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.
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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.
For 2025 Maple Fest we brought back the online scavenger hunt fun with Goosechase!🪿Goosechase brings an extra level of fun to the already sweet themed market day, and also gives market go-ers a chance to win one of two fantastic prize baskets filled with wonderful prizes donated by some Maple Fest vendors! The prizes (each valued at over $200) consist of some delicious local maple syrups, jams, meats, cheeses, artisan products, gift certificates and more 🥰
With a lake view in the distance, surrounded by sugar maples, Palmer's Maple Syrup is an idyllic experience of a Canadian tradition near Port Stanley. Nearly 100 years ago, Brian Palmer's Grandparents purchased the family farm, and like many of their neighbours, they took to harvesting the sweet sap from the surrounding trees. Over the years, the family wasn't always in the Maple Syrup business- but since 1955, it's undoubtedly been a sweet success.
In the heart of St. Thomas, Ontario, a green revolution is sprouting, led by the passionate and health-conscious Neta and Stephen Bodrug. Through their venture, Field and Root Microgreens, they not only provide the community with nutrient-dense microgreens but also foster a culture of preventative health and wellness through small, attainable changes.
Long before Jason married his wife in 2014, her family had a jam recipe that was passed down her family line. When she was little, her mother started making jam, alongside growing lots of herbs, flowers and fruits in her home garden. After marrying into the family, Jason’s mother-in-law would make her jam for his children (her grandchildren), and one day he finally tried some. “[My mother-in-law] has always been a great cook,” Jason said. “My kids now refuse to eat store bought [jams]. One day [I tried some of her jam] and I couldn’t believe how good it was!” Since then, Jason hasn’t found a jam that has come close to his mother-in-laws in terms of taste and quality.
Since 1816, the Pettit family has been farming in the Belmont area in Elgin County. Initially starting off as a mixed farm, through the years dairy farming became the staple for the family. Tom grew up on the Belmont farm with his parents Murray and Betty, and with his sister Suzanne. Eventually, Tom and Suzanne wanted to continue the family farm and traditions; attending Ridgetown College, returning home to continue the farm, and later meeting his now wife and farm/business partner Kris. “Tom wouldn’t want to do anything else,” Kris said with a smile. “This is what he’s wanted to do his whole life.” Tom and Kris then had two daughters, Maddie and Kadie, and together they all work hard to continue the dairy family farm and traditions through Mistyglen Holsteins and Mistyglen Creamery.
Julie and Greg of Gully Ridge Farms moved onto their homestead family farm, just outside of Port Stanley, in 2016. Greg decided that he wanted to use some acreage to try and dabble with some farming, and he ended up settling on garlic, since there aren’t any garlic farms in the area that grow on a large scale. They officially named their farm Gully Ridge in 2017, after the tall hills and winding gully the farm oversees.
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