As Ontario continues to deal with the effects of inflation, hotter and drier weather and labour shortages, farmers say now is more important than ever to support the province’s agricultural sector.
“Supporting local supports our Ontario community as a whole,” Kelty Mackay, a co-owner of Willow Tree Farm in Port Perry, said during a tour of the property on Monday.
“We shop in our towns. Keeping that money here in Ontario, I think, is a really important way for the future for us to guarantee that our land and our people are able to enjoy fruits and vegetables for (the) future.”
Beginning on June 5, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture marked the beginning of local food week — an effort to promote buying food from local vendors and visiting one of the nearly 180 farmers markets in Ontario.
Willow Tree Farm has 150 acres of fields for growing various vegetables and fruits, all of which are handpicked.
“We grow everything from asparagus to rhubarb, green garlic, spinach, all the way through to tomatoes, peppers, radishes, strawberries. Raspberries are grown in high tunnels,” Mackay said.
“In the fall, we have pumpkin squash, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts — pretty much most of the fruits and vegetables you can grow in Ontario.”
During the warmer months, Mackay, her family members and the employees take their fresh produce to markets across Ontario. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they visit the East York Civic Centre and North York Civic Centre, respectively.
“As we pick the crop, the next day it’s into farmers market,” she said while marketing the benefits of Ontario-grown fruits and vegetables.
“You’ll find it much fresher, much sweeter, and also because it’s not shipped often times we’re growing varieties for the flavour.”
Mackay said she and the other owners have tried to embrace sustainability into their farm while also innovating.
One of the newest areas involves high-cane raspberries under a tent, but embedded is a sophisticated network of irrigation and devices that can measure the exact amount of sunlight which in turn dictates the need for covering.
The first yield of raspberries in 2022 was deemed a success, resulting in more berries and a longer growing season. They’re hoping to repeat and expand on that success with blackberries being added to the tunnels.
When it comes to the work itself, it’s not for the faint-hearted.
“We’re very proud to be Ontario farmers and to grow food not only for our family but the families around us. It’s definitely a job that’s done because you love it,” Mackay said.
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