Pop-up farmers market celebrates local food, new partnership in Essex

Essex celebrated food grown by local farmers on Thursday with a pop-up farmers market in the downtown core.

A new partnership aimed at supporting local growers and producers in Windsor-Essex is being celebrated Thursday with a pop-up farmers market in downtown Essex.

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI) and Libro Credit Union are teaming up to strengthen the W.E. Heart Local program — a collaborative initiative with the Essex County Federation of Agriculture promoting farm-to-table experiences, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and local food producers.

The market, taking place at Libro’s Essex branch at 147 Talbot St. N., runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Weather permitting, the event will feature several W.E. Heart Local partners, including Raymont’s Berries, Walnut Grove Bed & Breakfast, Simpson’s Orchards and Denver’s Homestead.

Organizers say the initiative aims to encourage both residents and tourists to explore the region’s agricultural offerings through the W.E. Heart Local Digital Pass, a free membership-based program that includes more than 60 participating businesses and attractions.

The digital pass provides users with incentives such as monthly giveaways, exclusive offers and recipes that highlight the area’s agricultural bounty.

“We really want to make people know about W.E. Heart Local, but W.E. Heart Local is a year long program to promote Farm Fresh,” said Jason Toner, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Tourism Windsor Essex. “We have growers and producers pushing our product all year long. So it’s a program that you can learn about our growers and producers and explore now throughout the summer when it’s peak season, but really into the winter and early spring when we have other options to explore.”

For more information, visit weheartlocal.ca or connect with Tourism Windsor Essex online.