Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market

Love this place! Partly because it’s within the greenery of the Don valley and there are so many bikes and trails to walk/​hike upon. But also there’s history to the site and I quite like the rusty, industrial setting.
The market has a food court section as well as a fresh produce section. I suggest that you come before 12pm, the lines get hectic around lunch hour. We had an early lunch at 11am so it wasn’t as crowded and the food is still in stock!
First time coming here, quite impressed. The space was filled with good vibes — lots of young families and dogs (I think even more so because it was a long weekend!). There’s a children garden with lots of space to play hide and go seek and learn about gardening; there’s even a tepee!
I had the chorizo and egg with beans from Pimento and they were okay. I found the chorizo really salty and overall dish very oily.
What I like about this farmers market is that there’s an abundance of picnic benches and seating area to eat. Evergreen Brick Works is big enough to accommodate seating for large crowds, even during busy lunch hours. There are always tables around — some people even bring their own picnics!
Lovely space, I’ll most likely come back to explore more of the trails and to try the crepes!

Best market in the East End. You just have to pay for parking and it’s hard to get parking so get there early. Great cheese lady, couple bread options, lots of different produce and a food court with great crepes. Try the breakfast crêpe with maple syrup! In the summer I might go every other weekend.

Fantastic market. A must for anyone visiting Toronto and even any local. There are lots of varied farm-​style vendors and a section for hot foods prepared by local restaurants. This was the first place I visited in Toronto and it never got any better than this. I got: cheese, wild mustard, #3 maple syrup, wine, lamb sausage, and a egg and cheese sandwich. Maybe more. Good stuff.
I have no idea if I should have paid for metered parking but I did anyways.

It’s a big farmers’ market. I wasn’t successful in scoring pastured eggs which is one of the few things I buy at farmers’ markets. There were many cheese vendors, though, and I do love cheese. I got cheese curds made of sheep milk which was an interesting change from the standard cheddar curds (I also got regular cow cheddar curds from Monforte, sooooo fresh and soooo good). The prices were all jacked up on produce, as typical for Toronto farmers’ markets. ($ 8 for carrots… No lie… That’s crazy). It’s way too crowded and the people are oblivious and will jump in front of you while you are walking and then come to a dead stop to play on their phones or just to stare into space. They also like to stop in front of one vendor’s table, turn completely around and stare at other vendors across the lane preventing anyone from purchasing from the vendor they are blocking. I don’t know if it’s an anti-​competition attack move or what, but it makes me crazy. The free shuttle from Broadview station is also great for making the market accessible to non-​drivers. This is a good market to visit to experience a larger market and just to check out the Evergreen Brick Works grounds, but it doesn’t have enough selling points to add it to the weekly rotation for me.

An excellent place to come on a Saturday morning. Lots of amazing produce, meats, wine to sample and purchase (many of which are not sold in the lcbo), cheeses, and a «food court» with great eats such as crepes (so good!) tacos, paella, vegan items, salads, waffles, sandwiches, real lemonade and much more.
I would recommend coming earlier to get parking and also so that they don’t run out of good stuff! They open at 8am. We arrived at 1030 and had to wait for someone to leave in order to get a spot. Parking is $ 1.75 per half hour so I just paid the $ 8 max which is good until 6am the following day. We didn’t want to rush. We went straight to the crêpe place. The line is long but it is because they are made fresh to order. The 3 of us split the mushroom/​spinach and the chicken but we all preferred the chicken. They were $ 10 each. We also got the mexican coffee ($ 2 for a small cup) and a $ 3 mocha. The coffee was better. We also got a waffle with strawberries and whipped cream. It was ok but I would not get the waffle again. However, I did try it when it was cold so perhaps it was better when warm.
There wasn’t a lot of selection at the farmers market by the time we finished eating so I recommend going early and bringing a cooler with you for the cheese and meats, especially on a hot day.
Lots of places to walk around and explore when you are finished with the market. And nice walking trails too.
A great oasis to check out. Enjoy!

A great location for a farmers market — right off Bayview close to the DVP. An excellent outing for the whole family. Unfortunately just like Whole Foods Market, it’s lost it’s original vision and spirit. Every time I go I feel ripped off. The parking is stupid — while most businesses that are smart will give you at least 30 minutes free parking, this one takes $ 1.75 and generally you have to line up to get milked. The price of the produce is unmarked and jacked up. Seems like last year just about everything sold for $ 5.00 or $ 6.00 and this year it’s $ 6.00 or $ 7.00. But a lovely outing nonetheless and the produce is fresh!

I thoroughly enjoy coming to the farmers market on Saturdays — open year round, the vendors are so friendly, knowledgable, and they always bring their A-​game with the products. It’s big and airy, awesome on a warm day, busy at first open minute because it is so popular. The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is the price inflation. I know you cater to your audience and these guys gotta make a profit, but when a product is on the cusp of being in season, you’d think it was imported. It just makes it harder for me to justify spending money on an organic local product when at the grocery store it’s almost 50% the price of the market, for also an organic local product. The pros outweigh the cons though, as it’s easy to get here by any means of transportation (two bus lines come directly here) and there’s so many amenities (café, walking trails, garden centre, ATMs, a bike shop!) that I love coming back for in-​season produce, and can once in a while splurge on fresh floral bouquets or grass-​fed organic meats or eggs. I do recommend coming here at least once to check it out.

Great fresh food. Crepes specifically were delicious in the prepared food section and the baked goods were great buys as well. The main perk is that the location is beautiful with lots of trees and walking paths. Great date location. The downside is that it is very pricey for essentially basic things. Each item is $ 5 – 10 so bring at least 30 per person.

If you’re lucky, it only takes an hour and a half to get in and out of here if you buy a week’s worth of food basics.
Why do I say «if you’re lucky»?
Because you’re not just shopping for food; you’re meeting great people and having great conversations in this one-​stop food literacy class.
We spent five minutes talking with the fellow at Forbes WIld Foods, learning about butternut trees that produce a walnut-​style nut with a buttery taste. It grows throughout most of southern Ontario (up to North Bay), and produces a nutritious and delicious nut with healthy oils and protein, while supporting eco-​friendly agro-​forestry.
We spent five minutes with the famous Ruth Klaasen at Monfiorte Cheese, talking about whether cheese is a fermented product, and thereby worthy of being classed as probiotic. Ruth says yes to fermented, and not sure about probiotic. But it’s worth checking out.
We went to buy an Easter ham, but only untreated ham was available; no problem, the young farmers explained in great detail how to cook it (some spices, half a bottle of white wine beneath the roast and a few other tricks of the trade) and it was probably the best-​tasting ham of my life.
We spent ten minutes at ChocoSol with Michael Sacco, who gave us a talk on actionism, the philosophy behind the merry band of chocolatiers at ChocoSol.
We spent five minutes at the stand of the person who makes his own tempeh, out of both beans and grains. We loved the piece made of chickpea last week, so he urged us to try sunflower seeds and oats this week, after explaining how grains can be included in tempeh.
Our mushroom stop took five minutes, as we learned the details of what mushrooms go best with soups, and which go best as meat substitutes.
Our cracker stop with Evelyn’s Crackers took 5 minutes as we raved about the oatmeal crackers, and he asked us to try a new line of buns they were experimenting with.
Our wine stop at Tawse, the organic and biodynamic producers, took another five minutes, as did our stop at the fish shop, as did our stop for salad greens at BizJak — basically updates about how are you, and general chit chat.
Not a good place to come if you’re in a rush to run in and out to buy whatever is fast and easy to cook.
Markets are the slow shopping prequel to slow food — that is food with conviviality, which is what food is fundamentally about in the human experience.
I rate this as the supreme health contribution that food makes — contributing to mental health, not only though nutrients, such as the probiotics inherent in many of the above (especially the tempeh), but mainly through the conviviality.
Our society is not short of opportunities to shop without making human contact of any kind. What we need, I argue in my e-​book Food for City Building, is new ways to weave pleasant and positive social experiences into everyday life. This is what farmers markets do.

Going to Brickworks on a Saturday morning is a treat. Plenty of local fruits, vegetables and other offerings make this an oasis in the city. The variety of foods to eat are very good. The café inside has excellent coffee’s and sweets. The crafts and items for sale in the shop are very cool. There is skating in the winter on there paved internal walkway and they also have skate and helmet rentals if you want to skate last minute. There are many photo opportunities on the property as it is very rustic in the old brick ovens and also in the surrounding forest. Take note that you need a permit for official photography sessions like weddings and engagements.

In the two years since my last review, the Farmer’s Market has nearly tripled in size! It is now, as proudly displayed on their website, the largest FM in Toronto. YAAAY for you, Brickworks!
Yes, prices are still high, but you know what? This product is very different than what you find at the big chain grocery stores. It tastes different. It looks different. It smells different. BETTER. I have never before looked at a pile of chard and thought «That’s just gorgeous» before. Until this morning…
Mr. Rosie S., our little dog and I all piled into the minivan around 10:30am and headed over. So glad we did! I was worried, arriving around 11am, that we would have missed the «good stuff» or stalls would be slowing down, but not at all! This was full swing. And everyone was in such a good mood! I love it here.
Our best scores today (Sat. Oct. 18, 2014):
1. Baby Organic Sugar Pumpkins — unfortunately I forget which produce stall! Anyway, they are beautiful and will be added to our porch décor (2/​$ 5)
2. Sweet & Sour Tofu from Ying Ying Soy Food (3 packages for $ 10.75)
3. 100% Pure Liver Dog Treats ($ 5/​small ziploc full — about 8 livers)
4. Smoked Lamb Chops from Buschbeck Farm (2/​$ 12)
5. Bag of Roasting Root Vegetables & Herbs from Cookstown Greens ($ 7 for 2-​lb. bag, $ 10/​3-​lb. bag)
6. Peameal Bacon from Niagara (I think the package was $ 6 — 6 big strips)
7. Fresh Jamie Kennedy Kitchen Frites! YUMMMERS! ($ 5/​cone full with smoked ketchup) — in the «food court» /​café area.
Half of the lost star is because it’s paid parking! NOW, if the parking revenue went towards the site itself (and the associated organizations) I wouldn’t mind, but it’s IMPARK, people. Gross. $ 1.50 per half hour, $ 8 daily rate on weekends. By license plate as well, so you can’t pass along your ticket to the next market-​shopper. :(
The other half of the lost star is because the off-​leash area is still a muddy, awkward mess.
P. S. I’m roasting veggies as I’m writing this review and they smell FAB.

Support your local farmers and makers
Evergreen Brick Works is a great space that took an abonded brick factory and made it into a green space and education center.
On Sundays they host a Farmers market with about 20 vendors. The amount of vendors changes every weekend depedning on the person schedule but its worth the visit.
Picked up fair trade coffee, soup from Soup Girl and some cheese from the 2 cheese mongers there. Of course there is baked goods as well.
I love farmers markets not just because I used be at 2 of them on weekends as a vendor but because they offer the real farm to fork experience.

I do love going on Saturday for the time out and the Brick Works is a wonderful building in the city, but i don’t like the repetition of vendors. It seems as though there is a veggie stand, then honey, then a veggie stand, then preserves, then more veggies and some frozen meat in coolers etc. etc.. It doesn’t have enough variety for me. and the prices are crazy.
The fish vendor has rainbow trout for $ 22 a lbs that’s crazy for little fillets. Enough to only feed two people. If you bought that with some herbs and say green beans for dinner. It would top out at about $ 40, and you have to cook it no less. I’d rather go to a restaurant and pay a bit more for the same thing. no cooking. no dishes to clean. no hassle.
Is it me or does most the crowd need a shower, the place reeks of B.O. I’m all for conserving on water but clean up people.
One bright light for the Lesbian community is that this is a perfect pick up spot. Many bike clubs and running clubs of well fit girls in the midst. Good on ya Gals.
Wonderful for a walk thru and some of the food stalls are interesting, like the crepes and the authentic vegan taco stand. A nice hour to spend on a Saturday morning for strolling about.
** i love the one veg vendor that has a banner saying «lightly sprayed» ok so you use pesticides. stop with the lightly sprayed.

This is my favourite market in Toronto. There’s always so much going on, and such an incredible selection of well made, artisan products. I’m not a granola hippie by any means, but I appreciate great food made by good people and there’s a lot of both here. Everyone who has a stall at this market is passionate about what they sell. Almost every time I go, I fall in love with a new type of cheese or meat. There’s also a gorgeous pond out back to sit and relax or nibble on something you’ve bought.
The only downside is that many people drive here, so parking is hard to find. But I prefer to ride my bike there. Although Saturday is busy, it’s wonderful in the spring under the pavilion– airy and fresh with the smells of food everywhere.
This is one of the absolute best weekend stops from April to October! So… what are you waiting for? Get on your bike and plan a jaunt down to the Brickworks!

I’ll confess (this is a private forum, right?): sometimes I have a love/​hate relationship with Toronto that skews towards the latter. But thankfully, when I’m feeling a little down on the Tee-​dot-​Oh, I know where I can hurry to in order to instantly lift my spirits: the Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market.
Saturday mornings here are busy: don’t think that the secret about the Brick Works has yet to get out (tip #1: if you can walk or bike down it’ll save you the mad scramble to find parking). Popularity with good reason, though: this ain’t yo’ run of the mill market. Brick Works Farmers’ Market is dogs, and babies, and dogs WITH babies! It’s music, and community demonstrations, and nature walks. It’s eat-​while-​you-​stroll prepared food, it’s farm-​fresh produce, it’s community.
Highlights from recent visits include: sea asparagus (who knew?), freshly fried sweet potato donut holes, rows of beautifully packaged condiments, hand-​spun crepes, organic baked goods and a can’t-miss in the heat wave: handmade all-​natural herb and fruit popsicles.
Vendors, though sometimes slammed with visitors to their stall, have never been anything but patient with questions, generous with time, and easy with the smiles. Some products can be pricey, but I happily pay a premium for both the quality and the experience.
Unilocal note: although the Saturday market is an obvious draw, the Evergreen Brick Works space is worth a visit at other times of the week, too. From outdoor yoga, to classes, to trail exploring in the ravine… Brick Works is a great addition to the Toronto landscape (literally, figuratively).

Thumbs up, WAY up! Snaking inside and out, down different corridors and into different rooms, this FM is bomb. I’ll be the first to admit it’s a little higher end with specialty foods and ingredients you’re not always going to be in the market for (see what I did there… market… aw jeez…), but the place is SO much more. It’s music, it’s kids activities, it’s food demonstrations, it’s tastings, it’s a comprehensive cultural experience not to be missed, and as I understand it, the place fills up with even more savory and sweet treats as the weather warms up. I was here on two weekends in March and thoroughly enjoyed my time, I can only imagine what it’s like come July or August!
Oh, and besides having a ton to look at at, the space itself is remarkable. The history alone is enough to make me want to give Brick Works five stars, then they go and do a whole bunch of cool stuff with it. I’m sold!

Maybe I’m just being a contrarian (it wouldn’t be the first time) but this place is just way to «special» for my liking. The place is more of a celebration of counter-​culture «alt-​ness» than it is a practical shopping market.
Each booth vendor lays out a delicate display of precious heirloom this or that, or adds some flower petals to lettuce and sells it at a $ 5 premium.
Every prepared food is prepared without the demonized ingredient du jour: it’s all gluten free, sugar free, dairy free or whatever. Meats and fish are sold from picnic coolers! even though there’s lots of room for refrigerated trucks.
It’s all good stuff, but come on folks, how about an old fashioned market where the food is spilling out the back of a pickup. I just want to grab some corn from one farmer’s tailgate, and some tender fruits from another. Sure, make it chemical free, please. Please don’t make me wade through the dark interior of your special marketplace with its strollers and lolly-​gagging tourists milling about and feeling all good about themselves. Don’t make me navigate through the loose teas and the beeswax candles.
Brickworks should carve out some space for farmers selling the weekly staples in larger quantities so that busy city folk can make some quick deals with local farmers. Maybe one parking area could be limited to 20 minute parking and farmers could sell from their trucks in that area.

The Brickworks Farmers Market is my favourite place to spend a Saturday morning in the city. The site itself is a gorgeous reminder of what we can do to make our city interesting and great — the reclaimed brick works is stunning and magical. The farmers market has a fantastic selection of prepared foods, fresh veggies and fruits from regional farmers and producers. If you want to know where your food comes from — this is a great market to chat-​up the sellers and know your farmer.
Highlights of the Brickworks:
*Monforte Cheese — beautiful cheeses made in Stratford by Ruth Klassen, try the fresh soft cheeses when she has them — with a tomato and some basil — you will be in caprese heaven.
*Wafflebar — the best waffle in the city (the country!?) paired with fresh whipped cream and seasonal fruit
*Fisherfolk — sustainable fish from Canada, selection varies on availability — try the spot prawns, you won’t regret it.
*Cookstown Greens — want your dinner party to look like a top restaurant — buy the same heirloom veg that many top restaurants buy at cookstown greens!

Really amazing! Was completely in awe of this place.
I’ve been to many farmers markets, but this one really is different.
They hve 5 – 6 vendors simply there to make you hot breakfast — waffles, pananis, breakfast burritos, pancakes, etc. Fresh coffee and fresh juices too
I’d love to return in the summer when a wider variety of produce is available. Right now they have lots of what’s in season — squash varieties, apples and root veggies. I have a hard time getting excited about apples and carrots!
Lots of people bring their dogs here.
I recommend walking. I took a lovely trail called the Milkman’s run, which starts 10 minutes north of Castlefrank station. I really felt like I was completely outside of the city.
Bring your camera.

WOW! This place is a foodie dream.
I love that it is a step up, a true representation of the term «farmers market». You feel the passion from the suppliers. They all seemed very approachable, and keen to talk about their beautiful bounty.
I recommend that when going, go early. They open at 8 am — and next time, I will be there at that time. When Susan C and I visited, we were there at about noon. They had sold out of their fresh farm eggs (sigh), and a lot of the produce had been grabbed up.
I did manage to buy some (very reasonably priced) honey, lavender and wild blueberries.
I saw some amazing wild flowers. These petal-​ed gems would make any woman swoon.
The purveyors of french fries, burritos, crepes, grilled chicken, ice cream, etc were all quite busy. No need to eat breakfast before coming to this spot!
For getting here, car is easiest. But, there is also a shuttle bus from Broadview station.
Feel free to bring the kids (face painting, etc) and your pup. The crowd is a lot of young families.
There are also trails to explore. The website is quite informative too.
Check it out.