

It may have been a damp Thursday night, but there was a warm and positive vibe going on at the Dufferin Grove Farmer’s Market. Upon arrival, I was greeted by smiles from knowledgeable farmers, eager to share their passions.
My first stop was at Nujima Living Foods. They aren’t local, but unfortunately, coconut trees aren’t exactly found anywhere in Ontario. James, the owner, is the most direct source to getting good quality coconut oil, and his prices reflected the absence of a middleman. For a mere twelve dollars, I bought a 500ml bottle of the most delicious coconut oil that I’ve ever tasted, which is a pretty sweet deal. He also had yacón syrup, which tastes like a combo of molasses and honey, making it perfect for baking.
My next stop was at Fun Guy, the aptly named mushroom and kombucha farmer. I could have spent the whole evening learning from this health expert who entertained me with his love of kombucha. He provided me with samples or kombucha to try, while informing me it was the “easy-drinking-kind”. When I told him I was a nutritionist, he gave me the real deal kombucha. It was certainly potent and not for the faint-hearted. If you want good quality kombucha, then the Fun Guy is a must visit, just make sure you sample both types of kombucha before you purchase.
My last stop was at Earthly Paradise where I met Collette, who has been making all-natural hand salves in Toronto for over 30 years. The rosemary salve was by far my favourite scent and it was made from very few ingredients, including olive oil and beeswax, with no chemicals or unhealthy additives. She even grows all the herbs for her products in her own backyard. Unfortunately, she was sold out of the calendula salve, which she advised is wonderful for cracked heels or healing any abrasion on the skin.
I didn’t stay at this market as long as I would have liked to due to the weather, but the good news is that they go indoors for the winter, making Dufferin Grove one of a few markets in Toronto that is year-round. This market gets a 9 out of 10!
Market hours: 3-7 p.m. Thursdays (open year-round)
Location: Dufferin Grove Park rink house (875 Dufferin, south of Bloor), across from the Dufferin Mall. Street parking available, TTC accessible.
Joy McCarthy
~ is a registered holistic nutritionist and is the founder of Joyous Health www.joyoushealth.ca
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