The Stonegate Farmers’ Market, was initially a market pilot project implemented by Community Food Animators at FoodShare, the Stonegate Community Health Centre, and the Stonegate Community Ecumenical Ministry. The market was set up to tackle food insecurity issues in the Stonegate neighbourhood. With the success of the pilot and farmers on board, the market became a full fledged farmers’ market in its second year, with the Stonegate Community Health Centre taking the lead in organizing and running the weekly event. 

Since then, the market has fallen under food access programming at the health centre, and is still seen as a joint venture supported largely by community organizations, churches and residents as well as members of the Stonegate Food Access Committee, St. James’ Humber Bay Anglican Church and funding from the Food Security Investment Program.

The Stonegate Farmers’ Market targets food insecurity and social isolation issues in the Stonegate community.  Focusing on alleviating hunger and improving access to food, the market offers fresh produce to area residents who other wise must depend on the one large, mainstream supermarket in the area that is accessible by residents without means of transportation.  Park Lawn Road, where the market is located, is seen as a dividing line between an affluent neighbourhood and lower income community. The customer base at the market come from both sides of this dividing line, bridging the community together and helping to provide local residents quality, locally-grown produce in the neighbourhood, with a venue where the Stonegate community can come together and connect.