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Ontario Farms Fill Your Thanksgiving Table

Ontario Farms Fill Your Thanksgiving Table
Oct 03, 2024
By Jean-Paul McDonald
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Fresh Local Produce Stars in Ontario’s Fall Festivities

Ontario’s farms are bustling with activity, providing an abundance of fresh produce just in time for Thanksgiving. This season, take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local flavour and tradition that define Ontario’s agricultural landscape.

October 7 to 13 is 2024 Ontario Agriculture Week, a perfect prelude to Thanksgiving, offering a time to reflect on and celebrate the vital role of agriculture in sustaining and enriching our lives.

Ontario farmers are pivotal in producing an array of products from fruits and vegetables to dairy and meats, all essential for a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

Local markets come alive with the hues of autumn, offering everything from apples and pears to squash and pumpkins, all ripe for your holiday table.

These markets are not just places to shop; they are community gatherings where you can meet the growers and understand the journey of your food from farm to table.

For your Thanksgiving dinner, consider the classics: roasted Ontario turkey, accompanied by a medley of side dishes such as mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, and homemade cranberry sauce sourced from local cranberry bogs.

The indulgence continues with desserts like apple crisps and pumpkin pies, crafted from locally harvested ingredients.

This holiday season, the OFA’s Home Grown campaign is in full swing, aiming to educate and encourage consumers to support local farmers.

Photo Credit: pexels-rufina-rusakova


Trending Video

Turning Better Feed Into Better Herds: Innovation in Forage Harvesting

Video: Turning Better Feed Into Better Herds: Innovation in Forage Harvesting


What happens when a dairy farmer gets frustrated with equipment that isn’t doing its job? In this episode, we sit down with Horning Manufacturing founder Leon Horning to hear how a problem in the feed bunk led to a globally recognized forage equipment company.

Born out of a third-generation dairy operation in Pennsylvania, Horning Manufacturing started with one goal: helping cows get more nutrition from silage. Leon shares how his father, Leon Sr., built the first kernel processor rolls in the family farm shop after seeing whole corn kernels pass through cows undigested — costing valuable feed efficiency and milk production.

We explore the company’s journey from a side project on the farm to an international manufacturer serving dairy farmers, beef operators, and custom harvesters around the world. Along the way, Leon discusses the evolution of pull-type forage harvesters, the engineering behind Horning’s “plug-and-play” kernel processor kits, and why reducing downtime during harvest can make or break a season.

The conversation also dives into Horning’s row-independent corn heads, practical equipment design, real-world customer stories, and how innovations born in the field continue to shape the company today.

Whether you’re a producer, equipment enthusiast, or simply love stories of grassroots innovation, this episode offers a fascinating look at how one farm family turned necessity into industry-changing technology.

Contact Horning Manufacturing today at 717-354-5040
https://www.horningmfg.com/