Harvest Hastings

Harvest Hastings is all about celebrating the wonderful area we live. The project began in 2008 and is supported by the farm community and community leaders. Harvest Hastings focuses on the tremendous diversity and richness within the agriculture and forestry in Hastings County, and the potential for increasing the supply of local food and other local products, It is about telling people about farming and forestry and the  farmers and foresters  care for the environment. 

The Harvest Hastings website has a growing number of  producers listed on Local Food/Local Products and Sustainability shows ways of living lightly on the land. It is divided into four related sections Caring for Land, Climate Change, Green Communities, and Local Agriculture. There are news stories, web links, and  audio, video and photos.

The County of Hastings County runs over 100 miles from the Bay of Quinte to North Algonquin Park. It includes Hastings County, the City of Belleville, the City of Quinte West and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.

VISION

A vibrant agricultural community, sustainable agriculture based on ecological principles, healthy ecosystems, and long–term food security for the people of Hastings County.

MISSION

Harvest Hastings promotes sustainable agriculture, our creative agricultural community and local food and other products produced in Hastings County, through celebration, education, marketing, networking initiatives, and programs that build understanding and support from consumers.

OBJECTIVES

Harvest Hastings is a marketing and branding initiative whose principal objective is to promote local food and resource production, and educate the general public (including children) on the availability and merits of consuming local food and other agricultural commodities produced in Hastings County.

Harvest Hastings seeks to develop a vibrant, local food economy, including innovative products, services and experiences for residents and tourist consumers in Hastings and surrounding counties.

Harvest Hastings fosters the creation of infrastructure and distribution networks throughout the supply chain. It recognizes a strong regional food system, which supports sustainable production and broad access to healthy food for its population, is a significant determinant of healthy communities.

Members of Harvest Hastings represent individuals and businesses from all parts of the supply chain and may include representatives from local municipal offices and agriculture and/or economic development offices.

ANNUAL REPORTS

You can download the Harvest Hastings Annual Reports 2012,  2011, 2010, and  2009.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kevin Durkin - (past chair) beef farmer, Hastings Federation of Agriculture

Dale Ketcheson (chair) - cash crop, seed merchant, Soil and Crop Association

Frank Forestell - Hastings Stewardship Council, soil and crop expert 

Andrew Redden - County of Hastings, Economic Development Manager

Henny Bergveld - City of Quinte West Agricultural Committee

Klaasje Bergveld - livestock producer, City of Belleville

Richard Barber - Beef farmer, retired dairy farmers

Al Lafrenière - Black River Farm, tourism operator

Jeff Ferguson - Springbrook Farm, livestock producer

Diane McPherson - Grills Orchards, Bakery

Kirsten Neumann-Stephens, teacher, alpaca farmer

Karen Fischer - advisor, OMAFRA 

Jim Pedersen - Tweed, partnership co-ordinator

MEETINGS

The Harvest Hastings board meets on the third Thursday of every month at the Moira Community Hall, 29 Carson Road, Moira. 

MEMBERS

Members of Harvest Hastings can vote at the annual general meeting, stand for election to the board, and  are invited to take part in events. The 2013 membership fee is $20 basic or $50 enhanced. Please contact the co-ordinator if you would like to have a profile on the website or for  more information.

CO-ORDINATOR

Louise Livingstone, Harvest Hastings co-ordinator  (613) 395-4388, louise [at] tubb [dot] ca (i)nfo [at] harvesthastings [dot] ca, 251 Goods Road, RR#2, Stirling, Ontario K0K3 E0 or Jim Pedersen, Hastings Stewardship Council co-ordinator (613) 478-6875, jim [dot] pedersen [at] ontario [dot] ca (jim [dot] pedersen [at] ontario [dot] ca).

PARTNERS

Harvest Hastings is a partnership between farmers in Hastings County, the Hastings Stewardship Council, the Hastings Federation of Agriculture, the County of Hastings, the City of Quinte West, and the City of Belleville. The Province of Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Government of Canada has also supported Harvest Hastings. Thanks goes to the Municipality of Centre Hastings for providing administrative support.