Project for Public Spaces is excited to announce that Toronto will host the 11th International Public Markets Conference June 8-10, 2023.
Co-hosts: City of Toronto, St. Lawrence Market, and Market City TO.
Public markets impact
climate action, .
Every neighbourhood should have them.
We're less than a month from the 11th International Public Markets Conference! (Toronto June 8 - 10)
Register for exciting sessions ->
Be part of the team! Volunteer ->
Toronto boasts 105+ public diverse markets. They:
But our public markets operate independently. And they have little capacity to collaborate or advocate for the policies and resources they need to flourish.
That’s where we come in.
Market CityTO is on a mission to make Toronto's soul visible through its neighbourhood markets.
We work with Toronto’s intrepid market managers, vendors, city staff, researchers and policy-makers to activate the power of public markets.
Project for Public Spaces is excited to announce that Toronto will host the 11th International Public Markets Conference June 8-10, 2023.
Co-hosts: City of Toronto, St. Lawrence Market, and Market City TO.
Prototyping a new market model better suited to the urban context by adding two interconnected programs, Ontario Fresh Food Table & ScarbTO Mrkt Bucks, that enable more residents and entrepreneurs to participate and benefit.
Lead partner: Jennifer Forde, Scarborough and Courtyard Farmers' Market
Supported by: City of Toronto Economic Development Division and Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance.
An alternative exchange system benefitting residents’ income, food entrepreneurs, social inclusion, community health, prosperity, and resilience, belonging, and access to southern Ontario produce while keeping dollars circulating among Toronto and Ontario entrepreneurs.
Partners: Vision Quest/Red Onion Events, Golden Horseshoe Food & Farming Alliance, Feed Scarborough, Malvern Community Health Centre, Rising Sun Food Drive, St. Andrews Church - Scarborough, U. of T Scarborough Feeding City Lab.
Collaborate with market managers, vendors and city staff to:
Toronto has more than 130 Public Markets (PM) built from the ground up by strong community champions or key anchor organizations. They embrace diverse models, audiences and mandates that respond to residents’ needs and often deliver programs that address municipal gaps.
Though long-treasured by city-dwellers as a way to connect to local growers and urban entrepreneurs while surrounded by a festive atmosphere, markets provide entertainment and access to arts, crafts, street food and fresh produce. Still, the widespread benefits of public markets need to be discovered and appreciated. As such, many public markets exist on the margins.
From the St. Lawrence market, the only municipal market, to seasonal Farmers and Flea markets, to semi-permanent markets like Market 707 or the Ontario Food Terminal (Canada’s only wholesale market), these public markets are drivers of our local economy. These forms of retail are part of the mid-size distribution infrastructure that enables regional supply, inclusive and diverse economies and promote social connections at a neighbourhood level.
We work with Toronto’s intrepid market managers, vendors, city staff and policy-makers to activate the power of markets.
Marina Queirolo
Public markets & food systems specialist
mqueirolo@marketcityto.org
6 recommendations to support public markets and strengthen the mid-size food distribution infrastructure that enable regional food
marketcityTO coordinates, supports, and manages projects that:
Enable public markets to work more effectively. Increase knowledge and institutional capacity to better support public markets and demonstrate their impact.
Support current and build new public markets to increase equitable access to both economic opportunities and fresh, culturally appropiate locally-produced food, especially for those most impacted by systemic marginalization.
Build the public market infrastructure to enable the delivery of local and culturaly appropiate food.
Increase education about and promotion of public markets and their role in city building.
Help managers, operators, vendors, and regulators realize the industry’s full potential by investing in their professional development.
Integrate public markets into city and regional strategies.