Discover Top Posts Tagged with #hugafarmer

Absolutely ❤️days like these🐄 w. @jessicajeanfoster #friendswithbenefits #hugafarmer #farmers #blessed

#hugafarmer #farmers #blessed #friendswithbenefits

Did Someone Say It’s World Milk Day ANDD The Start of National Dairy Month!? 🐮🥛🍦 So, if you do nothing else on this hot Friday, drink some milk, eat some ice cream, pet a cow and thank a farmer!

#nationaldairymonth #hugafarmer

#Farm #Vineyard #Orchard #AsianPears #HugAFarmer this place was huge and beautiful!

#vineyard #farm #hugafarmer #orchard #asianpears

Harvest in eastern Washington is coming up quickly!! #hugafarmer #staffoflife #wheat #barley #canola #mustard #wheatland #lincolncounty #highline #reardanwa #farmerswife #farmer #harvest #wheatfarmer #harvestwidow @theplowboy (at Historic Reardan Washington)

#farmerswife #farmer #harvestwidow #staffoflife #hugafarmer #lincolncounty #wheat #reardanwa #highline #wheatland #harvest #canola #barley #wheatfarmer #mustard

UFA baby! Happy Farmer's Day! I'm headed out to visit Pincher Creek UFA! Love on a farmer today! #ufa #ufacooperative #farmersday #farmerpride #farm #farmers #feedus #kissafarmer #hugafarmer #thankafarmer

#farmers #farmersday #kissafarmer #hugafarmer #thankafarmer #feedus #farmerpride #ufacooperative #farm #ufa

#farmersmarkets #eatfresh #buylocal #seeyouSunday #hugafarmer (at North Stafford Farmers Market)

#eatfresh #buylocal #hugafarmer #seeyousunday #farmersmarkets

Heck out their awesome banner! #thegreenthumb #northstaffordfm #farmersmarkets #ilovehotdogs #hugafarmer (at North Stafford Farmers Market)

#hugafarmer #northstaffordfm #thegreenthumb #farmersmarkets #ilovehotdogs

It’s beginning to look a lot like.. Fresh Produce

It’s the beginning of June in Ontario; local farmers are just getting ready to start their first small harvests, and markets are just beginning to open their doors. This week I had the pleasure of meeting a young local third-generation farmer from the Holland Marsh who is excited to walk in the footsteps of her grandparents.

Daniels Farm began planting crops over 70 years ago and it continues to be run by the original couple that started it all. The Daniels family, who came to Canada from Poland, were originally hobby farmers that held a passion for quality fruits and vegetables. It wasn’t long before they began to have more than they could eat on their own, so they would take their homegrown vegetables and fruits to local community farmers markets to sell. Business was booming and they decided to go full-time growing numerous crops year round while holding onto their values of never using herbicides and pesticides on their plants.

I met the Daniels family at their booth at the Annette Village Farmers Market just North of the Bloor West Village. Now into the third generation, their granddaughter, in her twenties, helps all over the farm and selects crops that are ready to eat and brings them to local markets in the Greater Toronto Area to sell.

As we talked further, we discussed about organics and where they stand on the matter. They don’t believe that organic always means healthier or better, and this was due to the location where the organic produce was coming from. If it was being produced in Mexico, they felt that the quality and nutrients wouldn’t be as present compared to a local product, to which I agreed. They also believe in produce being grown naturally without any chemicals being put on or in them. But what they did find problematic was the cost to get certified organic and then follow the rules, put in separate water systems and get licences to be able to sell organic fruits and vegetables. Being that they are surrounded by non-organic farms, they are highly susceptible to having contaminated water runoff or chemicals blow over from neighbouring farms.

The Daniels believe in keeping life and their crops simple and natural; the way nature intended. They aren’t concerned with politics or the environment and wish to just keep farming like they have for 70 years; it’s very admirable. They stay so far from the spotlight that they don’t even have a website or social media account. You can only find them listed on market boards online if you dig deep, so if you want to grab some of their fresh, amazing quality produce, you will have to head to the Annette Village Farmers Market or the Humber Bay Shores Farmers Market when local produce is in season.

It was a great experience meeting passionate farmers who love what they do and I hope that they can continue to farm the way they have for almost three-quarters of a century. With Ontario losing much of it’s farmland daily to housing, commercial and industrial growth, we really need to thank our local farmers for continuing to provide us with the best local ingredients out there. Put farmers and your food first; your health will thank you later.