In a world of strip malls and big box stores, London’s farmer’s Market in the heart of Old East Village puts community and local connection first.

Located inside the two-storey red brick Confederation building at the Western Fair District, The Market is home to more than 100 shops that offer local food, arts, crafts, clothing, music and places to meet up with friends and neighbours on the weekends.

CBC London visited The Market to meet some of the people who contribute to the community spirit and focus on human connection.

Unique tastes from local growers

The main floor of the market is where local growers, butchers, and chefs offer everything from fresh produce, to cuts of meat and fish, along with fresh baked goods and meals.

“Everybody knows everybody,” said Yam Gurung, owner of Momos at the Market. “It’s like a little village.”

Gurung has been serving up Nepali food and breakfast at the market for the past 17 years. And while his momos are what he’s known for, his passion is to help newcomers to London learn English and get work experience by hiring them to work in the kitchen.

“The language barrier, that’s the toughest one,” he said. “So, I feel like I need to help the people.”

Gurung doesn’t have to go far to get the ingredients for his dishes, leaning on the local vegetable stands and meat counters.

“All of the vendors here, we buy locally,” said Craig Turner, who runs Turner’s Farm Market with his wife, Sherry, since 2007. “We’re not a corporation. The money doesn’t leave the city.”

The Turners have been farming just east of London in Ingersoll for 30 years, growing tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, beans and peas. They also source other vegetables and fruits from local growers for their market stand.

“What I love is a good customer that comes back and tells me how good the product was that they bought and they’re excited to come back and ask me what’s new, what’s good this week,” said Turner.

Know where your food is coming from

Agnes Hambalek is a butcher who runs The Butcher’s Wife meat counter, which sources local meat and ingredients for its unique sausages and cuts.

“We’re very proud of our sausages. So we don’t use any fillers or any preservatives at all,” said Hambalek. “I sourced the beef, which is all grass-fed, it is pastured. Our chicken is free-range. It is also halal…they are much nicer treated and there is less chance of viruses.”

The ingredients for those sausages also come from other vendors and are shaped by what’s in season.

“Last week, we had beautiful peaches and we’re like, OK, well can make some with that and add brie.”

Ricardo Cavaco is the co-owner of the seafood shop Out of the Deep, which brings in ethically sourced seafood from suppliers in the region.

“When we first started this, we actually had a couple of businesses in the market already, and then we just noticed that there was the need to have a fishmonger here,” he said. “We actually tried to help the market bring in a fishmonger and we talked to a couple of different suppliers from Kitchener and Saint Thomas, but nobody wanted to come.”

Cavaco and his team have created their own fish recipes and offer local catch from places like Steelhead in St. Thomas.

WATCH | Meet some of the people bringing food and flavour to The Market:

To continue the gastro journey, visitors can head to the second floor of the market where people like Jeffory Putman have a passion for sharing unique food creations like Great Veggie Bites.

“The business officially opened about six Years Ago and it just came from a need from the community,” said Putnam, who co-owns the shop and comes up with plant-based takes on everything from lasagnas to cabbage rolls, to deli slices.

His passion for plant-based food creations comes from years of experimenting with different ingredients and flavours.

“I started off vegetarian over 20 years ago, so it’s kind of a very gradual process and that’s what we just tell people to do is take it one step at a time.”

Supporting local artists and creators

The second floor of the market is also home to several creatives who use their space to make and sell their wares.

Anthony Seers and Sherrie Quinn began making homemade candles about eight years ago, then moved to The Market five years ago where they could do everything on-site.

“We started off actually with a six-foot table here at the market, and then we got up with a booth and the rest is history,” said Seers.

Seers and Quinn create all their own candles and fragrances which also change with the seasons.

“It’s always nice to have a custom scent or something that you can’t get elsewhere,” said Quinn. “Scent always takes you back to a memory. So that memory, when you smell that, that memory becomes very vivid. That’s what we like about it.”

Quinn said the family atmosphere at The Market means if someone is looking for something specific, they recommend

“The second floor and the first floor, you can get everything for your house, for dinner, everything in one building.”

WATCH | Supporting artists and creatives at The Market:

For Joel Donkervoot, what started off as a venture to sell his handmade bow ties, scarves and pillows about 10 years ago, became an artisan boutique called the Spruce Moose.

“The market was the place that was accessible to trial the business,” he said. “It was a one-day commitment at the time, so it was a fun way to come in and test the products that you have.”

The shop offers clothing, jewelry, prints and cards, designed or created by about 50 artists, many featuring local landmarks.

“These artists are raising families, they’re living here, they’re supporting a ton of local artists themselves and businesses. And we have some collaborations with our artists as well,” said Donkervoort.

“Why I was most excited, is just to be here with the community, meeting all the amazing artists and vendors that are here and all the shoppers that made friends along the way, it’s been amazing here.”