The most unique farm to table experiences across Ontario

Jul 09, 2024

It’s no secret that modern society has become disconnected from what it takes for a tomato to make it to the dinner table. Farm to table dining rebuilds that bridge in a way that benefits everyone involved from the person who planted the seed to you, enjoying a delicious meal. Not to mention the fact that eating food in-season means you’re consuming everything at its flavour and nutritional peak while reducing your carbon footprint.

Nowhere is the beauty of farm to table dining more wholeheartedly embraced than in Ontario. Every summer, restaurants, chefs and farmers’ markets across the province open their doors, prep their kitchens, and roll out their tables to offer visitors some of the most delectable bites the province has to offer.

In addition to giving you a taste of the local produce, helping reconnect people with where and how their food is grown also supports the local economy. “One of our main goals is to support other farmers who are our neighbours and friends in our community,” says Mike Higgins, co-owner of Lynn River Farm’s Graze restaurant, which offers diners the opportunity to experience where their food is grown firsthand. “It’s real, hard work, growing food.”

Here are some can’t-miss farm to table experiences across Ontario to enjoy this summer.

Click here to see more...

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.