Where can you find crisp lettuce, savoury dumplings, cold apple cider, raw milk cheeses, bison steaks, upcycled jewelry, and much more, all in one location? The Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market in Kingston! This year-round, producer-run market is home to growers and artists who live in Kingston or within 100 kilometres of the city. Every Sunday, the market takes over the Memorial Centre lawn for shopping and live music from 9 am to 2 pm.
Read further to discover a few of the 40+ vendors you’ll be able to meet at the market. Visit the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market website for update-to-date weekly vendor lists.
Fresh vegetables
Main Street Urban Farm
Did you know downtown Kingston is home to an urban farmstead? Main Street Urban Farm grows organic vegetables, such as potatoes, garlic, asparagus, and lettuce, in downtown Kingston. You can find them at the market, selling their veggie baskets or serving up ready-to-eat food such as savoury Japanese pancakes called Okonomiyaki, and a selection of hummus and sauces. If you can’t visit the market, Main street also does bicycle delivery!
The Kitchen Garden
The Kitchen Garden is a small-scale organic vegetable farm located 25 minutes by car from Kingston. The farm is on 10 acres of deep sandy soil, allowing for rich biodiversity. Crops are planted and harvested year-round with a mission to grow high-quality organic produce. The Kitchen Garden grows a variety of greens, carrots, beets, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and squash.
Ready-to-enjoy bites
Collective Joy Farm
Experience the joy of fresh microgreens and veggie-filled food at Collective Joy Farm. Tammara, owner of Collective Joy Farm, grows microgreens, lettuces, and herbs at her urban farm on Macdonnell Street. She also offers cold-pressed juice and ready-to-eat foods, such as Eat Local bowls, crackers and flatbread, salad dressings, dips, and desserts. Tammara believes in increasing access to nourishing food and loves seeing new faces at the market every Sunday
View this post on Instagram
Long Road Ecological Farm (Farm Sum)
Visit the Farm Sum stand at the market for the most delectable Chinese peasant food. Farm Sum offers freshly cooked steamed buns and dumplings, made from pork, eggs, vegetables, and herbs from their farm, Long Road Ecological Farm. Xiaobing, owner of Long Road Ecological Farm and chef extraordinaire, also sells fresh vegetables, including Asian varieties, and fresh ginger.
View this post on Instagram
Knifey Spooney
Looking for sustainable, plant-based bites in Kingston? Check out Knifey Spooney for their famous vegan lobster rolls, breakfast sandwiches, Korean barbeque sandwiches, baked goods, and much more. Rad and Christina’s rotating menu uses seasonal and local ingredients to help make plant-based food more accessible and delicious in the Kingston region. They also offer a selection of frozen meals, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Skilled artisans
View this post on Instagram
Bee-Youtiful Beads
Lynn-Marie of Bee-Youtiful Beads is one of the many skilled artisans at the market. She repurposes beads and glass to make one-of-a-kind jewelry, including bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and ornaments. Visit Bee-Youtiful Beads to find a gift for someone special or to buy new accessories to elevate your style.
Freshly baked goods
View this post on Instagram
Zia Rita’s Gluten-Free
Find the best gluten-free baked products at Zia Rita’s Gluten-Free stand. Market regulars will know that Zia Rita, the original baker of Zia Rita’s Gluten-Free, retired in 2022. Luckily, Mona has taken over the business and continues to sell gluten-free bread, desserts, pizza crusts, fruit desserts, and more. Whether you are gluten-free or not, you will love this local baking.
Nutritious cheese and eggs
Bushgarden Farmstead Cheese
Take home some organic raw milk cheese from Bushgarden Farmstead Cheese. Their cheese is made on the farmstead in Rideau Lakes by Nigel Smith, a fifth-generation farmer. He uses milk from his certified-organic cows to hand-make a variety of cheeses. Bushgarden’s best-selling cheese is Pilgrimage, a gouda-style cheese.
View this post on Instagram
Reinink Family Farms
No breakfast would be complete without eggs from Reinink Family Farms on Varty Lake. After many years of selling at markets and supplying Kingston establishments, Hank-John and Janet now sell eggs exclusively at the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market every Sunday. Reinink eggs are certified organic and full of essential nutrients.
High-quality meats
View this post on Instagram
Featherstone Farm
Indulge in the delicious taste of bison meat, a flavourful choice high in natural minerals and low in fat. Try grass-fed bison meat steaks, burgers, salami, pepperettes, or jerky offered by Harald at Featherstone Farm. With over 25 years of dedicated care for a small herd of bison near Gananoque, Featherstone offers trusted, high-quality products; no pharmaceuticals, sprays or fertilizers are used.
View this post on Instagram
Haanover View Farms
Pick up some ecologically raised meats from Haanover View Farms, a family farm in Marysville. Oliver, Renate, and family are proud to run their sustainable farm, contributing to the food security of the region. They offer meats such as pork, beef, rabbit, and chicken at the market. Their meats are also on the menus of Bella Bistro and Northside Espresso + Kitchen in Kingston.
Beverages
View this post on Instagram
Fine Balance Brewing Co
Located in the east end of Kingston, Fine Balance Brewing Company was founded on the philosophy that both life and beer require balance to be at their best. Fine Balance brews a variety of innovative beers, from gelato sours to IPAs. You can pick up a four-pack of your favourite brew at the market or mix and match from current selections. You can grab a pint or a flight at their taproom, 677 Innovation Drive Unit 4.
Bergeron Estates Winery and Cider Co
Bergeron Estates in Prince Edward County boasts the ideal growing conditions for grapes such as Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Vidal, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer. Each of these wines has its flavour profile, with the most popular, according to David and Mary, being the Gamay Noir which pairs well with beef, lamb, and Italian cuisine.
Devil’s Orchard
Grant Millard’s small-batch artisanal vinegar begins by making wine using the finest ingredients. The wine is then fermented into vinegar using a technique based on the traditional French Orleans method. Stop by his market stall to sample a variety of flavours, including banana, Mennonite maple, Muskoka strawberry, and Perry cider.
Sweet treats
View this post on Instagram
CocoaBistro
CocoaBistro is a local artisan chocolate shop in Kingston. Audrey, chocolatier and owner of CocoaBistro, creates delicious creations using quality chocolate, locally sourced cream and butter, and natural flavours. For every new season, Audrey develops a new collection of chocolates and treats, with varieties of vegan, non-dairy, and gluten-free options. You can also visit Audrey at her storefront location on 840 Development Drive.
Salmon River Sugar Bush
Owners Mark and Amanda enter their tenth year of business at Salmon River Sugar Bush, tapping 2,000 maple trees on their 20-acre sugar bush. This family-owned and operated maple producer sells sweet confection from pure maple syrup, sugar, and sweet treats shaped like maple leaves at the market.
For the dogs
View this post on Instagram
Puppers Pastries
Puppers Pastries was founded by dog lovers who saw a need for high-quality, all-natural treats for their four-legged friends. They create treats that cater to dietary needs of dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds. These freshly baked treats range from Blueberry Bone Bites to grain-free Golden Carrot Crunchies, all at affordable prices.
Visit the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market at the Memorial Centre, every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm, and outdoors for the spring and summer season. Looking for more ways to experience the local Kingston and region farming scene? Visit the zucchini car-making party at Minotaur Games and Gifts on July 20 and then set those cars to the races at the Zucchini 500 at Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market on July 21. Later in the season, join Loving Spoonful at the sixth annual Night Market on Thursday, August 22 from 6 to 10 pm, featuring live music, farm-fresh food, and an alcohol garden.
