Posted by Jeff Jurmain in fruit and vegetables, ingredients on October 15, 2007 at 7:30 am
It’s that time of year when the spotlight turns on everyone’s favourite squash: the pumpkin.
It’s not hard to find pumpkins in the city, with boxes of them on display at every supermarket worth its own salt. But Toronto sits within a region rich in agriculture, so why not venture outside the city limits and pick your own pumpkin straight from where it was grown?
This is a guide to some of the excellent farms in and around the GTA that offer the chance to get out in the fall weather and traipse around looking for the ideal pumpkin. Most in the list offer pick-your-own right from the soil, while others have covered their lawns with thousands of pre-picked pumpkins. (Say that 10 times fast.) Many have family-oriented activities to further entice a trip to the country.
So what’s the point of hitting the farm instead of Dominion? It’s essentially all about the unmatched experience. Forget the supermarket lineups; give your crumpled-up bill straight to the guy or gal who watered the things. But let’s let them shed some light.
Heather Laidlaw runs Orchalaw Farms. She said the pumpkins are planted in early June as soon as farmers don’t need to worry about frost. About 100 days later, a pumpkin is full grown. She said that since farms offer a vast array of pumpkins, customers can find the perfect one. “You get the pumpkin that you dreamed of; you experience the country and walk through the field to find that special one.”
At Whittamore Farms, Mike Whittamore said the fresh air, colourful leaves and the smell of autumn create a great atmosphere for pumpkin picking. “Picking your own pumpkin is a true fall country experience which cannot be duplicated in the concrete jungle,” he said. “It’s hard to describe, but you can’t buy it in a jar at the supermarket.”
Whittamore also offered up a few tips on securing a great pumpkin. First off, if you’re using the squash for recipes, pick the small pie pumpkins. They are far denser than the stringy Jack O’Lantern varieties. He said a good pumpkin will have a strong, healthy-looking handle. (But be sure to pick it up by the base.) And don’t hastily pick any pumpkin; instead, look it over for any soft spots. Those that are soft and never get sold are plowed back into the soil as effective organic matter.
Lisa Cooper, who co-owns Cooper's Goat & Veggy Farm, doesn't currently offer pick-your-own pumpkins but wants to add that experience for next year. "Some people really enjoy walking the field, seeing all the different pumpkins - the good, the bad and the ugly, and picking that special one to take home," she said.
Lisa says you have more selection in the field, and aren't stuck with same-sized and same-coloured pumpkins found in supermarkets. But more importantly, "when you pick a pumpkin in a field your pumpkin then has a story to go with it."
Without further ado, here’s our guide to pumpkin patches near Toronto. This list is not exhaustive and is based mostly on farms I was able to track down on the web.
Albion Orchards
14800 Innis Lake Road
Caledon, Ontario
905-584–0354
Brooks Farms
122 Ashworth Road
Mt. Albert, Ontario
905-473-3920
Butwick Farms
84 8th Concession Road East
Freelton, Ontario
905-689-4552
Cooper’s Goat and Veggy Farm
266 Ashworth Road
Zephyr, Ontario
905-830-4521
Downey’s Farm Market
13682 Heart Lake Road
(North of) Brampton, Ontario
905-838-2990
Farintosh Farms
11858 Warden Avenue
Gormley, Ontario
905-887-5727
Ferri Aldo & Sons Orchards
8605 Heritage Road
Brampton, Ontario
905-455-8202
Forsythe Family Farms
10539 Kennedy Road
Markham, Ontario
905-887-1087
Lindley Farm
900 Fiddler’s Green Road
Ancaster, Ontario
289-237-5614
Orchalaw Farms
9726 Heritage Road R.R. #2
Norval, Ontario
905-456-1879
Pine Farms Orchard
2700 16th Sideroad
King, Ontario
905-833-5459
Pingle’s Farm Market
1805 Taunton Road East
Hampton, Ontario
905-725-6089
Springridge Farms
7256 Bell School Line
Milton, Ontario
905-878-4908
Wheelbarrow Orchards
8277 10th Side Road
Milton, Ontario
905-878-7070
Whittamore Farms
8100 Steeles Avenue East
Markham, Ontario
905-294-3275
