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.
Spotlight on Ontario Tender Fruit
It’s the season for peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, cherries and grapes
- Ontario nectarines are packed with health benefits! Rich in vitamins A and C, fibre, and antioxidants, they help boost your immune system, support digestion, and promote glowing skin
- If your peaches are still a bit firm, leave them out at room temperature for a day or two until they soften up. Placing them in a paper bag can speed up the ripening process.
- For easy peeling, blanch peaches in boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer them to ice water. The skins will slip off effortlessly.
- Ontario nectarines thrive in our sunny, warm summers and rich soils. Our farmers carefully nurture these trees to produce the sweetest, juiciest nectarines you’ll ever taste
- Early golden plums are rich in antioxidants: boost your immune system and fight off free radicals with these nutrient-packed plums.
- Cherries help you sleep better! Boost your melatonin levels naturally for a good night’s sleep. Say goodbye to insomnia with Montmorency cherries!
- Ripe pears will stay fresh in your fridge for around 5 days.
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.
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.