Zibi is excited to again welcome the Ottawa Street Markets’ farm stand to Head Street Square this summer! From now until October, every Tuesday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Chris Penton and his team transform the square into a vibrant community hub centered around his custom-built farm stand.

For Chris, this isn’t just a business—it’s a mission to support the “circular economy”. When you buy a dozen eggs or a basket of Niagara peaches from his stand, your dollars don’t disappear into a corporate ledger. Instead, they stay within the region, supporting local families like the Fosters of Foster Family Farm, who have been Chris’s primary partners for 15 years.

A commitment to One Planet Living®

At Zibi, we are guided by the One Planet Living framework. Chris’s farm stand, just like Zibi’s community gardens, is a perfect embodiment of the Local and Sustainable Food principle, which encourages eating seasonal, local, and organic produce to reduce environmental impact and support the local economy.

At the Zibi farm stand, shoppers can find a variety of seasonal produce and products from local and regional producers, including farm-fresh eggs, honey, jams, bread, and of course, seasonal fruit and vegetables from Foster Family Farms.

Why shop at the farm stand?

While large grocery chains offer convenience, the farm stand offers something they cannot: peak nutrition and community impact.

  • Freshness you can taste: Chris notes that every hour a vegetable is off the stalk, it begins to lose nutritional value. By shopping at the stand, you are getting produce at its healthiest.
  • Supporting the “Weekend Warriors”: Chris provides a platform for small-scale local producers, those making jam or candles in their kitchens, who may not have the capacity to deal with big-box retailers.
  • Incubating local business: By shopping here, you’re helping small businesses grow. Chris has watched vendors evolve from home kitchens into successful commercial catering enterprises right here in Ottawa.

Whether you are picking up your Foster Family Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box or just grabbing fresh ingredients for dinner, shopping at the Zibi farm stand means you are choosing to keep our local agricultural heritage alive.

Stop by this Tuesday to say hi to Chris, grab some fresh food, and experience the best that our local farmers have to offer!

Want to learn more about our commitment to local and sustainable food? Explore our 10 One Planet Living principles at https://zibi.ca/sustainability/