Roots of the Market Award: Romagnoli Farms🍎

Irene’s parents immigrated to Canada in 1972, purchased their fruit farm in Beamsville a year later, and by 1975 were selling produce at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market—back when it was still just a gravel lot in front of the livestock exchange. Irene, the oldest of six, grew up helping at the booth from the very beginning.

In the 1980s, fate and farming crossed paths when Jack, whose family farmed next door, brought Irene a coffee at the Market. That small gesture sparked a love story—and a lifelong partnership in both business and family.

Today, alongside their daughters, Irene and Jack still show up week after week with the same warmth, grit, and generosity they’ve always brought. Through changing times, long drives from Niagara, and the demands of farming life, they’ve never lost sight of what matters most: feeding families, building relationships, and staying rooted in what’s real.

📍 Find Romagnoli Farms in the Outdoor Market