Farmers’ Markets Ontario announced the winners of the new Awards of Excellence for the 2018 market season.

The Farmers’ Market of the Year honour went to the North Bay Farmers’ Market. From its beginnings in 2001, the market has grown to an average of 100 vendors per year. It’s now the busiest farmers’ market in Northern Ontario.

Farmers’ Market Manager of the Year award was presented to Tess Van Den Bosch, manager of Junction Farmers’ Market in Toronto. The market started in 2012 and has grown to 48 unique vendors. During her time as market manager, Van Den Bosch played a role in managing the Go Green campaign, which changed the way waste was diverted at the market, and has implemented numerous improvements to the successful Night Market.

In another announcement, Ann Slater from the St. Marys Farmers’ Market was named as a director of the Farmers’ Markets Ontario board. She is a certified organic farmer and has been involved with the St. Mar’s Farmers’ Market since 1992, as a long-time market vendor and market board member.

Farmers Markets’ Ontario began in 1991 and now represents 182 member markets across the province. FMO’s website says the organization is the voice of Ontario’s farmers’ markets and their traditions, committed to leadership, development, management and promotion.

Source: Farmers’ Markets Ontario, February 15, 2019 news release