Lotus Thai began in 2006 when Pom Quangvan Montague, after previously running a small private catering business, opened her first Lotus Thai location on the corner of John and Talbot Streets in midtown St. Thomas. After a few years there, she moved to 295 Talbot Street, where the restaurant still thrives. They have become a community staple, celebrated by the community for nearly 20 years, and they contribute so much to the tapestry of authentic cultural food experiences in our community. ​

For many market goers, Abby Mae's Gluten Free Bakery is a weekly staple. From fresh baked goods like decadent brownies, breads, cookies, squares, cupcakes, and bars, to scones, waffles, granola, and much more (all gluten-free, but you wouldn't know it by the delicious taste). Each week, their stand at Horton is filled with fresh, made-from-scratch goods, but make sure you get to the market early to get a pick of the whole assortment; their products go quick - a further testament to their quality and taste. 

​In the tiny village of Crampton, a church-turned-home by Arthur and Sharon Murray serves as
the headquarters of Herb 4350. Their modest side yard, humble in size but well optimized, is
home to most herbs you can think of, including unique offerings in their potager and petal
gardens.

​When you stumble upon Sippin’ Tea at a market, you might be drawn in by Paula’s warm smile and her neatly presented and carefully curated selection of teas.

​Down a narrow winding road, across a bridge that crosses Otter Creek in historic Vienna, eventually you will come across a farm framed by pines in the distance. Much like the incognito operations of prohibition—you would have no idea this was a distillery, besides the sign, and their iconic little blue van parked out front. In their barn is a hidden little speakeasy where they would gladly pour you a drink and tell their story. 

​Every Saturday at the Horton Farmers Market you’ll find a cozy red trailer. The source of a familiar aroma, freshly roasted beans and brewed coffee. When you meet Jon for the first time, you can tell he’s built this business on passion and determination. The Union General Coffee Co. was born out of a love for the craft of coffee. 

Since 2012, Chuck Magri has been the owner and operator of Wildflowers Honey, located just on the south edge of St. Thomas. "I never wanted to have bees," Chuck said with a laugh. "I actually wanted to start a small agricultural business. . . I looked at a few different options, read some books, and decided to buy two colonies and see how it went. One died and one lived, and I ended up liking it and now it's grown to what it is today." Chuck now has 125 colonies (only a couple more than the two he started out with) spread out across St. Thomas and Elgin County, and he has been a staple fixture at the Horton Farmers' Market since becoming a vendor around 2016/2017. 

You can trace the roots of Howe Family Farms all the way back to the late 1800s, when the first generation settled into the quiet concessions of Elgin County. They grew what the land gave them, probably without imagining that, over a century later, their great-great-grandchildren would be farming those very same fields—with a few modern updates, of course.

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."