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Permalink Reply by Avery on September 8, 2009 at 6:56pm

I would support a local farmer's market if you go ahead with one. I'm a local print & web designer, and I'd be happy to help with a website and/or promotional materials.

Cheers,
Avery
http://www.averyswartz.com

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Permalink Reply by Guy M on September 8, 2009 at 8:25pm

Just a thought.

I have noticed many people talking and posting about the lack of green grocers around this neighbourhood. That is probably bringing some people like yourself thinking of farmer market. Now, many people had positive and negative opinion about that. All sounds reasonable all together.

That brought me to think of the Karma Food Co-op.
South Riverdale / Lesliville are lacking in green grocers. The people around here have a sense of community and seems to want to cooperate and work together to create something positive. Most of us are environmentally concerns and like the idea of local food. At some point a for-profit place will open up, it's just about timing. So why don't we all come together to check the possibility of implementing such concept in our neighbourhood? which can provide service year round and with many other products.

If you are not familiar with the Karma Food Co-op you can read their website here: http://www.karmacoop.org/about/

Just a thought.

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Permalink Reply by Marie on September 8, 2009 at 9:45pm

As the proprietor of Pulp Kitchen, I would be delighted to purchase the produce for my restaurant at a Farmers Market as local as Leslieville! How can we help you get started?

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Permalink Reply by Jodi on September 8, 2009 at 9:59pm

I love farmers markets, having just done my shopping at Riverdale Park (West) today. Existing farmers markets need our support and we are surrounded by them: Withrow Park, East Lynn (Danforth and Woodbine), Riverdale Park West, Brickworks - all biking distance. Market days & times listed here: http://www.toronto.ca/markets/

I wouldn't want to dilute the customer base for those markets already in place. As part of the prep / research - I'm assuming you're looking at next spring as a potential start date - you could probably give the organizers of those markets a call now to see what the supply / demand is like. If they're more or less at capacity in terms of both farmers and shoppers, then it would be a great idea to have another one in this neighbourhood. But I would be surprised if any of the existing farmers markets are at capacity. The ratio of shoppers to vendors during my 45 min stop today was about 1 to 1. Not likely profitable for some vendors. A better idea might be to spread the word about existing markets and then get out and shop.

For year round produce, I 100% support the idea of a karma co-op.
JS

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Permalink Reply by Bob Gundu on September 9, 2009 at 9:14am

I'm digging the idea of a Karma Co-op type of place for Leslieville.

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Permalink Reply by kellytoronto on September 9, 2009 at 12:25pm

I like the idea of Karma co-op too.

First step if the Leslieville farmer's market were to proceed would be to secure space - I'm checking with city councillors for permit information about Jonathan Ashbridge and Leslie Grove parks. Perhaps the low ratio at some other markets is due to mismatch of offering to customer base. My thoughts around a market would be one simply to serve local residents within walking distance. I don't think more than five or six booths would be needed to cover a wide gamut of fruits, veggies, and meat.

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Permalink Reply by ScottR on September 23, 2009 at 3:21pm

We would support a local farmer's market. We often drive up to East York Civic Centre or over to East Lynn to get our week's worth of veggies/fruit. It would be nice to be able to get that kind of stuff around here. We did the Good Food Box (foodshare.net) for a while and would consider participating in it again if there were a local pick-up. I might also consider being a local pick-up if there's interest.

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Permalink Reply by Jen C on September 24, 2009 at 11:36am

I think the best way to get a farmer's market into Leslieville is to gain the support of Paula Fletcher's office. Farmer's markets are quite difficult for ordinary citizens to organize, but with enough lobbying, can be accomplished through city hall contacts. The St. Andrews farmer's market was started in just this manner. See this link.

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Permalink Reply by Pat on September 24, 2009 at 5:13pm

If you want to read the blog of one of the organizers of the St. Andrews market, see Sandy Kemsley's posts about it. I've linked to the oldest page of 3 so you can read from before its opening through the summer markets. The St. Andrews group took advantage of the farmers market association to get the farmers in. There was still lots of work to do in terms of organizing, marketing, and PR.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Cordiner on October 16, 2009 at 3:26pm

Hi! I spoke with a number of folks with the Riverdale Food Working Group this summer - they are also looking at doing something similar...might want to team up?

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Cordiner on October 16, 2009 at 3:27pm

There is local pick-up for the Good Food Box at the Ralph Thorton center (Queen and Degrassi-ish) if you are interested...

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Permalink Reply by Greg H on October 22, 2009 at 7:20pm

That sounds like a great idea. This area lacks a decent (or even semi-decent) green grocer and a market would be fantastic. Ideally, it should be held on an alternate day to markets like the Riverdale farmer's market.

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