![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2009\/10\/farmers-market-2009-jpg-1.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\nWalking over the western lawn of University College two weeks ago, I came across a conglomerate of tented picnic tables, the largest covered in fresh produce, others flaunting locally produced cheeses, others still selling honey or baked goods.\n\nHaving an indecent fetish for cheeses and all things dairy, I made the Cheese of Canada<\/strong><\/span><\/a> stand my first destination. All the cheeses sold here are produced by local, independent Ontario farmers and dairies.\u00a0Each piece comes pre-cut or in small rounds, prices ranging from about $5 to $12 per item, which generally seems to include 200 to 300 grams.\u00a0The selection includes a variety of sheep, goat, and cow cheeses, most pasteurized, some aged for a while, a few quite mild (including a surprisingly delicious [for a mild] hard sheep's milk cheese I bought for about $7).\n\nThe\u00a0artisanal baked goods (baguettes, crusty loaves, buns, and sweets) are delivered by\u00a0St John's Bakery<\/a> and\u00a0Riverside Foods, almost all of it certified organic. The produce table is filled with locally grown greenery supplied by the Kawartha Ecological Growers<\/a>, a group comprising a number of Kawartha Lakes<\/a> family farms. Depending on the week, they sell a mixture of fruits and veggies, eggs, meat, maple syrup, and prepared jams and chutneys. Finally,\u00a0Bees Universe<\/a> also provides honey, royal jelly, and other beekeeping products, ranging from cosmetics (skin creams) to candles. <\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\nMore information on the sellers and their products is available\u00a0here<\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\nA number of other farmers' markets can be found around the GTA, though many end for the season within the next couple of weeks. On the east side, the Brick Works Farmers' Market<\/a> takes place on Saturday mornings, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., offering free shuttle transportation from Broadview subway station<\/a>.\u00a0Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. is market day at Riverdale Farm<\/a>.\u00a0Farther west, there are weekly markets in Trinity Bellwoods Park<\/a> on Tuesdays from 3 to 7; in\u00a0Dufferin Grove Park<\/a> on Thursday evenings; and in Liberty Village<\/a> on Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.\n\nFarmers' markets are a great way to support small, independent farmers and manufacturers, giving you access to products that might otherwise be mostly inaccessible through large grocery chains.\u00a0They also provide consumers with a way to support locally grown and produced goods, helping to cut down on transport emissions, an inevitable symptom of international shipping.\u00a0The best news about U of T's Farmers' Market is that it's going to be happening year-round, making its way inside U.C. when the cold weather picks up, meaning that we have access to fresh Ontario cheese all year round.\n\n- Mary","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![<\/a>](\"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/files\/2009\/10\/farmers-market-2009-jpg.jpg\"){kind=link}