With summer in full swing, so too is the sweet season of Ontario fruits — fresh from the orchard, grove, bush, field or vineyard.
Mid-June harvesting begins
Local fruit season starts in early to mid-June with the much-anticipated strawberries, then succulent berries, tender fruit, tree fruit and more right follow very soon after.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s Home Grown campaign raises awareness of why it’s important to preserve Ontario farmland to produce local food, fuel, flowers and fibre.
Support Canadian, support local
Buying local fruit not only supports Ontario agriculture — a critically important sector of the economy — but it is also better for you and for the planet. The moment fruit is harvested, its nutrient value begins to deteriorate. So the closer to home we can grow and harvest these crops, the tastier and healthier they are and the lower our environmental footprint, including fewer climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions.
Popular Ontario fruits and their peak harvesting season:
- Strawberries — peak strawberry season is June and July;
- Cherries — their short season ends soon – July and August.
- Peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums —July through September.
- Berries — peak months, July and August (blueberries, raspberries and watermelon, a member of the berry family);
- Cranberries — from Muskoka and Ottawa area – Aug. to Sept.);
- Apples and pears — from late August, Sept. to November;
- Grapes —a lot of Ontario grapes are grown for winemaking, but table grapes are also available, August and September.
There is nothing quite like the taste of fresh Ontario fruit – the flavour and sweet taste is a reminder of the beauty and bounty of Ontario agriculture. Ontario is lucky to have the weather, the environment and the soil to grow such a wide range of fresh fruit.
And as importantly, it is important to support campaigns promoting to preserve farmland for food production and other agricultural uses. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.
Ontario Federation of Agriculure
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