When Innisfil Farmers’ Market opened on June 25, it wasn’t a ‘virtual’ opening, or an “order on line and pick up at the curb” arrangement, to minimize human interaction.
It was an old-fashioned farmers’ market, in the south parking lot of the Innisfil Recreation Complex, with vendors, shoppers, fresh baking, fresh produce, hand-crafted items and freshly prepared foods, and an opportunity to chat with vendors and neighbours.
That’s not to say it was business as usual.
Vendors’ booths were more widely spaced, to allow for social distancing.
Shoppers were greeted at the gate with a spritz of hand-sanitizer, asked to wear face-masks, follow the arrows and keep at least two metres apart.
The number of shoppers allowed within the space of the market was limited
And instead of being able to handle the products, there was a strict rule: just point, and the vendor will bag up the selection, and accept payment.
Even with those restrictions, inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was “probably the best opening day we’ve ever had,” said Market Manager Jaime Grant.
Grant, who operates The Summer Oven Bakery, nearly sold out within the first two hours. She was down to her last raspberry pie. Her 400 butter tarts were gone within an hour and a half. She refilled a basket with artisanal bread three times.
“I’m over the moon,” Grant said. “People came out just to support the vendors. Everyone’s been so happy and nice, so happy to be here. The mood has been wonderful.”
It was the same story over at Rosie’s Meat Pies, where Tom Bouhs sold out of his most popular pies, all based on his mother Rosie’s classic recipes.
“I wasn’t expecting it to be this busy,” Bouhs said, apologizing for having run out of quiches, and many of his medium and large pies.
There was no line-up at Sun Island, where Darlene Saumure was selling her natural insect repellents and herbal goat milk soaps, but she was all smiles.
“Even just getting out of the house is nice,” Saumure said.
Shoppers could pick up Fairhope Farms’ organic chicken; Thor Farms’ certified organic Angus Beef – along with Say Cheese! artisanal cheeses, Sheldon Creek Dairy products and Metis Fish Market products, carried by Mike Madden; Pillitteri Estates Wines; Authentic Greek Bakery baklava and spanakopita (philo pastry stuffed with goat cheese and spinach); and an array of gourmet sauces and products from Northside Catering, a full catering service out of Bradford operated by Chris Thompson, “owner, founder culinary director.”
There were the European cured meats and sausages of Speziale Fine Foods, sold at 27 Country Market – a tradition, just south of Cookstown, for 41 years.
Jan Rainey of R Family Farm, who brought the farm’s jams and preserves and array of early-season vegetables and berries, also saw a rush of shoppers.
“My rhubarb is gone. It’s a good problem,” she said, surveying the last three baskets of strawberries, picked fresh at the family farm near Cookstown.
“We’ve started the U-Pick,” Rainey said, welcoming families to come by the farm on Line 3 of Innisfil to pick their own berries. “It’s going fairly well” – although between chilly days of below-seasonal temperatures, torrential rains, and steamy hot days more typical of July, “I’m amazed the plants know to produce berries.”
Over at Zena's Cookies, the question Sophia Siachos was most asked was, Are your cookies for humans or dogs?
The answer? Dogs. A former hairdresser, Siachos originally considered going back to school to become a vet or veterinary technician, but she couldn’t stand to see animals suffer or in pain.
Instead, “I thought, why not make them happy, and bake – combining my two passions. I love animals and I love baking,” she said.
Her own dog’s favourite cookie? “Peanut butter bacon, hands down.”
There were favourites at I’m Melting Waxx Melts, as well. The most popular wick-less candles are ‘Fresh Laundry’ – “People want their house to smell like fresh laundry,” said Jennifer.
Lemon Meringue and Brownies are also top sellers. You may not have time to bake, but “you just light it, and there you go!”
For those who arrived at the market hungry, there was a choice of ready-made food - the Jamaican spice and flavours of Miss Ritchie’s Kitchen food truck, or Loaded stuffed potatoes.
Loaded Stuffed Potatoes owner Babbs called her creations “fresh healthy food on the go – that’s my mission” - giant baked potatoes, filled with chili or chicken pot pie, and a vast choice of fresh toppings, served either hot and ready to eat or chilled and wrapped in foil to take home.
“Only the corn and peas are frozen. Everything else is fresh,” Babbs said. “Feed the streets!”
The line-ups were longest at Lakeview Gardens garden centre, where three generations of the Radcliffe family struggled to keep the tables filled with fresh produce, and the shelves stocked with home-made jams, preserves and pickles.
Lakeview Gardens also sold out early. “Now, this is a market!” said a delighted Rob Radcliffe.
The Innisfil Farmers’ Market takes place outdoors in the south lot at the Innisfil Recreation Complex at Yonge and Innisfil Beach Road, every Thursday from 1 to 6 p.m.
For those who missed the opening day, there is an encore: The Innisfil Farmers’ Market is also located at the Cookstown Tanger Outlet Mall on Hwy. 89, near the 400, on Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m. June 26 is the opening day at Tanger.