Photo: Toronto Portlands Energy Centre houses six large colonies under the care of Beekeeper Brian Hamlin.
Fresh At The Market On May 24th!
Warm Greetings to All!
Spring has been slow to warm the ground and the waters. Last week, Cookstown Greens brought the first asparagus to the Market. This week, rhubarb, ramps (wild leeks) and asparagus freshly picked from the fields of Haystrom Farm will reward market shoppers on Saturday. Returning vendors and farmers will surprise and delight us with Naturally Infused Honey from local bees and Hand-gathered Eggs from heritage hens.
We welcome back urban beekeeper Brian Hamlin. Brian started his first hives in 1975 and presently keeps small hives in Toronto, Georgina Island, First Nations and on organic farms in the Peterborough area. He is a natural beekeeper who places his hives near healthy sustainable eco-systems. He is also involved in a variety of local events and organizations to promote awareness of the importance of pollinators and environmental health. This Saturday, Brian will be there to set up in the morning before he leaves to conduct a public tour of his hives in the Toronto Portlands and Jaden will be on site assisting Market goers. Items for sale at Withrow Park Farmers' Market: 4 Local Honeys, 17 varieties of Infused Honey with natural local ingredients and homemade Beeswax Candles.
Murray Thunberg is back this season with his Heritage Hen Eggs. He raises rare heritage breeds of chickens, that lay a variety of pastel-coloured eggs. He also raises heritage ducks, turkeys, geese and livestock. “There is a huge movement towards restoring good food,” Murray says. “There are just little things that people aren’t aware of that they learn by speaking directly to the farmers,” he says. ”Take egg yolks: Hens that spend time on grass will have much yellower yolks.” Murray's heritage eggs can be found in select stores around the city and he’ll be selling them at our Market! In June, he'll have a variety heirloom vegetables.
We welcome Soap du Jour – Patty Eager to our market this Saturday. She'll be bringing her handmade, natural soaps and body products. Her soap contains no animal ingredients. She does not package her soap in an effort to decrease paper and plastic waste. She also makes Body Butters, Scrubs and Bath Fizzies. While these products do contain minimal amounts of preservatives and stabilizers, their overall composition remains more than 92% natural.
We’ll be brewing & serving Coffeecology fair-trade organic coffee right at the market. To encourage using your own mug, we will offer a $0.25 discount on your beverage when you bring in your own cup.
BUFCO
Back with a wide selection of seedlings for purchase. The Backyard Urban Farm Company is a Toronto based, family-run business that serves the greater Toronto area and surroundings. They design, build, install and maintain organic vegetable gardens for homes, schools, corporate spaces, daycare centers and retirement facilities.
Cookstown Greens
They will have mixed lettuces, baby salad greens, Jerusalem artichokes, beets, carrots, radishes, roast veggie mixes, smoked and dried tomatoes, asparagus and much more!
Haystrom Farm
In addition to Jim’s preserves made with his own farm produce, he'll have wild leeks, storage garlic, rhubarb and asparagus this Saturday.
Field Sparrow Farms
They will have tasty grass-finished beef and pastured pork sausages this Saturday. With the weather shaping up to be great this weekend – you can go straight from the Market to the BBQ!
Tiffinday
Their feature entrée will be the Lentil and Spinach Curry, prepared in traditional South Asian style. It can be enjoyed right at the Market on a bed of brown basmati rice, or taken home in jars to enjoy later. The Chickpea Curry and Mixed Vegetable Curry will also be available in take home jars. For snackers, they will have plenty of Timpa Wheels on hand, and for those who wish to indulge a little, they will be making fresh batches of Bhajiyas – Gujarati Home Fries, served with their finger lickin’ Tamarind and Date Sauce. All vegan, all gluten free, and in a few weeks, they will be made lovingly in their kitchen using local produce.
Sweet Sammies
Offers a variety of Frozen Treats, including gluten-free Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches and dairy-free Pina Colada (coconut-pineapple) Ice Pops - Yum!
Eudora Foods
Organic spices, Handmade Sauces, Marinades and Chutney in Toronto using organic ingredients as well as local produce when in season. Sauces are high in flavour but low in sodium and most are low in fat. Try a sample!
Earth & City
A prepared foods vendor, creating delicious, local, and seasonal offerings. Come sample their Seasonal Dips and Sweet and Savoury Flatbreads. New menu items based on Ontario's growing season. In addition to their regular market fare, this Saturday they will bring their Spring Asparagus Bean Salad, their Parsley Lemon-Pepper Hummus, and a refreshing Rhubard-Ginger Lemonade.
Monforte
A diverse batch of cheeses and other dairy products. At Monforte, they're convinced that small things do indeed make a difference, that agriculture is best practiced on a human scale, and that their cheeses, each in its own way, reflect something a little deeper than the technology behind mass manufactured food - a little of the poetry and passion of life itself. Try their feta!
St. John’s Bakery
Wonderful organic sourdough breads, scones & cookies! They are doubling their order for us this week! Fresh local bread anyone?
Danbrie Farms’
Maple Syrup! Colour and taste depend on time and weather. In February and early March cold weather starts the sap flowing but is very clear producing lighter batches. As the season progresses the temperatures rise and the snow melts enabling microorganisms (bacteria) to grow, increasing invert sugars (glucose and fructose) and causing a gradually darker syrup - Amber and Dark. Jay will be joining us to showcase his Syrup and other Maple products. We welcome his visit and new stocks of Maple Syrup, ranging from light to amber and dark.
Manning Canning
Is back with their wonderful Preserves. The city’s most delectable jammed, brined and jarred creations!
Fiddlehead Farm
Will not be at Withrow this week but will return the following week with Fresh Local Produce from their fields.
The Local Café
A.K.A the Bus Kitchen, owned by Carole Ferrari. Carole is bringing Croissants and has a variety of Sweet & Savoury Baked Goods, including Tarts and fantastic Bean Empanadas.
Come to Withrow Market this Saturday and support your community farmers’ market! Fresh and local!
The strawberries are starting to fruit and the peonies that missed Mother's Day are ready to decorate our picnic tables...
See you this Saturday at The Market!
John Zeus
market manager
