August is the month to explore Hastings County and enjoy the harvest; beans, zucchini, chard, kale, tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, blueberries, raspberries, early apples like Paula red and much more. It is amazing the variety of produce grown locally.
How about going on a local food treasure hunt exploring the countryside and getting to know the farmers. We have eight farmers’ markets in Hastings County all are open on Saturday morning, and many are open on another day during the week. We have more and more farm stands with a mixture of locally grown produce and some with fruits for elsewhere in Ontario.
Farmers are experimenting with growing new varieties, such as blue potatoes, heritage tomatoes and long Japanese beans. Some producers are keen to show you their garden and show you how they grow the vegetables. Check to see when they are open or call to make an appointment.
Find out about the farmgate stands. Go to Where to Buy and put in Farmgate Stand. Click on the dot and get more information about the farms and the markets. Some of them are mentioned below.
Sue Wander Vey and the Vivialis family have a new farm stand on Marlbank Road.
Carson Tribble has his Marshhill Farm stand at the Reid’s Dairy car park and outside his farm on Marsh Hill Road. Janet Hamilton has her long establish farm stand on Hamilton Road and Sue Vander Bosch of WillowCreek Farms has stands at Tucker’s Corners and the farm on the Frankford Road. Jeff Grimson has a farmgate stand on Will Johnson Road, Frankford and is also at the Front Street Market. Janet and Henry Ellenburger grow potatoes and vegetables at their farm in Coe Hill. You can call ahead and get vegetables from Bea Heissler at Natural Themes Farms or Linda and Frank Huizenga at Fralin Acres on the Moira Road.
You can meet Jarrett Switzer at the Bancroft Farmers Market or call him and go direct to the farm. Diana McPherson of Grills Orchards has new season apples, vegetables, local meat, fresh baking and homemade fudge. You can take a pick at their orchard and see how the apples are ripening. West Moira Orchards on Moira Road have vegetable and fruit, and The Apple Store on Highway 14 north of Stirling has apples, Maple Dale Cheese, and meats and frozen pies. You can still get blueberries for Kellys Berries in Maynouth and high bush blueberries for Wilson’s Organic Blueberries in Tweed. Please remember to call ahead. Brambleberry Farm at near Wooler has a variety of berries,
Nadine and Diane Richter have sweet corn at Richter Greenhouse at Foxboro and Tony Singarajah has a corn stand just south of Tweed. He is hosting a Sweet Corn Fiesta on August 30 with live music and lots of games.
Elly Finlayson-Blanchard has good crop of many types of garlic this year. She is at the Belleville Farmers’ Market most Saturdays and you can also order garlic online at http://www.railwaycreekfarms.com.