Peterborough Regional Farmers' Market Finds New Home at Quaker Foods City Square

The City of Peterborough welcomes the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market to the Quaker Foods City Square with operations every Wednesday and Saturday from May 3 to Oct. 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.

photo courtesy of the peterborough regional farmer's’ market, website.

The public square on Charlotte Street, just east of Aylmer Street, is well situated in the heart of downtown Peterborough, with convenient access to Peterborough Transit and public parking at the King Street Parkade right next to the Square. The location is linked to the active transportation network with multiple trails and bikeways leading to downtown.

“We’re thrilled to have Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market operating in Quaker Foods City Square. The market fulfills two important roles for our downtown - it provides local produce, prepared food and local artisans’ work, and perhaps more importantly it helps build a sense of community. It will be a great experience to stroll through the Square, pick up some local goodies at the market and meet up with friends and neighbours,” said Town Ward Councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica. 

“We are genuinely excited for this opportunity the City of Peterborough has given us. There is an understanding as to the importance a vibrant urban market can bring to the Peterborough Downtown Core. The site is on the former location of the Wednesday market and many vendors are overjoyed to be returning to a location that had a strong and vibrant place in the city. We look forward to a great summer filled with exciting events, and wonderful seasonal products,” shared Jeff Wagner, chair of the Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Ennismore Man Puts His 1,659-Pound Pumpkin On Display At Toronto Fair

It may be one of the biggest pumpkins Peterborough County has ever seen as Ennismore’s Norman Kyle grew and displayed his 1,659-pound pumpkin at the 2022 Royal Agriculture Winter Fair in Toronto from Nov. 4 to 13.

Kyle has grown a slightly smaller pumpkin that weighed 1,490 lbs. which was his then-biggest grown. Photo courtesy of the Ennismore Garden Club.

“If you did a circumference (measurement) on my pumpkin, it was 16 feet, eight inches,” recalls Kyle. “It’s a huge veggie no question.”

Kyle is no stranger to growing larger-than-life vegetables as he has grown a pumpkin that weighed 1,490 lbs. His four-pound tomato and 35-pound rutabaga are two other grown produce that accompanies his massive pumpkin.

The Ennismore man has grown giant vegetables for fifteen years. It started as a retirement project that quickly turned into a passion.

He belongs to the Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario, a non-profit group of vegetable growers.

Kyle says this year’s prized pumpkin grew from a seed which came from a pumpkin grown within the group.

“One thing about our organization is that they share everything. All kinds of information. What’s working good, we pass it along.” he explained. “I can’t honestly tell you that there are any secrets. If you ask a question to another grower, he is only too happy to provide the answer to you.”

For beginners growing their own giant vegetables, Kyle says to remember that soil is a major component.

“I use compost. I probably add to my garden between five and ten cubic yards of compost every year. Everything is pretty well organic that we use,” says Kyle. “Get some good soil, get a good seed and away you go.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Year-Round Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market Moves Indoors at Peterborough Square

The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market (PRFM) is continuing indoors to the lower level of Peterborough Square announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market.

The PRFM operates year-round, offering customers a variety of products from local artisans and farm products from third-party verified farmers and food prepared by local chefs and restaurants.

“Produce is so abundant at this time of year, especially greens and root vegetables. We are excited to continue offering local food at this time of year along with so many other amazing farmers at the market,” said Erin Bodashefsky of Foragers Farm.

The dining area and kids zone return to the indoor market space so families can bring their young ones to play in the space and enjoy a coffee, snack or lunch.

The market space is located on the lower level of the mall beside Princess Gardens retirement home.

“I love moving indoors to this space because it is so bright and friendly and not only a place to get amazing local products, but also a community hub to chat with friends and other vendors,” says Jillian Marshall of Bittersweet Botanicals. 

Underground mall parking (entrance off Charlotte Street, East of Water Street) is free every Saturday and City street parking surrounding Peterborough Square is also free of charge.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Cornish Family Named Peterborough's 2022 Farm Family of the Year

The Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce announced the Cornish family as this year’s Farm Family of the Year on Tuesday.

The Cornish family. Photo courtesy of The Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

This award recognizes a farming family that has demonstrated good farming practices, an interest in the farming community and interest/participation by in their farm’s operation.

The family is made up of Kevin Cornish, Janet Dawson and their two sons Liam and Lucas. They operate Indian River Acres, located at 2275 Indian River Line in Indian River.

This 93-acre farm is where the Cornish’s grow and sell vegetables and fall decor items. They operate on a 12-month sustainable farming cycle that includes crop rotations, cover crops and selecting varieties that minimize pests and disease.

Every year, they grow 12 acres of sweet corn, five acres of pumpkins, squash and gourds, approximately 15,000 garlic bulbs and 1.5 acres of other tender vegetables (pickling cucumbers, field cucumbers, beans, asparagus, beets, lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini). They also sell eggs from their 99 free-range egg layers, offering them to customers who sign up for weekly pick-up.

The award will be presented at the Business Excellence Awards event at the Showplace Performance Centre on Oct. 19.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Local Farmer Heading To Ukraine To Help Provide Food To Areas Destroyed By Russian Attacks

Local man David Black will leave his own farm in Stirling behind and take off on Thursday to help operate a tomato farm in Polonne, Ukraine that provides seedlings to areas of the country that have been destroyed by Russian occupation.

David Black ( right, green jacket) with a group of refugees he helped to transport on his last trip. Photo courtesy of David Black.

Thursdays trip will not be Black’s first trip of the year to aid Ukraine.

Black travelled to Poland for about three weeks in March and, with a friend, volunteered to transport those fleeing Ukraine away from the Poland/Ukraine border.

After driving thousands of kilometers across Europe, Black decided that the 140km/s speed limits weren’t for him. His girlfriend also pointed out that joining the army may not be a good option for the semi-retired Private Investigator.

“What I can do is farm,” he said.

The Ukrainian Government has exempted farmers from military duty, though Black points out that many are still volunteering.

“They’re exempt from fighting, but there’s going to be a lot that say ‘well this is the right thing to do, this is my country.’”

Black reached out to friends he made during his last trip, and spread the word that the was willing to farm.

He received an email from a woman, written completely in Ukrainian. While he does not speak the language he recognized the word ‘ферма’ which means farm.

He contacted a young Ukrainian woman he transported to Germany and she has become his translator.

That mystery email lead him to connect with a family farm in Pollone, a town located between Lviv and Kyiv that was in need of help.

This farm grows tomato seedlings, which are then shipped to agricultural areas of Ukraine that have been destroyed by Russian bombs and fighting, in hopes to restore food production.

A local farm worker unloads Ukrainian-made fertiliser from a truck to use on a wheat field near the village of Yakovlivka after it was hit by an aerial bombardment outside Kharkiv. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Thomas Peter.

Black says the Ukrainian people he met on his last trip made such a lasting impact on him, he knew as soon as he left that he would be back.

When he finishes this trip, which he says will be three weeks long, he will return to his farm in Stirling to work what might be considered busy season in Canadian farming.

When that is over he says he will return to Ukraine for a third time to farm again.

During this trip he will bring with him a suitcase full of medical supplies and letters to Ukrainian children written by children at a local elementary school.

“The teacher asked if I could bring these letters with me and I thought it would be an absolute honor, to arrive with supplies in one hand and letters in the other.”

Initially, Blacks plan was to take a train from Lviv to Polonne though due to recent bombings in Lviv the trains have temporarily stopped. If they are not running by the time he arrives he plans to make the long trip via bus.

Black has been told that there is one farm hand there that took one year of English in high school.

“I think by the time I come back I’ll speak Ukrainian and they’ll speak English.”

Anyone that wishes to donate to David’s trip(s) can do so by sending an ETransfer to black.david100@gmail.com

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough Regional Farmers' Market Hosts First Outdoor Market Of The Season

The Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market (PRFM) has moved outside for the season, with their first outdoor market being held on Wednesday.

Martin, owner of La Mesita Restaurante. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

“We are so excited to be back,” said Martin, owner of La Mesita Restaurante. “It was a long winter with COVID and everything. This market feels like it’s going to be back to normal.”

The PRFM operates in the courtyard of Peterborough Square every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m May - October.

@ptbo_canada Nothing beats a Wednesday morning Market.. except maybe a Saturday morning Market? #farmersmarket #PTBOFarmersMarket #market #freshfood #dayinthelife #PTBOCanada #Veggies #HealthyEating ♬ original sound - sped up audios :)

They are a verified Farmers’ Market, which means that Farm vendors are certified by MyPick. MyPick ensures that farmers are growing 100 per cent of what they are selling.

At the PRFM, Sixty percent of vendors are primary producers, selling farm-grown products. The remaining forty per cent include bakers, prepared food vendors, artists and community groups.

For more information about PRFM visit www.ptboregionalfarmersmarket.org.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Lakefield Farmers Market Accepting Vendor Applications

The Lakefield Farmers Market is now accepting applications for vendors for the 2022 market season.

Employees at the Lakefield Farmers Market 2021. Photo courtesy of Lakefield Farmers Markets.

They are specifically in search of agriculture vendors with special interest in fruit vendors or agricultural vendors with products that are not already being sold at the market.

The market website includes a complete list of vendors already selling in 2022.

There is a non-refundable application fee of $25 that must be paid at the time of application and be sent in along with any necessary supporting documents.

If applicants produce food products they must also send your Health Unit certification. Agricultural vendors must provide their MyPick certification or proof they are applying for this for the upcoming season. Applicants must also provide proof of insurance at the time of application.

The market website also includes an updated Vendor Handbook that applicants should review.

Applications will be accepted until Feb. 28.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough Regional Farmers Market is Heading Indoors for the Season

The Peterborough Regional Farmers Market (PRFM) is folding it’s tables and moving inside for their winter market on Saturday.

The market will be inside Peterborough Square from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday until spring.

The indoor market will feature both new and returning vendors.

“Most of our indoor vendors are people who are also outdoor vendors,” said Emily Shapiera, market administrator. “It’s still busy inside, there’s a lot of crossover.”

Shapiera points out that many farmers who sell fresh produce at the outdoor market don’t have much product to sell during the winter months, though some shift to sell produce and other products that are in season.

The winter market features vendors selling things like potatoes, apples and root vegetables as well as farmers selling meat, eggs honey and maple syrup.

The PRFM is one of the only farmers markets in Ontario that did not have to shut down throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s been really amazing to continue to be open during COVID,” Shapiera said. “There’s all these local businesses that have been really struggling with what’s going on. The market is great because it’s this venue for local businesses to come and sell and it’s an easy way for the people of Peterborough to come and support local. You’re giving your money to someone in the community and it’s going back into the community - it’s a great cycle and I think it’s more important than ever these days.”

COVID-19 protocols will be followed at the indoor market.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Award-Winning Teen Farmer to Showcase Lamb For Second Consecutive Title

Young farmer Natalie Dunford is gearing up for another successful year for the Peterborough Exhibition Junior Market Lamb show this Wednesday.

Natalie Dunford poses with her lamb. Natalie and her family also sell fresh sweet corn and pumpkins from their farm in Cavan. Photo courtesy of Sarah Dunford.

Growing up just down the road from her grandfather’s farm in Cavan, the 14-year-old Dunford has been farming her whole life. She has been showing sheep through 4-H — a non-profit geared towards teaching youth leadership and life skills — for six years and has been selling market lambs at auction for three years.

Last year, Dunford’s homegrown lamb placed first and was bought by Joe Donaldson from Smokey Joe’s butcher shop.

In past years, the Peterborough Exhibition Junior Market Lamb show has been open to the public with the lambs being auctioned off directly from the ring. Due to COVID-19, this and last year’s auction is online with an in-person show.

“The five kids that have entered lambs this year are exceptional,” said Sarah Dunford, Natalie’s mom. “They all have their own flocks. If it was in person, you could see the work that the kids do.”

To show a lamb, the farmer must “break it in” by getting the animal used to being led around the ring. Natalie has been working with her lamb that she will bring to the show on Wednesday for about a month.

She also helps look after the flock of over 60 lambs daily, performing vaccinations, putting fresh hay in their stalls and any other farm duties.

The money earned from this auction will go towards her post-secondary education says Natalie. The young farmer will attend high school in September and plans on pursuing an agricultural or horticulture education after graduation.

Natalie sits among her flock. Photo Courtesy of Sarah Dunford.

Natalie hopes that people become more aware of the fresh local lamb that is produced in Peterborough County.

“Your food comes from somewhere,” she says. “It may not come from me but it comes from somebody and it is a hell of a lot of work that goes into it.”

Hosted by the Peterborough Agricultural Society, the Ernest Boyles & Sons Ltd Market Steer and Junior Market Lamb Show & Sale begins on Wednesday. The online auction can be viewed here.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

The McLean Family Selected As 2019 Farm Family Of The Year

The Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce have announced the McLean family, of 2191 16th Line, Lakefield as the 2019 Farm Family of the Year.

In January 1991, Sam and Jane McLean purchased the farm and moved in with their two small children, Ben and Erin. In 2010, with Ben and Erin’s increasing involvement, the McLeans purchased a second berry farm, Buckhorn Berry Farm, one concession north of the McLeans’ home farm. 

The McLean Family

They now work both farms, harvesting strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, snap peas, beans, asparagus, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, pumpkins, peppers, currants, rhubarb, squash and zucchini; they also produce maple syrup, jam, pickles, and preserves.

Aerial view of farm

At McLean Berry Farm, the main store offers produce from the farm as well as other local farms. Each spring, the McLeans welcome families from all over to their sugarbush and sugar shack for their annual Maplefest. 

The sugar shack

At Buckhorn Berry Farm, the family offers two on-farm stores, pick your own strawberries and raspberries, and other fruits and vegetables. 

The family also hosts the annual Pumpkinfest, attracting 13,000 visitors in 2019. Each farm also sells to local grocery stores and attends various farmers’ markets throughout the region.

The family uses a number of growing techniques including trickle irrigation, day neutral strawberries, fall raspberries and high tunnels in order to extend and improve their growing season and provide fresh fruits and vegetables each season.

The McLean family is actively involved in volunteering in the farming community, including service on the Haliburton Kawartha Maple Syrup Producers Association, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Farmers’ Market Ontario, and the Lakefield Farmers’ Market.

In 2017, McLean Berry Farm was awarded the Tourism/Hospitality Award and Erin McLean received the Young Professional of the Year Award from the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. 

The award will be presented at the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture Annual Banquet on Friday, November 22nd, at the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.