Kensington Market Farmers Market: Fresh Summer Produce

Kensington Market vendors reported strong early July sales of local strawberries and leafy greens at the weekend market stalls along Augusta Avenue.

Summer produce arrives in volume right now because Ontario farms hit their main harvest window after the June solstice. Shoppers seeking nutrient-dense options turn to these markets instead of imported items that travel longer distances and lose freshness. The shift aligns with wellness routines that emphasize eating what grows nearby during the warmest months.

Markets on Augusta and Baldwin

The Kensington Farmers Market operates every Sunday morning at the corner of Augusta Avenue and Oxford Street. Stalls there stock spinach bunches from nearby plots and new potatoes harvested the prior week. A second cluster of vendors sets up along Baldwin Street near Kensington Avenue on Saturdays, focusing on berries and herbs from farms within a two-hour drive. Both locations sit inside the neighborhood’s core grid, making them easy stops for residents who already walk the area for daily errands.

Prices this week include strawberries at $5 for a one-litre container and mixed salad greens at $4 per bag. Market records from last July showed similar volumes, with total foot traffic reaching 4,200 visitors across the two days. These figures come from the neighborhood business association that tracks stall counts and sales logs each season.

Seasonal picks and next steps

Buyers should look for firm berries without soft spots and greens that show no wilting at the edges. Corn and early tomatoes appear in the next two weeks, while current root vegetables like beets hold well for roasting. Visitors can combine a market trip with a stop at the community fridge program on Nassau Street for additional storage tips.

Check vendor schedules on the Kensington Market website before heading out, then prepare simple meals that use the same-day produce. Local dietitians recommend washing greens immediately after purchase and storing them in the crisper drawer to maintain vitamin content through the weekend.