Toronto Flower Market
Toronto Flower Market returns on Saturday, May 10
Outdoor flower market sprouts up at brand new location, just in time for Mother’s Day
April 14, 2014 – After a long grey winter, the Toronto Flower Market is back, bringing its stalls of bright blooms to the streets this spring. On Saturday, May 10, Toronto’s first outdoor flower and plant market debuts its brand new home at 1056 Queen St. W. (between Ossington and Dovercourt). This move plants the Toronto Flower Market firmly in the heart of Queen West, integrating its one-of-a-kind shopping experience into the already vibrant community. In what has now become an annual tradition, Toronto Flower Market kicks off its 2014 season on Mother’s Day weekend.
“In the year since Toronto Flower Market launched, I’m humbled by the ongoing support and positive feedback we’ve received from Torontonians,” said Natasa Kajganic, founder, Toronto Flower Market. “We set out to create a really special environment to both serve consumers and showcase our local flower farmers, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see this dream realized. This year we’ve partnered with Great Gulf to secure a fantastic, street side location for the market, which will open us up to a whole new range of visitors.”
For its sophomore year, the Toronto Flower Market has extended its market season, running monthly from May until October. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month, visitors can wander the outdoor stalls of local flower growers and florists to choose from an abundance of fresh cut or potted flower varieties. Market favourites Sweet Gale Gardens, La Primavera and Pioneer Flower Farms are returning, to be joined by a new crop of Ontario-based greenhouses who will add their fresh botanicals to the mix.
“We are excited to be hosting the Toronto Flower Market at our Florence & Co. Sales Centre in the heart of Queen Street West. We believe a market featuring local flower growers and florists will add to the vibrancy of this great neighbourhood. At Great Gulf we are always proud to invest in our communities and support initiatives that will help make them a better place for all residents,” said Christopher Wein, president, Great Gulf Residential.
The inaugural season surpassed all expectations, with nearly 4,000 guests visiting between May and September 2013. Almost every market visitor made a purchase, with many returning multiple times throughout the season. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with the chief complaint being that the market should run more frequently! Torontonians were able to choose from an abundance of high-quality, affordable plants and flowers, all while supporting Ontario floriculture and interacting directly with growers.
The Toronto Flower Market continues to create awareness about locally grown flower varieties and the benefits of purchasing locally grown products. Ontario growers produce more than 80 varieties of cut flowers and 120 varieties of potted plants, including dahlias, hydrangeas, tulips, gerberas, geraniums, campanula and lilies and more. Purchasing locally grown flowers guarantees that the customer gets the freshest product possible, which will last longer than a non-local product. Buying locally also offers a more environmentally sustainable option compared to products that have been flown or shipped from top flower export locations such as South America or the United States. For more information on the benefits of local growers, please visit www.pickOntario.ca.
The Toronto Flower Market will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates:
-Saturday, May 10
-Saturday, June 14
-Saturday, July 12
-Saturday, August 9
-Saturday, September 13
-Saturday, October 11
Website: www.TorontoFlowerMarket.ca
Instagram: @torontoflowermarket, #TorontoFlowerMarket
Facebook:TorontoFlowerMarket
Flickr: www.flickr.com/torontoflowermarket
About Toronto Flower Market:
The Toronto Flower Market was founded by Natasa Kajganic in May 2013. Inspired by a visit to London’s Columbia Road, Kajganic created Toronto’s first outdoor flower market with a mandate to raising awareness about locally grown flower varieties and greenhouses. Visitors can shop the stalls of high-quality, affordable flowers while interacting directly with local growers and florists. Toronto Flower Market takes place the second Saturday of each month, from May until October at 1056 Queen St. W.
For more information, interview requests or high-fives, please contact:
Natalie Petozzi, npetozzi@gmail.com or 647.973.1711
