“Local food has become more and more popular, and people get attached to the vendors. They are much loved, have great products, and people want them year-round,” said St. Jacques.
Farmers’ markets tend to close at the end of summer, but St. Jacques and Xiao wanted to remain open during the fall and winter seasons, prioritizing sustainable gardening.
“When customers buy at a farmers’ market, the money is going back in the pocket of the farmer, and it stays in the community,” said St. Jacques.
Alexa Clark, vendor of From Lex’s Pantry, says she lives a block away from the park. “We monitor what’s going on at Allen Gardens all the time. When I heard this was happening, we jumped all over it,” said Clark.
Clark has produced spice blends and marinades for 30 years, but created a business from it a year ago, along with her food critic and culinary judge career.
“My hope is that this will be a regular market for me because it’s my home market. This is where I want to be, a community I am part of and a market community that I really want to participate in,” said Clark.
Surendra Lawoti, vendor of Nepali Momo, grows his vegetables in his backyard at home in Scarborough. Lawoti started selling momos after the pandemic and retails at several farmers’ markets.
Ilknur Cakmak of Ilknur’s bee yard produces honeycomb and mixes from their bee hives with her family. “We started 27 years ago in Turkey and we moved to Canada one year ago. My parents wanted to start the business here because Canada has very good nature,” said Cakmak.
“Allan Gardens is such an important community, there’s so many [neighbours] and different people who are visiting and we have visitors from all over the world…I want to shout out Councilor Chris Moise for all of the support he’s given us throughout this project” said Xiao.
The Saturday Farmers’ Market is funded by the Main Street Innovation Fund and will run at Allan Gardens every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until April 2025.
