EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is part of a new BurlingtonToday series — 'THIS IS BURLINGTON' — that showcases the people, places, organizations and businesses that make our city so special. Click HERE to read every story in the series, which will run throughout the month of November.
This article originally appeared on Nov. 3, 2023.
When the Burlington Farmers' Market launched, John Diefenbaker was the country's prime minister, the Burlington Bay Skyway had just opened and the VW Beetle was the top-selling car in Canada.
Operated by the Burlington Lions, the market is now a tried-and-true tradition in the city — and just wrapped up its 65th season at the end of October.
When it first started out in 1959, revenue was $350, a far cry from the average recent-year revenues in the $70,000 range.
Part of the popular market's secret to success: its ability to change and grow over the decades along with the community it serves.
Currently, the market runs in the parking lot at the Burlington Centre on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the growing season and features some 50 vendors over the course of a season. Some 60 per cent of the vendors are fruit/produce oriented.
Lion Farmers’ Market co-chair Al Fanjoy says residents embrace the opportunity to feed the family wholesome food thanks to the array of locally grown fresh produce, baking, meats, cheese, eggs, honey, chocolate and more. Browsers can find everything from A to Z — apples to zucchini. And everyone benefits; shoppers get the freshest food available and the organizers are happy to support local farmers.
Many of the vendors have been at the market for decades, while other long-time vendors have passed on. Greenwood Farms has been at the market for 59 years. Other long-term vendors include Van Elswyk Farms Ltd. (1965), Dilly’s (1968), Shearlea Acres (1973), Williams Bros. (1984), Roberts Farms (1984), Gallant Farms (1987) and A & A Flowers (1993).
The market, which is a member of the Farmers' Markets Ontario Association, originated at Central Park, and moved to the new mall when it opened in 1968; at that time, it was located in the parking lot between the Bay and Canadian Tire. In the 1970s, it was in the west side parking lot on Guelph Line. In 1997, Saturdays were added to the hours.
In 2005, the mall expanded and the market moved to its present location, at the south end of the mall near Prospect Street.
It has outlasted most of the retail tenants at the mall: Robinson's, Dominion, Eaton's, to name a few.
The Burlington Centre Lions Farmers' Market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is located in the south parking lot at the Burlington Centre, on the Prospect Street side of the mall, south of Denninger’s. Fanjoy said they are hopeful most of the vendors will return in the spring 2024 and the Lions Club has plans to continue its market there indefinitely.
Operated by the Burlington Lions Club, the market proceeds allow the club to help those in need, youth and specific local projects.
Fanjoy, who’s been associated with the market since 1983, said they have funded more than $1 million of projects such as the football stands at Nelson Park, Appleby Community Centre, Nelson park splash pads, Oakville’s Guide Dogs program, and Camp Dorset, a resort that offers a vacation opportunity for dialysis patients and their families.
The Lions Club is in its 98th year of community service with 38 active members. Fanjoy said new community-minded members are always welcomed.
