Love Local Ontario Produce
Taste the Freshness of Local Produce!
Ontario is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. Produce Made Simple is your go to resource for information about Ontario’s local produce industry, tips and tricks and inspirational recipes.
October in Ontario: A Bounty of Produce
Ontario is the perfect place to be in October, when harvests are plentiful and so many hardy staples are in season. Apples, in particular, are in rich abundance in October, with so many delicious varieties that will appease any appetite. Easily found across the province in grocery stores and farmers markets alike, they’re the perfect choice to bring a hardy and nutritious edge to any meal!
9 Ways to Warm Up With Ontario Apples
Few foods are as cozy and comforting as warm apple pie. But apples are amazing in a whole variety of warm ways, both sweet and savoury. Keep apples on hand year-round so you can enjoy warm apple goodness any time you like. From crumbles to cakes, breakfast to dinner, apples are the star of the show in these ten incredible recipes.
Caramel Apple Cups
These bite-size treats from Family Bites are packed with chopped apples and drizzled with warm caramel sauce. Baked in graham cracker crusts in a muffin pan, these can be dressed up for Sunday supper or handed out for after school snacks.
Caramel Apple Buttermilk Pancakes
Here’s another fabulous way to get the day started! Fluffy apple pancakes from Rock Recipes with fresh apple slices and warm caramel sauce. A stack of these would please kids of all ages.
Easy Homemade Apple Cider
Warm apples are just as tasty in a glass. This straight-forward apple cider is simmered with cinnamon, cloves and allspice. It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken has this simple recipe to warm you up from head to toe.
Beef Roast with Apples, Tomatoes & Herbs
Apples add a touch of tender sweetness to savoury dishes as well, such as this beef pot roast with apples, tomatoes and herbs from Family Feedbag. Cooked in one pot, this is a simple and satisfying supper.
Apple Bread Pudding with Dark Brown Sugar Sauce
Bread pudding makes a cozy home for tender bits of chopped apple. The warm brown sugar sauce on this bread pudding from The Tasty Gardener makes this delightful dessert a show-stopper.
Upside Down Apple Caramel Cake
This upside down cake looks like the perfect pick-me-up next time guest are stopping by. Clockwork Lemon uses grated apple in this scrumptious cake served warm and drizzled with whipping cream.
Apple and Sage Cornbread Stuffing
Sweet Potato Chronicles does a cornbread stuffing with chopped apples that will blow your mind! Serve with ham, turkey or chicken for a family dinner to please a crowd.
From Field to Plate
The Ontario Food Terminal
The largest wholesale fruit and produce distribution centre (40 acres) in Canada and is a unique asset and public health jewel of Ontario. The terminal site consists of a Farmer’s Market area with 450 stalls, Warehouse units area, office units, a central cold storage that is 100,000 square feet in size, two restaurants and a parking deck providing 550 car-parking spaces while covering 4 acres of Farmers’ Market
stalls. Participants at the Terminal consist of over 5,000 Registered Buyers, 20 Warehouse tenants, 400 Farmers’ Market tenants and 50 Office Tenants
• Over 2.1 Billion pounds of produce distributed annually which is on average 5.7 million
pounds per day
• It is estimated that over one million vehicles enter the Terminal annually
• The OFT is an economic generator, for every dollar of sales, about three dollars was
returned to the Ontario Economy
Read more about the Ontario Food terminal: https://www.oftb.com/
Greenhouse Growing
Greenhouse growers are modernizing agriculture by combining innovation with sustainability. Using advanced technologies like automated climate control, integrated pest management, closed-loop water systems and LED lighting, greenhouse farmers can optimize conditions for their crops to growth year-round.
These indoor growing methods enhance crop quality, yield, consistency, and flavor while minimizing resource usage and environmental impact. Greenhouses also offer flexibility in location, enabling farming in urban areas or regions with unfavorable climates. By shortening the supply chain, produce reaches consumers fresher and faster, reducing food miles and spoilage. Moreover, it fosters food security by ensuring consistent production regardless of external factors. Greenhouse growing is an important part of the sustainable future of agriculture.
Ontario Farms
Ontario’s agri-food sector is the largest and most diverse in Canada, contributing significantly to the provincial economy and food production. Ontario is a major producer of fruits and vegetables in Canada, with over 125 different crops grown on 245,000 acres. Ontario accounts for over one-third of Canada’s total fruit and vegetable production.
Produce Made Simple
Your go-to resource for everything fruits and vegetables!
Produce 101
Produce 101
If you just want to know everything there is about produce, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled all the info you need for your favourite produce.