A Day with Dad at the Farm

Celebrate dad on Father’s Day (June 20) by heading outdoors for a day filled with family fun and entertainment at your local farm.

Here are just some events you can expect:

• Mouth-watering BBQs
• Summer cocktails and wine/beer tastings
• Steam-engine and car displays
• Petting zoos and pony rides for the kids
• Farm markets with enticing, local, fresh produce and meat

Click on ‘Find a Farm’ to chose the farm that’s right for your family-fun adventure.  Whatever you do, just remember to crown dad as king for the day and to seat him at the head of the table.

Strawberry Fields Forever: Enjoy the bounty of spring with the most popular berry fruit in the world – strawberries.  Learn more about how to choose and store this juicy, fragrant, delicious fruit.

Many couples are opting for the ultimate green wedding and are getting married on a farm.

At their peak—available fresh from June to July—cherries are soft and sweet and perfect for snacking. Enjoy the nutritional benefits of this tasty fruit.

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, are the first winery production facility to use straw bale construction methods in Ontario. Also, the on-farm market is 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, Smiths' orchard is designed to produce top quality fruit on easy-to-pick dwarf apples trees. Steve Smith, owner, 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 in demand as a tour destination and for industry professionals to learn more about starting an agri-business from scratch.

Algoma Orchards: Beginning as a small roadside shed selling freshly-picked apples in 1964, Algoma Orchards slowly grew as 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.

Looking to buy fresh produce? With the arrival of warmer weather, farm fresh farmers' markets and on-farm markets are springing up across the province. You can find a farm near you by visiting the Find a Farm locator.

For those that can’t wait to get a hold of fresh-from-the-farm strawberries, simply visit Thames River Melons Ltd. at Nathan Phillips Square farmers’ market and Metro Hall farmers’ market; the vendor offers some of the earliest berries in Ontario because he creates shelters for the plants in the field to help bring them along earlier.