 Early spring brings a wave of fresh local flavours to savour, these cool weather crops are delicate, and we at Horton want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your market haul to extend freshness and use up every morsel.
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 You’ve probably seen them—hovering near your lavender plant, tucked into the petals of your squash blossoms, or weaving between wildflowers on the edge of a country road. Not the honeybees. The other guys. The fuzzy little bumblebees. Solitary bees that nest in the ground. Hoverflies that look like bees but aren’t. Butterflies. Moths. Beetles. The tiny, tireless workers, native to our corner of Southwestern Ontario.
They’re not just part of the scenery. These native pollinators are a big reason your local food exists in the first place.  Roughly six years ago, Brian Leverton of 2 Dogs Candle Co. purchased a candle for himself and his wife to enjoy at home. But after lighting the candle, it didn't burn properly; instead of burning out, it burnt right down the middle. Brian decided to take the candle to a local shop in St. Mary's (Village Craft & Candle) to find out why the candle burned improperly, where they explained the problem. "They put too small of a wick in it, so it couldn't create enough heat," Brian explained. The owners suggested that Brian and his wife take their candle making course to learn more, and after finishing the course they had some finished candles. "My daughter at the time was living in Yellow Knife so she took a few [candles] back there, and then she said 'Can you send me up some more?', and it just kind of grew from there."
 There is a certain magic in coming home from the farmers’ market, bag stuffed and arms full of fresh, fragrant local treasures. Each item is a snapshot of the region you call home and a testament to the hard work and dedication to quality of our local farmers and food producers. The market haul transcends what we would typically call a “grocery trip,” it is much more sensory, an art form, and a way to feel connected with your community but also more in tune with food in an intentional way.
 As a third generation apple farmer, Jesse Van Ymeren had been casually making cider with his friends for years during harvest season. So when COVID hit the St. Thomas and Elgin County area, Jesse and his wife Chelsea Preston fully embraced living locally, and they soon noticed a gap in the market for local ciders. “We really just love making cider,” Chelsea explained with a laugh. “It’s the classic millennial making your hobbies your job. We thought it was a good opportunity and we’re really looking to make something kind of bigger.” Chelsea and Jesse decided to officially give cider making a try, and in 2023 they started the small batch cidery Rise & Ruin.
 At the Horton Farmers’ Market, we often talk about fresh strawberries, homemade jams, and that first crisp bunch of asparagus as signs that the season is in full swing. But behind every bundle of rhubarb and every handshake at the farm stand, there’s a deeper story—one rooted in community care, food access, and resilience.
Farmers’ markets like ours are more than just a weekend destination—they’re part of a broader movement toward food security. While we celebrate local harvests and familiar faces, we’re also helping to create a food system that’s more equitable, more transparent, and more connected to the people it serves. We took a closer look at how farmers’ markets contribute to tackling food insecurity, and why local food systems matter more than ever. Whether you come for the produce or the people, every visit supports a stronger, more equitable future for our community.  Since 1969, the DeBackere family has been proudly farming in Elgin County just off of Dexter Line in Union. Although they have been providing fresh produce since 1987, the farm originally grew tobacco, until 2005 when Dan purchased the farm from his parents and formally exited the tobacco quota system. The farm then transitioned into 100% fresh vegetables, and gained its food safety certification through the CanadaGap Program under Dan and Joanna DeBackere.
“That really opened things up for us,” said Joanna. “Prior to that, really our main customers were through a middleman at the Toronto Food Terminal for our vegetables. And so once we became food safety certified, that opened the doors for us to actually go directly to chain stores.” DeBackere now proudly supplies primarily peppers and tomatoes through wholesale with Loblaws, Metro, Farm Boy, and local St. Thomas markets like Briwood Farm Market, their market stand in the St. Thomas Home Hardware lot, and our very own Horton Farmers’ Market.  The Horton Farmers' Market is easy to take for granted. On a sunny Saturday, with coffee in one hand and a carton of fresh strawberries in the other, it feels like it's always been here—woven into the rhythm of life in St. Thomas. But its roots run deep, and the story of how it came to be says a lot about how this city grew and what it has always valued.
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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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