What's good in Kingston

More Kingston Fresh Food Markets are on the way

The Kingston Fresh Food Market Pop-up's are expanding. The markets are possible in part to a $193,100 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

This grant is helping Lionhearts Inc. cover staffing and marketing costs to expand the program, which provides affordable produce and healthy foods to residents in Kingston and the surrounding area. It targets people with limited access to discount grocery stores, improving food availability.

Kingston and the Islands MPP Ted Hsu was unable to attend, but shared a message that, “Affordable healthy food shouldn't be hard to come by — and thanks to Lionhearts, it's getting easier. From the local farmers to Tony Deodato and Sons, many people care deeply about feeding our community, and I'm glad the OTF grant will be able to fund their hard work even more.”

The funding was announced and celebrated at the Seniors Association Kingston Region, a soon to be location of one of the markets. 

Seniors Association President Alexis Dishaw shared that they know how significant good food is for healthy aging. She acknowledged Lionhearts programs are key to serving the community from school age to seniors. 

Lionhearts project lead Leslie Hanson says their markets offer second tiered support for employed people to restore independence, dignity and choice within tight budgets.

There are currently five pop-up markets in the area, four in Kingston and one in Amherstview.

Hanson told the group that she had a customer burst into tears at the price of their groceries.

Markets feature many staple produce items like potatoes, onions, carrots, apples, bananas, bell peppers, cucumbers, and celery. Produce is purchased locally from Tony Deodato and Sons, while prepared goods are made by Lionhearts chefs in the kitchen of local non-profit Ongwanada. 

In addition to support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the markets also benefit from Ontario wage incentives through the assistance of ACFOMI which previously allowed the markets to hire under-employed youth in the Kingston area. 

Lionhearts also acknowledges Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC), a 2023 partner in the markets.

For more information on future markets, visit lionhearts.ca/popups.