A Summer Favourite - Corn

On the cob or in a dish, corn is a welcome addition to any meal. And while your audience starts firing up the barbeques and basking in the sunshine, they’ll be interested to know that these sweet, golden ears are available locally and can be used in many delicious recipes.

While offering your readers information about these recipes and selection, storage, nutrition and preparation tips, remind them that they can find fresh, sweet corn at their local farmer’s market or by visiting a farm. OFFMA’s Find a Farm locator can help make their search quick and easy.

Sweet Story Ideas: Whether you are writing about how to pick the sweetest corn, bake the perfect corn bread or storing hints, we can put you in touch with experts for interviews and quotes. Also, don’t forget that strawberries are now in season and many consumers are visiting farms to get their hands on this juicy, fragrant fruit.

Something Green

Many couples are opting for the ultimate green wedding by getting married on a farm. As a first step, a couple needs to decide on the farm that’s fit for the special day. Help your audience with their green wedding plans by letting them know about OFFMA’s Find a Farm locator.

How to Entertain Kids this Summer

Summer vacation is quickly approaching and visiting a local farm is a perfect way to enjoy the sunshine with the whole family and keep the kids entertained.

Why visit a farm with the kids?

• It’s an entertaining activity that doesn’t break the bank.
• Keeps kids active: gets them away from fast food and unglued from video games by spending the day in the sunshine playing with the animals and enjoying fresh food. In fact, many farms offer camps for kids that teach them crafts, cooking and farming, all while enjoying the great outdoors.
• Keeps their brains stimulated over the summer by teaching them about nature, fresh food and animals in a hands-on environment.
• There’s something for everyone: while your kids are enjoying pony rides and petting zoos, parents can enjoy the farm’s fresh market and gift shop filled with unique products for every occasion.

By using OFFMA’s Find a Farm locator, parents can quickly find the farm that they are looking for to keep their kiddos happy and entertained in the sun this season.

Four OFFMA Members Triumph at Regional Premier's Award for
Agri-Food Innovation Excellence

The Ontario government recently recognized outstanding individuals in the agri-food sector that are growing innovative ideas that drive the local economy and advance this industry.

Spirit Tree Estate Cidery: The owners of the cidery truly have an eco-friendly spirit. Tom Wilson and Nicole Judge, who opened the upscale artisan cider mill, farm market and wood-fired oven bakery in 2009, run the first winery production facility to use straw bale construction methods in Ontario. The on-farm market is also heated geothermally.

Strom's Farm: The farm grows sweet corn, pumpkins and is a big proponent of providing quality products and exceptional customer service. It also partners with charities to help raise funds. Not only does this help important non-profit organizations, it has also increased the visibility of agri-tourism at the farm. 

Smith's Apples & Farm Market: Located in Bruce County, the orchard is designed to produce top quality fruit on easy-to-pick dwarf apples trees. Owner Steve Smith built this high-density, high production crop of apples and has been selling out quickly and regularly for the last 10 years.  The bonus is that the sales and profits happen right on the farm. As a result of his production practices, Smith's farm is a popular tour destination for families and industry professionals looking to learn more about starting an agri-business from scratch.

Algoma Orchards: What began as a small roadside shed selling freshly-picked apples in 1964 has grown to become a substantial supplier of home-grown fruit to local stores. In fact, by 2009, it moved to a new 100,000-square-foot apple-sizing and packing facility in Clarington, where it installed an on-site water recycling treatment system—a first for any fresh fruit/vegetable packing facility in North America.

What's in Season?

Contact Us

For interviews, recipes/photos or if you would like to visit an OFFMA members’ farm, please contact:

Kathy Khamis
Faye Clack Communications Inc.
905-206-0577 ext. 247
kkhamis@fayeclack.com