Vegetables globetrot the world to find your Plate in T.O

Discovering the ECV market in the GTA

Three graduate students from SEDRD at the University of Guelph last week Friday took to the streets of Toronto to understand the ethno-cultural vegetables market. Hitting up China Town (Spadina), Scarborough and Jane Street seeking popular ethnic food stores.  In their search to understand the operations in the ECV market, they looked at prices, location and availability. As they negotiated the streets of T.O the students were treated to an array of sensual experiences, exposed to a mash up of colours, food and pleasant aromas in ethnic stores.  The stores packed with ethnic food assortments from around the world, attracting waves of bustling customers rushing to get the best produce. A rat race indeed, as availability is dependent on weekly and daily importation of produce, where the customers are well aware of the right days and times to shop. As customers pour in and out throughout the day, one begins to draw a mental picture of the profitability but also the cultural wealth the city has to offer. These stores create opportunities for immigrants to culturally reminisce about their former lives through their palate, similarly divulging new tastes to many Torontonians. An indicator of Toronto’s multiculturalism was surely marked as it embraces the growth of a global economy groomed domestically.

 Below are some pictures taken on the trip

Steven Gitu
SEDRD
University of Guelph