Where can one buy good quality local produce in Toronto? Don’t mind paying a bit more but would like see which places would stock high quality local produce
All supermarkets stock local produce. Look for the grown in Ontario logo:
Quality varies by store so you’ll need to check those around you yourself. e.g., I’ve seen No Frills up in Scarborough stock better quality produce than Loblaws downtown. Quality also varies by type. e.g., Chinese grocers tend to have higher quality Asian produce than Whole Foods at a fraction of the price.
If you’re thinking about smaller farms that sell direct to consumers, please give us an idea of your location so we don’t send you across town.
Thanks, good to know and will look for that sign. Does this mean smaller specialty grocers, co-ops and those type of stores might not carry better ones than a No Frills or Loblaws? Am actually in mid-town near Yonge and Sheppard if that makes a difference
My favourite grocery store is Fiesta Farms. The local Ontario produce is kept at the front, close to where you walk in.
I also buy local produce at the 2 produce markets on Bloor in Koreatown (Bloor and Palmerston, and another location ) and the produce market on the south side of College St near Crawford. The produce markets on Bloor also carry strawberries from Quebec sometimes.
I haven’t been happy with the looks of the produce in Kensington Market lately.
My experience with baskets of local produce at Sobeys, Metro and Loblaws is hit or miss. Sometimes the peaches are mealy.
Lady Yorke is good in my experience but I’m rarely on Dufferin near Lawrence.
Fiesta Farms is first-rate in Toronto. Alas, there’s too much aggravating traffic for me to drive there from my lodgings in York Mills. I must make do with nearby supermarkets: Metro, Longo’s, No Frills. As Phoenikia has mentioned, it’s hit or miss. Longo’s is probably the best of an average bunch, but you’ll pay for the privilege of shopping there. Prices on many items, including local produce, are invariably 10-20% higher than the others. Local corn recently was 79 cents a cob at Longo’s, just 22 cents at Metro, with no appreciable difference in quality.
I’ve given up on buying grapes this season. Too often disappointing, even after sampling to decide whether they’re worth buying. I often find both good fresh and aged, overripe grapes packed in the same plastic bags. Not worth the prices being charged.
I haven’t seen many speciality grocers lately. Some farmers markets are good but you have to talk to them to see what’s what. e.g. St. Lawrence’s south market tent (Sat only) has many stalls but not all of the produce are grown here. Some of them just grab things from the food terminal to resell there.
Food co-ops in my limited experience have lower quality produce as they seem to be aiming for a certain price level.
Around Yonge & Sheppard, I recall (pre-pandemic) the Mel Lastman’s square farmer’s market had a vendor that had good blueberries and peas when they were in season.
Thank You everyone for all the suggestions. Will check out Fiesta Farm and St Lawrence South market this weekend
Juno, Metro has loss leader corn.
The going rate here in corn country outside London, is $10/ dozen from the Strathroy and Komoka corn stands. I paid $10/ 12 large cobs this week . I’m heading out again today to pick more up. One of my DCs eats corn on the cob daily so I buy and prepare a lot of corn.
The Strathroy and Komoka cobs are a little bigger and much sweeter than the premature grocery store cobs my friends bought on their way from the GTA to Haliburton last weekend.
Farm Boys’ corn tends to be around 5 for $4, and it’s usually better than Loblaws, Sobeys or Metro corn. Sometimes smaller cobs are packaged and sold on the quick sale rack.
The corn I’ve seen Walmart selling for less than 50 cents a cob in Bracebridge in 2018 should have been composted.
I’m waiting for my own corn to ripen up.
I buy my corn from a truck in Scarborough. They’re usually parked on the side of a road or in a parking lot. I can’t remember the farm’s name but they also sell big jars of honey that they and a neighbouring farm make.
I was impressed with the quality at Passion Fruits at 1537 Bayview Ave South of Eglinton last weekend.
They have good quality imported peaches, nectarines, and corn on the cob, which aren’t that easy to find right now. Prices were around the same as what I pay at the 2 produce shops in Little Italy and the 2 produce shops in Koreatown.
$4.99 CAD/ lb for peaches or nectarines in Jan 2025.
The spinach and leaf lettuce were in good condition, too.