 When most of us think about food access, we picture the nearest grocery store. If there’s a place to buy food nearby, it’s easy to assume the problem is solved. Food access is about much more than simply having somewhere to shop. It’s about whether fresh, nutritious food is affordable, easy to find, and available close to home. It’s also about supporting the people who grow our food and building a community where everyone has the opportunity to eat well.
Local food plays an important role in making that possible. Farmers’ markets, farm stands, and local food businesses help connect communities with fresh, seasonal products while creating a stronger and more resilient local food system.
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 In 1958, Sikko and Aultje Oegema and their seven children made the long journey to immigrate to Elgin County from the Netherlands. They purchased a farm just outside of present day St. Thomas in Talbotville, and together they began their farming venture in Canada. They started off by raising some hogs and growing tomato and sugar beet crops, and in 1959 they began raising turkeys, and over the years their sons Heiko and Tom grew the turkey and cropping aspect of the farm. On December 5, 1992, the Oegema family officially opened The Turkey Shoppe, an on-farm store where they could offer customers fresh turkey products direct from the farm. In 2004, Heiko's sons Mike and Wayne took over the turkey operation.
 There are plenty of places where people gather, but very few where they’re encouraged to slow down. At a farmers’ market, conversations happen while choosing tomatoes. Children dance to live music. Neighbours catch up over fresh coffee. Vendors remember your name, your favourite choice of dessert, or ask how the recipe you tried last week turned out.
In a world built around convenience, farmers’ markets offer something increasingly rare: connection.  There’s nothing quite like berry season in Ontario. From the first sweet strawberries of June to juicy blueberries, tart raspberries, rich blackberries, and the increasingly popular haskap berry, summer is bursting with fresh, local flavour.
One of the best parts of shopping at the Horton Farmers’ Market is experiencing berries at their peak. Picked at the right time and sold fresh by local growers, market berries are often sweeter, juicier, and more flavourful than those that have travelled long distances to grocery store shelves.  One of the best parts of visiting Horton Farmers’ Market is discovering something new. From unusual vegetables to handcrafted products, there are always unique finds waiting to be added to your basket. If you’ve ever picked up an unfamiliar item and thought, “what would I even do with this” you’re not alone. From oddly shaped veggies and banana jam to dill pickle pizza and taco flavoured cheese curds, Horton always has something fun and unique to discover.
The good news is that trying something new doesn’t have to be intimidating. Here are a few market finds you may come across at Horton and some simple ways to use them at home.  What started with a single gifted houseplant has blossomed into a growing local business rooted in passion, patience, and a love of helping others succeed with plants.
Sadie Maltezo is the founder and owner of Eden Anthea Horticulture, a St.Thomas based plant nursery that specializes in healthy, home-grown houseplants. Although this is Sadie’s first year in business, her journey with plants began nearly four years ago after receiving a houseplant as a gift following a move in 2022. “I had houseplants in the past unsuccessfully,” Sadie shared. “This plant I just kept alive, and my collection just kept growing from there.”  As you stroll through Horton Farmers’ Market, filling your basket with fresh strawberries, crisp cucumbers, colourful peppers, and local honey, it’s easy to focus on the farmers who grew them - we are forever grateful for their work. Behind many of these foods is another hardworking group that often goes unnoticed: pollinators! These tiny creatures play a vital role in our food system, helping many of the crops we know and love make their way from flower to harvest.
Did you know one out of every three bites of food we eat depends on pollinators? Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate the insects and animals that help plants reproduce and produce many of the fruits, vegetables, herbs, and seeds we enjoy every day (About Pollinators, 2026). While bees often get most of the attention, they’re far from the only pollinators helping local farms thrive.  Ever notice how market regulars seem to have it all figured out?
They move through the market with ease, know which vendors to visit first, and somehow leave with the perfect mixture of fresh produce, baked goods, and a few unexpected treasures. The good news? You don’t need years of Saturday mornings under your belt to shop like a seasoned market-goer. I’ve gathered a few habits worth borrowing from Horton Market regulars - simple ways to make the most of your Saturday visit.  Sometimes all it takes is a radio ad, a last-minute application, and a willingness to figure things out as you go.
That’s all it took for Brittany and Dennis to start their Rayclift Design journey with Horton Farmers’ Market. After hearing an advertisement on 94.1 MyFM for the regular season at Horton, Brittany and Dennis Clift decided to take a chance and apply for the Wednesday pilot program in 2024. At the time, they had no polished business plan, no long vendor resume, and in their words, “no real business, product, or clue of how to be a vendor.” They applied anyway. The approval email arrived. Cue the scramble.  There’s a common misconception that shopping at a farmers' market has to mean spending more. Between baskets of fresh strawberries, display cases of mouthwatering baked goods, and beautiful displays of local produce, it can look like a luxury shopping trip, but does feeding a family at the Horton Farmers’ Market actually cost more than the grocery store?
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10 Manitoba Street, 1/2 block North of Talbot Street St. Thomas, Ontario © Horton Farmers' Market 2025
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