Eating Local In Ontario During The Winter

At the Terra Milton Winter Farmers Market

I get a warm tingly feeling when I think back to the days of early morning sunrises and Saturday Farmers Markets. Strolling through the farmers market on a Saturday morning, seeing what fresh harvest the farmers have pulled for the week, is really such a treasure. A treasure that unfortunately only lasts a couple of months for us here in Canada. 

Wouldn't it be so amazing to have access to all the local fruits and vegetables all year round?!

Well...you actually can! They may just not be available in the same way that they would be during the spring and summer months. 

What am I talking about? Preserves! Not just jams and jellies but fermented and pickled vegetables! This is a great way for Ontario produce to not only live all year round but increase its nutritional value as well. 

During the summer season you can pick up extra vegetables (that way they are in season and a) taste better and b) are at a good price) and then pickle them yourself to last you through the winter. Another great option is to support local fermenters and producers by buying their preserves. 

I also rely a lot of local food co-ops and farm stores who sell local vegetables and natural products. like micro greens, milks, cheeses, and meats. After trying and talking to many different vendors, I have grown to have a few favourites and go-to's. So for you guys who are wondering what and where to shop, I've compiled a list of all the spots I shop at regularly and trust!  
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Fermented Products & Preserves ​

• ​​Kitchen Kuttings- is a speciality store in Elmira, ON that offers an assortment of homemade jams, pickles, preserves, and their homemade summer sausages. Find them at: their home store at 2 Arthur St. South in Elmira or at other locations like Top Market Family Farms and Martin’s Apple Family Farm Store.

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• ​Culture City - Along with their famous and delicious tempeh, Culture City has a variety of different preserves like Kimchii, Sauerkraut, pickled kohlrabi, and pickled watermelon radishes and many more! ​My go-to: Chickpea and Yellow Pea Tempeh. Their Probiotic Sauerkraut is also a favourite of mine (when available). Find them at: Winter Terra Milton Farmers Market

• ​​St. Jacobs Foods - they make naturally fermented Sauerkraut! Just cabbage and salt, the way it should be. Find them at: Martin's Fruit Farm Stores

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• Spade & Spoon - Adam and Blythe make irresistible and original preserves that are grown by them! They have a wide selection to choose from pickled beans to strawberry rhubarb jam to pico de gallo salsa and so much more! Find them at: Sorauren and Dufferin Grove Farmers Market. 

 

• Cathy’s Kombucha - Ditch the pop and start drinking Kombucha! Kombucha is essentially fermented tea from a colony of bacteria and yeast. It is a probiotic beverage that aids in digestion and gut health. Cathy’s Kombucha is local and made right here in Ontario. They have a variety of artisanal blends, all natural, and they taste amazing! My favourites are Vinnie’s Choice & Ginger Peach. Find them at: Winter Terra Milton Farmers Market

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• ​​Chocosol - crafts truly amazing and real chocolate! Their chocolate is made from cacao that is organically and shade-grown, sourced directly from Indigenous communities and forest gardens in the Lacondon Jungle of Chiapas, Mexico and the Oaxacan mountains of Southern Mexico. Their vision is to "create an ecologically and socially just food system through chocolate, coffee, maize, and conviviality." Their Vanilla Sea Salt, Raw Sinful Vanilla, and Darkness are my top three picks! They sell their chocolate through various retailers and farmers markets but they also have a shop in Downtown Toronto (1131 St. Clair Ave. W.) where they do Masa pop-ups on Fridays and Saturdays where they offer freshly made tamales, tortilla pizzas, and more! Definitely worth checking out. 

MicroGreens, Sprouts & Seeds

Talk about #plantpower! Greens, sprouts, and seeds are a great source of protein, fiber, and nutrients. Plus the best thing about them? They are available ALL year long!

Micro Greens for example can have up to 30 times more concentrated nutrients than their mature counterparts. They are great to add to salads, smoothies, and sandwiches!

Flaxseeds add a pleasant and nutty taste to food and they are also highly nutritious. They contain the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), fiber, and plant lignans. Thus, incorporating flaxseeds into your diet can help lower blood cholesterol levels, moderate blood sugar, and improves laxation (bowel movements).

Sprouts are  beans, seeds, and grains which have been soaked in water and then rinsed twice daily for three to five days. As a result of this process, sprouting releases the seed’s stored energy and make it more available for digestion. Sprouts are higher in protein, fiber, and contain more available minerals, vitamins, and amino acids than non-sprouted beans, seeds, and grains and often more nutrients than mature plants!

Eastern Woodlands Trading Co. Stand at the Terra Milton Winter Farmers Market

• Eastern Woodlands Trading Co. - Michael is an amazing individual and I consider him a friend. His lifestyle and mindset communicates through the work he does in producing his greens. He uses innovative and efficient farming techniques to grow a large variety of nutrient dense vegetable greens. My favourites are the broccoli and pea shoots!

       *Find them at the Winter Terra Milton Farmers Market on Saturdays, and Moksha Yoga Burlington on Thursdays (6-                    10pm)

• ​Kind Organics - They sell everything from microgreens, sprouts, alfafa, wheat grass, baby greens, tea blends, edible flowers to fresh herbs. Kind Organics encourages you to love your body and eat more nutrient dense foods like our sprouts and fresh organic greens! Favourite: Spicy Lentil Crunch 

        *Find them at the Sorauren Farmers Market, Dufferin Grove’s Farmers Market, Brickworks Farmers Market, St. Lawrence            Farmers Market, and Wychwood Farmers Market

• Boyle Bros Market Garden - They strive to deliver the freshest possible naturally grown specialty greens to ontario farmer's markets at a price comparable to packaged greens found in regular grocery stores. They grow naturally, using absolutely no pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers, just OMRI certified fertilizers.

         *Find them at the Winter Terra Milton Farmers Market on Saturdays

Flaxy vendor stand at the Winter Terra Milton Farmers Market

• Flaxy - I recently discovered this product. Who knew flaxseeds could actually be exciting, fun, and flavourful! Their line of products are made with Canadian grown organic flax seeds and other natural ingredients that come in a range of sweet and savoury flavours. They have interesting and fun flavours like Sweet pepper, Chilli garlic, Vanilla palm, Saffron date, and Maple cinnamon. Flaxy is easy to mix into a wide variety of recipes and snacks such as cereals, yogurt, mashed potato, rice, pasta, salad, pancakes, smoothies, and even ice cream! ​Locations: Winter Terra Milton Farmers Market​

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• Ricardo's Ontario RAW Hemp Protein - In today's diet, many of us lack the daily fiber intake we need! In just one serving of RAW 4 in 1 Superfood (40g), you get an amazing 10.4g of dietary fibre. Plus all of Ricardo's products are fresh Ontario-grown hemp products!​ ​Locations: Winter Terra Milton Farmers Market, St. Jacobs Farmers Market

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Ricardo at his stand at the Winter Terra Milton Farmers Market

Mushrooms 

Fun-Gi Mushrooms - sources only locally grown and certified organic mushrooms. They offer White buttons, Cremini (brown buttons), Portobello, Oyster, Shiitake and Enoki varieties. Try one of their free recipes offered to bring these healthy and versatile mushrooms into your kitchen. ​​Locations: Winter Terra Farmers Market - Milton & Hamilton

Forbes Wild Foods - The have a variety of locations across Ontario. I found them at the Dufferin Grove Farmers Market. They are purveyors of Canada's largest selection of high quality wild foods. At their locations you will find unique wild edible foods that are harvested by expert foragers in remote regions across the country, from the coast of Labrador to the islands of British Columbia. You can visit their website to find what vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, berries, and other products they may have: http://wildfoods.ca/

Honey 

Nith Valley Apiaries Honey at Legacy Greens in Kitchener, ON

• Nith Valley Apiaries - Amazing, amazing honey! The people behind Nith Valley Apiaries
  believe in working within sustainable local food systems and place a high value on supporting the ecosystem, local farmers, and community. They offer a variety of healthy products such as bee pollen, propolis, and small-batch specialty flavoured honeys. ​Find them at: 1041 Christner Rd, New Hamburg, ON and Legacy Greens 

• Pinecreek Honey -  I love supporting local farmers but even more so because these are good, kind people who believe in what they produce. Pinecreek honey is fantastic unpasteurized wildflower honey that is gathered from Ontario's Niagara Escarpment region, far from corn and soy fields. Find them at: Terra Milton Farmers Market

 

• Bee's Universe- John and Irina Alecu keep bees on their farm near Innisfil, and in other bee yards close to wild flower fields and conservation areas. They sell honey, honey comb, bee pollen, propolis (raw and tincture), fresh frozen royal jelly, and beeswax candles. Find them at: Dufferin Grove Farmers Market 

 

Greenhouse Vegetables

A great option for us during the winter months. Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) have a selection of Beefsteak tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers to choose from! 

• OGVG - They grow cucumbers, beefsteak tomatoes, and sweet bell peppers. You can find more information about them on their page: http://ogvg.com/

 

• Elmira’s  Own Tomatoes - premium tomatoes grown right here in Elmira, ON. These tomatoes are my saviour during the winter months. Elmira’s Own Tomatoes are grown in an environmentally friendly, climate controlled greenhouse with natural pesticide free conditions. Check out their map of all the retail locations in Ontario where you can find them! Visit their site: https://www.elmirasown.com/locatetoms​​

Meat 

Though I am generally on a plant based diet, I do incorporate some meat about 2-3 times a week. When I do eat meat I make sure it is locally raised meat. Knowing the farmer and their raising methods puts me at ease because I know my meat is hormone or antibiotic free. Here are a few farmers i trust:

• Top Market Meats - They are fourth generation local family farmers that believe in bringing local meats and farming products from their farm yard to your family's kitchen table! ​Locations: Winter Terra Milton Farmers Market, their farm (887 Splint Rd, Ariss), Top Market Family Farm Store in Cambridge.

• Murray’s Farm - Murray’s hogs are fed a pure, clean, non-GMO, natural and healthy diet of oats, peas, barley, and green hay; plus, whatever natural goodies they root up while foraging around the farm. No corn. No soy! Locations: Terra Milton & Hamilton Farmers Market and Evergreen Brickworks Market  

• Oakridge Acres - provides a wide range of antibiotic-free naturally and ethically raised meats. They also raise and sell bison.

• truLocal -  a great alternative to busy on-the-go people! truLocal lets you shop for clean, locally sourced meat products online and have everything delivered right to your door! ​

Me outside my door with my truLocal meat delivery

Eggs 

Eggs are my main source of protein in the summer and winter months. Thankfully they are still available throughout the winter from some local farmers in the area.

Murray's Farm - Offers Heritage Eggs and regular brown eggs. Their eggs come from happy hens so they look better, taste better and are better for you! Murray really cares for his animals so naturally him and his team raise happy, healthy, truly-pastured heritage hens and other poultry. Find them at: Terra Milton & Hamilton Farmers Market and Evergreen Brickworks Market  

Stores like Top Market Family Farms, West End Food Co-op, and The Mustard Seed Co-op also sell local farm fresh eggs. 

Cheese & Non-Dairy Cheese 

• Secret Lands Farm - The farmers at Secret Lands make something truly special. They produce one of the best, healthiest sheep's dairy products and lamb. Find them at the Sorauren and Dufferin Grove Farmers Market with kefir, sheep's milk dairy, yogurt, cheese and lamb. In the summer, I love their Halloumi! ​Find them at: 1595 Dupont or at a various farmers markets: http://www.secretlands.ca/markets/

• Monforte Dairy - Words cannot describe how I feel about this cheese--it’s simply amazing! Every one of their cheeses tells a story. They offer goats milk cheese, sheep milk cheese, Water Buffalo Cheese, soft ripened cheeses and aged ones. Check out their locations here: https://monforteonline.ca/pages/where-to-find-us

• Gunn’s Hill Cheese - Their Brie is Oh-my-goodness-amazing and so is the rest of their award-winning products. The cheeses produced at Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese are truly unique with techniques and recipes learned from the Swiss Alps. Today, there are two full time cheese makers and a team of staff that work diligently to produce some of Canada's finest award winning cheeses. Find them at: Terra Milton Farmers Market + 300 other locations across Ontario

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• MountainOak Cheese -the Van Bergeijks continue the tradition of great-tasting, high-quality, Gouda-style cheeses made with high-quality, fresh milk from their own dairy cows here in New Hamburg, Ontario! Find them at: 3165 Huron Road, New Hamburg or visit one of their retailers  

Other great producers: The Udder Way, Goats In Motion, Best Baa Dairy, Fifth Town Cheese

Non-Dairy Cheese

• Blossom Bakery - They sell "BooMoo" Cheese at their farmer markets stand.They have a variety of vegan cheese flavours: Boo Brie, Gourmoo, Creme Moo, and Melty Moo. Find them at: The Terra Milton Farmers Market.

Milk & Dairy Products 

The Eby Manor Farm (Full Image rights to: http://ebymanor.ca/our-family-farm/)

• Eby Manor - You can see and taste the difference in every one of Eby Manor’s products. Their dairy comes from the Guernsey cow milk which is naturally higher in Beta-Carotene, Omega 3, calcium and A2 protein (the lesser known A protein). This means that the cows don’t need specially formulated feed to achieve these nutritional benefits. No purer and more naturally wholesome milk than Eby Manor’s! Plus their Chocolate milk is too die for! Find Eby Manor Milk at: Top Market Family Farms, J&P Grocery, Martin's Apple Family Farm 

 

• Sheldon Creek Dairy - They produce and bottle their own  non-homogenized milk completely from their our farm. This means you are getting the freshest product possible! Their products range from Whole Milk, Yogurt, Kefir and Labneh. Find them at: Terra Milton & Hamilton Farmers Market

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Ice Cream 

FourAll Tasting Room from my visit last summer

Have you ever tasted ice cream that actually tasted like its actual flavour? Not “kind of like strawberry,” I mean like “real strawberry.” Well this is what these producers are doing, creating ice cream with real ingredients for real flavour!
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• FourAll Ice Cream - I had the chance to meet and talk to Anjoa, founder and owner of Four All. She really believes in what she is doing and it shows through her ice cream. Her ice cream is made using all-natural, locally-sourced ingredients like Eby Manor milk! I love FourAll because they are always rotating their flavours and I can always trust that they are using only the best ingredients; its never a dull moment with them! Find them at: Their Tasting Room at 141 Whitney Place, Kitchener and other retail locations like Legacy Greens in Downtown Kitchener. 

 

• Ambrosia Pastry &Co.  - Ambrosia makes amazing pastries (it's a well known secret in the Kitchener-Waterloo community) but they also make amazing ice cream! They use ethically sourced products from all over the world and use Ontario local products for their seasonal flavours. Their Chuno (Peru-origin) Chocolate Ice cream took me back to Peru with just one bite. It was like I was nine years old again, having ice cream at the ice cream parlour around the corner of my house; what an experience! Find them at: Their store (only open on Saturdays) at 150 Roger St, Waterloo, ON.

 

• Bluewater Creamery - Their aim is to give customers a “farm to cone” experience. They are devoted to the craft of making small batch, hand crafted ice cream and frozen treats in seasonal flavors! They also always strive to use local and farm fresh ingredients, and the highest quality and specialty sourced vanilla. Find them at: The Guelph Farmers Market

 

• Foundry Ice Cream - Another great small batch ice cream producer. Foundry Ice cream works with fresh Ontario cream and milk to produce over forty original flavours. They are also committed to using seasonal ingredients from regional Hamilton producers in its rich French-style ice cream! Find them at: Terra Winter Farmers Market 

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Non-Dairy Milk 

So I make my own almond milk. Some people think wonder why I go through the trouble of making my own when I can just buy almond milk from the store. The truth is that commercial almond milk is NOT anything like the real stuff. Store almond and nut milks are just a health scam; there really isn’t much nutritional or health benefit from these products as they are heavily diluted with water and have added preservatives to make it last longer.

Now, not everyone has the time or the patience to make their own almond milk but that is why there are some great local producers that can make it for you! 

• Mylko -  MYLKO is s a producer of organic non-dairy mylks in glass bottles! They offer an honest product without the addition of unnecessary additives. If you don’t have time to make your own almond milk, MYLKO is definitely a great alternative. ​

Bread 

Yes, there is a difference from the bread you get at the store and the bread you get at the Farmer’s Market! And I will highly encourage you to start ditching commercial bread.

Package/Store Bread is made using refined flour or fortified flours and 20+ other ingredients that have no business being in bread. So, if you haven’t heard of sourdough then let me introduce you to the bread that is going to change the way you see and eat bread!

Sourdough bread is made with wild yeast. It’s dough goes through a period of natural fermentation where the occurring lactobacilli and yeast work together giving sourdough it’s sour and rich taste. Also, the fermentation of Sourdough bread actually makes it more digestible for us! Yay!

After I tried my first sourdough loaf from Park Road Bread, I literally never went back. I even now bake my own loaves! You are most welcomed to dive into a sourdough bread baking journey of your own but if that’s too much for you not to worry, there are some pretty amazing bakers in the area. They will bake you one delicious and fresh REAL loaf of bread:

• Park Road Bread - John, baker, owner, and founder of Park Road Bread is a good friend of mine. I swear I have eaten all of his loaves and every one of them is something magnificent! I have taken his sourdough bread baking workshop and still keep in touch with him regarding my sourdough baking journey. If you ever get the chance, please try his bread! You won' be disappointed. 

• Goodfellows Field to Fork - Ryan and Claudia are amazing individuals who love good food which is why they make good food. Their bakery is this little nook in Rockwood but man is it worth the drive! They make all sorts of pastries as well as their popular sourdough loaves. They also make gluten free sourdough! 

• Prairie Boy - This little bread shop in downtown Toronto is my little gem when I am in the city. They make amazing baguettes and different types of sourdough loaves. Prairie Boy Bread uses only organic flour and grains, sea salt, water and a natural sourdough culture.

• Golden Hearth Bakery - A KW gem! Golden Hearth Bakery was my go-to bakery when I studied at Laurier and lived in Waterloo. They make everything from scratch including their croissants (too die for btw). They also use the finest quality local and organic ingredients and do not use preservatives or artificial ingredients.

• Elora Bread Co.- is a small-batch artisan bakery based out of Elora, ON. They focus on traditional-method naturally-leavened (sourdough) bread. All of our breads are handcrafted from start to finish using quality organic, natural, and local ingredients. 

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• De la terre Bakery ​- They specialize in organic artisan breads and pastries which are all made in-house! Their Honey & Walnut loaf is my top favourite! 

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Winter Farmers Markets, Farm Stores and Co-ops

I frequent these markets during the winter months and I have a few reliable vendors I support (listed above), however I still advise you all to ASK. Ask your vendor what they are about, where their farm is, what are their methods, and anything you would like to know about their products. Real farmers and producers are so proud of what they sell that they will not only answer all your questions but probably talk to you for more than just a couple of minutes. So shop with discretion, don’t think that just because this is a “market,” absolutely everything is “local” or “organic.”

• Sorauren Farmers Market
• Kitchener’s Farmers Market
• St. Jacobs Market
• Terra Winter Farmers Market - Milton
• Terra Winter Farmers Market - Hamilton 
• Dufferin Grove Farmers Market
• St. Lawrence Market (The White Tent not the Building market) 
• Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market​​

Co-ops & Farm Stores

• West End Food Co-op
• Mustard Seed Co-op
• Top Market Family Farm Store
• Legacy Greens
• The Stone Store - Guelph 
• Martin's Fruit Farm Store
  

​Happy local shopping & eating! Remember ASK questions! #knowyourfarmer 

-Sassy