Buying Local and Fresh Through the Winter Months

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Author: Hayley Green

Posted: December 28, 2017

Eating fresh local food in the winter can seem impossible, right? There are ways for you to still indulge in those fresh vegetables and fruits over our long draining winter months. Here’s a How to Guide for eating local and fresh!

Thanks to Eat Right Ontario we have some great ideas on buying local below!

Where can I buy local food?

Grocery stores, farmer’s markets, “On-farm” markets where farmers sell their local foods on site.

How can I tell if its local from Ontario?

See if there is a Foodland logo
As your grocery store manager
Check out the availability guide list again here.
You can still support Canadian farmers by buying frozen or canned varieties that have “product of Canada” on the package!

Benefits? Local?

Close to home
Fresh
Well priced
Supports farmers, which helps to preserve farmland and ensure we have a supply of high quality, nutritious food

Thanks to the Culinary Tourism Alliance we have a comprehensive list of Winter Farmer’s Markets!

Winter Farmers Market’s

Thunder Bay County Market
Guelph Farmers Market
Convent Garden Market
St.Jacob’s Farmers Market
Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Barrier Farmers Market
Dufferin Grove Farmers Market
St.Lawrence Farmer’s Market:
Terra At Home Winter Market
Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market

According to Foodland Ontario’s Availability Guide, we can see when Ontario fruits and vegetables are in season! Here are the months December- March broke down to see what is available.

December

Apples
Pears
Beets
Cabbage
Carrots
Cucumber ( greenhouse)
Garlic
Leeks
Lettuce- greenhouse
Mushrooms
Onions (cooking)
Onions (red)
Parsnips
Peppers (greenhouse)
Potatoes
Rutabaga
Sprouts
Squash
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes (greenhouse)

January

Beets
Apples
Rhubarb
Cabbage
Carrots
Cucumber ( greenhouse)
Garlic
Leeks
Lettuce- greenhouse
Mushrooms
Onions (cooking)
Onions (red)
Parsnips
Potatoes
Rutabaga
Sprouts
Squash
Sweet Potatoes

February

Apples
Rhubarb
Beets
Cabbage
Carrots
Cucumber ( greenhouse)
Garlic
Leeks
Lettuce- greenhouse
Peppers (greenhouse)
Potatoes
Mushrooms
Onions (cooking)
Onions (red)
Parsnips
Rutabaga
Sprouts
Squash
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes (greenhouse)

March

Apples
Rhubarb
Beets
Cabbage
Carrots
Cucumber ( greenhouse)
Lettuce- greenhouse
Mushrooms
Onions (cooking)
Onions (red)
Parsnips
Peppers (greenhouse)
Potatoes
Rutabaga
Sprouts
Squash
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes (greenhouse)

Last year, the Greenbelt recommended 40 different open farms to visit for local produce and winter markets. You can see the list here! Just to name a few there are:

Niemi Family Farm

Farm Practice: Certified Organic
Farm Type: Christmas Tree Farms, Nurseries, On-Farm Markets, Winter Markets
Open: Seasonally
Hours: Visit website

DeVries Fruit Farm

Farm Type: On-Farm Markets, Pick-Your-Own, Winter Markets
Open: Year Round
Hours: Visit website

Spirit Tree Estate Winery

Farm Practice: Artisan/Speciality Products
Farm Type: On-Farm Markets, Wine, Beer & Spirits, Winter Markets
Open: Year Round
Hours: Visit website