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Wrapping up a summer of youth leadership: the Youth Food Market

Our youth programming, Youth in Food Systems, has been gaining considerable momentum over the last few years. Our work with youth is really centred around the idea that young people need to understand our food systems and see viability in careers within sustainable food. After all, 40% of farmers are set to retire in the next ten years, and there are acute and chronic shortages of workers across the food sector. So how do we challenge societal, and especially youth, perceptions of the food system in order to energize intentional, thoughtful pursuit of sustainable food careers?

One way we work to spark excitement and skill building is through the Youth Food Market, a local project each summer in Waterloo Region, Ontario. 

The Youth Food Market experienced its most abundant growth to date in 2023 as new and returning Market Leaders gathered on a weekly basis to plan pop-up produce stalls in two Kitchener neighbourhoods. We continued with our “affordable” model, in which the produce we purchased, gleaned, and grew was sold for at least 50% less than current Waterloo Region grocery store prices. 

Our four farm partners this season provided us with a collective total of about 600 pounds of fresh, local produce at reduced cost. We also partnered with Smart Waterloo Region’s Nurture program to bring over 50 elementary and high school students into gardening roles across 10 school food gardens. Altogether, the youth gardeners produced approximately 200 lbs of produce sold and donated through the Market. 

More than anything, these Markets showcased the immense growth in our youth leaders, as their confidence, leadership, and skills increasingly shone throughout the season. Each youth was able to select roles of interest to them, and lead tasks and activities related to those roles. From outreach to farm partners to writing radio ads; from designing customer tracking sheets to creating social media posts. And, of course, three to five youth led each of the eight Market days, managing everything from set up and merchandising to cash handling and sales. 

Our Youth Food Market webpage has been updated to highlight the project this year.

Between July and September, the Youth Food Market served 150 individuals and families across 8 Markets, selling 590 lbs of produce and donating an additional 195 lbs; through the work of 10 Market Leaders, who spent about 85 hours of time at the Markets and 130 hours of time in meetings and planning.

The following is a Market Leader impact story, obtained through an interview conducted by Good Roots Consulting. 

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John Lehman

John Lehman’s favourite part of volunteering with the Youth in Food Systems program is helping on market days for the Youth Food Market. The Market is organized by high school students who plant food gardens, source local produce, conduct market research, and promote and staff an affordable market stall on pop-up market days.

John shared that he has gained valuable first-hand experience working at the Market, as well as garnered skills in customer service and finance. “The market days gave me some experience with selling stuff and how markets work in the real world, being able to see interactions with people from a seller's standpoint,” he explained.

Volunteering on market days and assisting with garden maintenance has sparked John’s interest in learning more about careers that combine plants and business. “I never really had an interest in plants before, but after the program, I think that I can find new ways to be interested in plants and see if there's some sort of career that might be related to plants,” he shared. “Also, I learned about business. I think it's made me more interested in that and I could combine that with the new plant knowledge.”

As a result of taking part in the program, John feels that he is now more open to pursuing new opportunities in the future. “One of the most important things I learned would be to always be open to new opportunities, if it's volunteering, a job, a new pathway, or a career choice,” he shared. “I'm still young enough that I have time to choose and I should probably dip my toes in a bunch of different places and see what it's like.” 

John is also more interested in taking part in initiatives to help his community: “After seeing people at the market days, seeing the smile after they buy stuff, it just really makes me want to help out in the community more.”

John said that he would recommend this program to other youth looking to gain practical knowledge: “I learned a lot of real-world skills… and seeing how stuff gets applied in real life. I think it gives me an upper hand compared to other people.”

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Want to learn more about Youth in Food Systems? www.youthinfoodsystems.ca 

And a huge thanks to all of our amazing supporters, partners, and funders: 

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