Guelph Farmers' Market Serving Guelph, Ontario

I feel like a superhero when I buy locally: the Bookshelf rather i*d*go, Cornerstone rather than Burrito Siblings; my best score was a vendor of recycled Indian cotton. The market is a great resource for the city.

I can't think of anything more "Guelph" than the Farmers' Market. It's a hub for so many incredible local vendors offering fresh food, artisanal products, handmade goods, and crafts. If you're in Guelph on a Saturday, it's an absolute must-visit. It's by far my favourite local weekend tradition and it is something that I do year-round. I love starting my Saturday morning by grabbing a coffee from one of the nearby cafés; there are so many great options, but my favourites are Balzac's, Found Coffee, and the Loose Goose, all just a short walk away. Then I go to the market to stock up on produce and prepapred foods before treating myself to dumplings from Feng's Dumplings and a quesadilla from Rodolfo's Rebel Foods Salsateria. There are seating options both inside and outside, and the building is accessible, including washrooms. There are SO many amazing vendors, but here are a few that I always recommend: Abbraccio: Their cookies are absolutely incredible! Heritage House Farms: Their booth is always a work of art, and it's run by one of the loveliest families you'll meet. I would highly recommend following them on Instagram. Ratna's Kitchen Guelph: Super delicious Indonesian food! SweetCheeses!: Literally one of the nicest people I've met in Guelph. I also highly recommend checking out the Too Good To Go app; they sometimes offer surprise bags that are amazing value. I've picked up at least three from SweetCheeses!, and they were such a GREAT value. Duurzame Growers: Their produce is consistently amazing, and I've bought both beautiful fresh flowers and dried arrangements from them. Onas Bakery: I love their Pouchai! It's the perfect snack to enjoy while wandering around the market. The Seed Guelph: At the SEED booth at the market, they sell food on a sliding scale. This means that you can pay anywhere between their low price and their retail price. Lowest price is 33% off retail. You choose what’s best for you, no questions asked. By paying the retail price you help to subsidize the cost of selling the food at a discount. Beyond the Saturday market, the Guelph Farmers’ Market often has exciting community activations going on, as it is now operated by 10C Shared Space. I would recommend following 10C Shared Space (@10carden) and the Guelph Farmers’ Market (@guelphfarmersmarket) on Instagram to be in the know of any of the unique events and gatherings going on.

The Guelph Farmers' Market is definitely a highlight of living in town and a must go to on Saturday morning. The location is ideal, just off downtown, a short walk from the major transit hub, off the major bus line (99) and has a parkade (if one must drive) nearby. The variety of the collection of vendors is wild, especially considering the size, and the food is some of the best I've ever eaten (seriously the best fingerling potatoes and chicken I've ever eaten) for a price that rivals, if not is cheaper than most grocery stores in the area. There's produce vendors (special highlight to Heritage House, Duurzame Growers and Brantview Apples and Cider), meat vendors (Cedarvale Farms, Homegrown Roots, Eva's Dali), olive oil and spices (Olive Haven), delicious treats (Abbraccio and sou sweet cake) and ready to eat food and coffee (Onas Bakery, Feng's Dumplings, Laza and the Fair Trader), in addition to craft vendors and rotating buskers. There's plenty of space to sit and enjoy community and a meal onsite. It's great to be able to get such high quality, local goods at a a great price.