Located in the heart of St. Catharines, the market is one of the oldest in Ontario and the place where local farmers have been selling their goods since the early 1800´s.  Locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, poultry, cheese, eggs, honey homemade preserves and baked goods are available.  Historically significant buildings surround the Market. Open to the public three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) year round from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m

WHAT IS A FARMERS´ MARKET?
A Farmers´ Market is one in which farmers, growers or producers from a defined local area are present in person to sell their own produce directly to the consumer.  All products sold should have been grown, pickled, baked, sewen, smoked or processed by the vendor.

WHAT´S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE MARKETS AND ANY OTHER?
The public can be confident of the origins of the foods, ask questions and get closer to the sources of local foods.  The producers get valuable feed-back from customers.  Farmers´ Markets are the embodiment of the availability of home grown foods. 

FARMERS´ MARKETS PLACE AN EMPHASIS ON QUALITY AND FRESHNESS!
The selection of produce available at a Farmers´ Market will clearly vary with location and season. The markets offer entertainment and events.  They aim for an atmosphere which is vibrant, upbeat and fun, helping to re-vitalise urban centres and to make shopping a sociable and enjoyable experience.

THE "HOWS AND WISE" OF SHOPPING AT THE ST. CATHARINES FARMERS´ MARKET!

• Don´t go with a firm shopping list - You may have ideas about dishes you want to prepare in the next few days, but try to be flexible.  It´s wiser to plan menus once you get to the market and see what´s best
• Make the rounds before you buy anything - See who has what and at what price and quality.  Taste and compare different vendors´ peaches or apples.  Then make your selections, secure in the knowledge that you won´t find tastier and cheaper items at another stand.
• Buy something you haven´t tried before - A farmers´ market is a great place to get educated about food, if you make the effort.
• Take your own canvas or net bags - Farmers´ markets do not provide shopping carts.  Canvas or net bags are best when you are shopping at the market.
• Plan to go straight home after your shopping experience - Don´t let ripe berries, corn, spinach or anything left sweltering in your car.  The heat will suck all the life out of them.  If you can´t go home, bring a cooler for the most delicate items.
• Try not to over-buy - One of the main reasons to shop at a farmers´ market is to get fresh food and cook it when it is fresh.
• Take your children with you - Too many children have no idea where food comes from or how it looks in its unprocessed state.  Seeing zucchini with blossoms attached, carrots with tops, or cauliflower with its green wrapper leaves gives them an idea of how vegetables grow.  Sampling a half-dozen tomatoes or selecting a peach will awaken their senses.
• For best selection and quality shop early - Growers often bring just a few pounds of something and naturally, the choice produce goes first.  In addition, on warm days the quality of unrefrigerated fruits and vegetables can decline from morning to afternoon.  On the other hand, if it´s a good price you are after, shop at a time when the growers are more inclined to deal.
• Take time to chat with the farmers - Building relationships is part of the fun of shopping at farmers´ markets.  You will become a wiser shopper, probably improve your cooking skills and perhaps take home an occasional "special customer" treat.

"WISE" REASONS AS TO WHY ONE WOULD SHOP AT THE ST. CATHARINES FARMERS´ MARKET"

• Consumer Benefits at farmers´ markets are considerable.  The number one reason consumers shop at farmers´ markets is quality.  Fresh picked, vine and tree ripened quality produce continues to attract regular patronage to the St. Catharines Farmers´ Market.
• Cost Savings is also attractive to customers.  This is possible because the direct sales by farmers to the consumer eliminates the cost of middleman marketing.  Communities benefit from farmers´ markets in many ways.  Farmers´ Markets are not-for-profit community service organizations which contribute to the social and economic welfare of the city in which they operate in.
• The St. Catharines Farmers´ Market produce a strong sense of community identity, bringing people from diverse ethnic and other backgrounds together.  They also serve to unite the urban and rural segments of the population.  This rare meeting of farmers and consumers serves as an educational experience whereby customers learn about their food sources, have access to nutritional information, engage in a multi-cultural experience and become aware of agricultural issues.  Farmers´ markets truly have become the face and spirit of the communities they serve.  The farmers´ market concept is an effort to "re-establish the traditional link between farmers and consumers".  Simply put, farmers´ markets are "the real thing", places when genuine farmers, crafters and producers can sell directly to the public. 
• Seasonal Eating - Have you ever walked around the farmers´ market and wondered what to do with the different produce that appears over the growing season?  You can help support local farms while cooking delicious and nutritious foods by learning how to identify, cook and preserve the produce you buy a the market

The Market is also the host site of special events throughout the year and is available for rental. For more information contact:

Jan Bechard, Market & Event Coordinator
City of St. Catharines
50 Church Street, P.O. Box 3012
St. Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7C2
Phone: 905-688-5601, Extension 1508
Fax: 905-688-8994