Amazing local produce from Boreal Farms in Thunder Bay Ontario
Evalisa McIllfaterick of Root Cellar Gardens uses traditional, organic and ecologically-minded practices in her everyday farming. With her goal of having items available all year round, McIllfaterick knows a thing or two about growing fresh, local produce. You can find Root Cellar Gardens at the Thunder Bay Country Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Fresh Market (Wednesdays). THUNDER BAY – With Ontario Agriculture Week underway and Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s a great time to buy delicious, locally-grown and harvested food and beverages for festive meals to enjoy with family and friends.
“The harvest season provides us with an abundance of local, fresh seasonal foods and beverages. During Ontario Agriculture Week and Thanksgiving, let us give thanks by supporting and celebrating not only Ontario’s bounty, but also those who grow, raise and harvest the delicious, local products that we enjoy,” states Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Celebrate the harvest this year with these quick tips:
Turkey Tips – Roast or barbecue a locally-raised turkey and make it the centrepiece of your meal. Add some extra flavour by seasoning your turkey with local garlic, thyme and oregano. Learn the best way to cook a turkey at Turkey Farmers of Ontario’smakesitsuper.ca.
Give Back – Help give all Ontario families the opportunity to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal by donating food items, money or time to your local food bank, food program or another charitable organization.
Fall’s Bounty – Autumn in Ontario means a wide variety of fresh, local fruits and vegetables including apples, cranberries, potatoes and kale. It’s also when grapes are harvested to make Ontario wine. Check out what’s in season now.
Farmers’ Markets – Know where to find local products by visiting a farmers’ market, on-farm market, pick-your-own farm or farmgate producer. Visit Harvest Ontario and Ontario Farm Fresh to learn more about where to buy local.
Toast Local – Ontario is home to approximately 140 craft breweries, more than 200 wineries and 19 licenced cider producers. Raise a glass of local beer, wine or cider around the Thanksgiving dinner table.
Festive Home – Ontario grows a number of plants and flowers that can spruce up your home during the season. Visit pickOntario to find out more about in season plants and flowers such as ornamental indoor cabbage, chrysanthemum and amaryllis.
QUICK FACTS
Ontario’s agri-food industry contributes more than $36 billion to the province’s GDP and supports more than 790,000 jobs.
Ontario Agriculture Week is October 3-9, 2016. Celebrate those who grow, produce and harvest the good things we eat and drink.
Ontario produces 43 per cent of Canada’s turkeys – approximately 72,000,000 kilograms a year.
Find out which nearby restaurants and businesses support local food at Feast Ontario.
