n 1780, the first farmer's market in the province was held in Kingston, Ontario. It started with a bunch of stir crazy farmers starved for human contact. Their inner party people had been suppressed by their country bumpkin wives and the animals who were both unable to carry a conversation and doomed to the dinner table, preventing any sort of close relationship from forming. Craving the wild city life, farmer's got on their horse and buggies and headed for Kingston, and its love parade of carrots, rutabaga, and parsnips. The public went crazy for both the produce, and its cover as an excuse for human contact.

Fast forward to summer 2008 in Toronto. In an age where one gadget allows us to spy on our friends, send emails, receive calls, listen to music, and who knows what else, Torontonians seem to be reverting to a traditional way of life in many respects, specifically in our predilection to purchase and consume locally sourced food. At the very least, 24 markets in the city offer a range of anything you could think of that can be farmed on Ontario soil. But don't be fooled by those talking about hundred mile this, and organic that; society continues to like markets because they make up feel good; they satisfy something in our souls. Now, more than ever, markets are used as a tool for human contact.

Growing over time, the number of local farmer's markets expanded until the 1970s. In partnership with the Ontario government, an active effort has been taken in recent years to partner local business and community groups with municipal governments and farmers. The establishment of Farmers' Markets Ontario in 1991 was influential in creating the renaissance of the Ontario farmer's market.