Family vacations don’t have to mean expensive flights or crowded airports. Some of Ontario’s best summer memories can be found just down the road – around a campfire, at the cottage, wandering a farmers’ market or discovering the farms and food that help feed the province.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s Home Grown campaign is encouraging families to make the most of the final weeks of summer by combining affordable local adventures with Ontario-grown food.
“Whether you’re camping for the weekend, heading to the cottage or simply taking a day trip, Ontario offers incredible opportunities to enjoy great food while discovering the people and places that produce it,” says Larry Davis, farmer and director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “Shopping at farm stands, farmers’ markets or directly from farmers gives families fresh, seasonal food while supporting local farms and rural communities.”
Late summer is one of the best times of year to eat locally. Grocery stores, roadside stands and farmers’ markets are overflowing with Ontario-grown fruits and vegetables including sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches, blueberries, green beans, cucumbers, peppers and potatoes. Add locally raised meat, cheese, eggs or fresh fish and families can create simple, affordable meals with ingredients grown close to home.
For campers, that could mean grilled Ontario sweet corn alongside locally made sausages. At the cottage, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and cheese make an easy lunch, while peaches or blueberries become an effortless dessert around the campfire. Even a roadside picnic can become a memorable meal when it’s filled with food grown just a few kilometres away.
“One of the best parts of eating local is that it connects people with the places they’re visiting,” Davis says. “Many Ontario farms welcome visitors through pick-your-own experiences, corn mazes, farm markets, educational tours and seasonal events. It’s a chance for Ontarians to see where food comes from while creating lasting family memories.”
Across Ontario, visitors can discover attractions that celebrate agriculture and food, from bustling farmers’ markets and agricultural museums to educational destinations like the Children’s Museum in London, where exhibits often explore food, farming and the natural world. Families can also visit local fairs, conservation areas with working farms, orchards and other agritourism destinations that showcase Ontario’s rich agricultural heritage.
Find your local agritourism or farmers’ market adventure using these handy websites.
Summer food adventure facts
- Ontario’s fruit and vegetable harvest changes almost every week through the summer, meaning no two farmers’ market visits are exactly alike.
- Many pick-your-own farms also offer playgrounds, wagon rides, animal encounters or picnic areas, making them fun family day trips.
- Corn mazes begin opening across Ontario in late summer, with many farms creating new designs every year.
- Fall fair season begins in mid-August, with more than 210 agricultural fairs taking place across Ontario each year, offering everything from livestock shows and giant vegetables to home baking, midway rides and local food.
- Farm stands are among the few places where you can often meet the people who actually grew your food.
The OFA’s Home Grown campaign raises awareness of why it’s important to preserve Ontario farmland to produce local food, fuel, flowers and fibre. Learn more and sign up for regular updates on products grown and raised in Ontario at homegrownofa.ca.
Source : OFA