The City is planning to erect a heritage plaque to commemorate the Queensway Market Gardens as part of Etobicoke’s rich farmlands that is now the Ontario Food Terminal.

Funds are being sought by Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley for a heritage plaque, which will be installed in the terminal area.

“The production and installation of a heritage plaque is to recognize the history of the Queensway Market Gardens,” according to a motion seeking funds.

The Queensway Market Gardens ran on both sides of the Queensway from the Humber River to the west of Kipling Avenue, according to the City.

“The rich soil of south Etobicoke attracted farmers who specialized in growing food and flowers to supply the City,” according to staff. “The main produce was vegetables with a few farms having apple and pear trees as well as strawberry and raspberry bushes.”

The market gardens were family-centred operations that were passed down through multiple generations.

It said the Gardens were a source of full-time and part-time work for children, who would work after school and on Saturdays.

“During the summer break from school, they could be seen often weeding rows of vegetables six days a week for five cents a row, which is about $1 today,” the motion said.

Children also worked at the Park Lawn Road farmers market, stocking carts and loading horses.

An informal market existed on the site from 1915 to 1918. The road was only paved in 1925, so farmers would use horses and wagons to transport crops, but they would often get caught or bogged down due to the mix of rain and loose soil on their way to market.

The market was eventually closed and the area was used for the new 56-acre Ontario Food Terminal which was opened on July 21, 1954.

The proposed site of the plaque – Queensway Park – was a former 100-acre farm of one of the earliest Queensway market gardeners, Herod Noble.