St. Jacobs Farmers Market: What to Eat and Buy

The St. Jacobs Farmers Market is a large year-round market just north of Waterloo, Ontario, open Thursdays and Saturdays, with a Tuesday market in summer. Indoor halls and outdoor stalls sell produce, baking, meat, cheese and hot food, and visitors come from across the region to graze.

It is the easiest big food outing in Waterloo Region, and it rewards a plan.

What is the St. Jacobs Farmers Market?

A market complex in the village of St. Jacobs, a short drive from Waterloo, with three main buildings and an outdoor area that grows through the warm months. Hundreds of vendors sell fresh produce, bread, pies, preserves, meat, cheese, crafts and ready-to-eat food. The market's own site lists its regular days across the week.

Which days does the market run?

The market opens every Thursday and Saturday all year, with a Tuesday market added in summer. Hours and dates change, so check the market's own page for the current calendar before a special trip. Saturday is the busiest and Thursday is calmer, with shorter queues and the same quality of produce and baking.

What does a St. Jacobs market breakfast look like?

Hearty, hot and shareable. A St. Jacobs market breakfast might be an egg sandwich, a pastry, a plate of sausage and potatoes or a doughnut with coffee, eaten at a shared table in one of the halls. Arrive when the doors open for the best choice and the quietest tables. Bring your appetite and a friend, since plates are generous.

Where is a good St. Jacobs market lunch?

Inside the halls, at counters serving soup, sandwiches, noodle dishes, grilled meat and baked goods. A St. Jacobs market lunch is easiest to find by following the longest queue, though the shortest one often moves faster. Outdoor tables are pleasant on a mild day. For a sit-down meal, the village of St. Jacobs has cafes and dining rooms a short walk or drive away.

Why is it called a year-round farmers market?

Because it never closes for winter. A year-round farmers market in southern Ontario has to adapt, and the halls hold the winter trade while the outdoor stalls expand from spring to autumn. In January you will find root vegetables, preserves, meat, baking and greenhouse produce, and in July the outdoor tables overflow with berries, corn, tomatoes and peaches.

What is the best way to see Waterloo Region farmers markets?

With a comparison in mind. The Waterloo Region farmers market scene includes more than one market, and the regional tourism office lists them. St. Jacobs is the largest, while smaller markets in Kitchener and Waterloo are quieter and closer to downtown. Visit one big and one small and decide which suits your habits. Locals often do both.

How should families plan a visit?

Early, with a bag and a plan. Children enjoy the samples, the crowds and the sheer scale, but a Saturday queue can be long for small legs. Pick one meeting point in case you are separated, bring a stroller that folds and take breaks on the benches.

What should you eat first at the market?

Start with a hot breakfast, then walk both buildings before you buy anything else. Pick a savoury lunch counter and a sweet one, and finish at the baking tables, where pies and bread sell out first. Carry the heavy things to the car last, and sit down halfway so a Saturday does not turn into a marathon.

How do you get there without a car?

By bus or tour, though most visitors drive. The village sits a few kilometres north of Waterloo, and parking at a large market can fill on a Saturday morning, so arrive early or expect a short walk. Regional transit serves parts of the area, so check schedules before you rely on it. Carpooling with friends makes the trip cheaper and the market lunch more fun.

What should you buy to take home?

Something that travels. Bread, preserves, cheese, maple products, baked pies and cured meat all survive a car ride, while soft fruit and fresh pastries want a cooler bag and a short journey. Ask a vendor what keeps best, bring a box for the boot and leave room for one impulse purchase. Everyone in the car will thank you by the time you reach the highway.

How can you remember what you tried?

Rate it as you go in the Mosey app. Only the place and stars are required, and you can name the dish so the next visitor knows what to order. Add tags such as Market Stall, Bakery or Farm Producer, save the stalls you liked to a list called St. Jacobs market and invite friends to add theirs.

What else can you do around the market?

A walk through the village and a stop in downtown Waterloo for a meal. The Waterloo Region and St. Jacobs food guide lays out the whole area, the Uptown Waterloo guide covers the city core and the Mennonite baking guide goes deeper into the local tradition. More towns are in the Canadian food guides.

The rest of the province is on the Food in Ontario page.

On the way home from the market, open the Mosey app, rate your best bite by dish and start a list for the friend who asks.