Panoramic picturesque farms. Local veggies and smoked birch. Ontario’s Premier. Sparkling Champagne. Passionate speakers. Elaborate, irresistible apps. Networking and laughter. An outside buffet dinner abundant with flavour. And Jamie Kennedy.
These are just some of the highlights of Halton’s 33rd Annual Farm Tour on Sept. 19. A large bus full of eager individuals, including many elected officials, joined the Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee (HAAC) on a tour through the Region of Halton, from elegant restaurant to beautiful farm, from the bottom of the region to the top, to witness first-hand the strong connection our agriculture sector has to our every day lives.
With Durham’s tour the week prior, the Golden Horseshoe has been sprouting up farm tours with individuals from government, public agencies, education and the public attending daylong educational tours of farms in their regions. Here they personally digest the local agricultural community that feeds their restaurants, businesses and homes. Amidst the fun-filled day, a main objective of these tours is to help politicians, and people who ultimately make our policy decisions, better understand our local agriculture and its related issues. The hope is that with a better understanding will come better support for our agricultural future through conscientious policy decisions.
Titled “Savour Halton”, this year’s tour took a new approach: participants not only went to farms, but also restaurants in the region that serve local food. The tour provided attendees with the opportunity to meet farmers, chefs and business owners in Halton’s agricultural and food services sectors. Covering production and consumption by adding restaurants into the mix, the tour had a strong impact in conveying the message that yes, we do need these farms; yes, look at what this sector does for our residents and economy; and among many other messages, yes, this food tastes much better when it’s local.
Project Lead Stirling Todd further explains: “Traditionally Halton’s Farm Tour has focused on agricultural operations and the importance of the agricultural sector to Halton’s health and economy. The scope of the tour was broadened this year to highlight other innovative services being offered by Halton’s farms and related tourism operations including on-farm markets that sell food and retail goods, restaurants and greenhouses. The knowledge and understanding gained through events such as this tour help ensure we are able to make informed decisions for sustainable and well planned growth in Halton for the next decade and beyond.”
The tour kicked off in downtown Burlington at the Red Canoe Bistro where a delectable dish, made from 98% local ingredients, was presented by local food enthusiast Chef Tobias Pohl-Weary.
Next came Springridge Farm in Milton, where the Honourable Kathleen Wynne briefly joined the tour. The passionate Hughes family showcased their popular agri-tourism farm – more than 20,000 students came through Springridge just this past year on educational field trips.
While participants ate freshly baked goods, Premier Wynne spoke about the importance of Ontario’s agri-food industry and it’s positive impact on our economy. Wynne described Halton as a perfect demonstration that “we’re all in this together” – with city and farm a short drive (or tour bus) away, the Halton Region contradicts the urban-rural divide ideology.
Next the tour arrived at the Mohawk Inn and Chop House to more elaborate local foods. Here the Director of Operations, standing by his two passionate chefs, spoke about their commitment to local food, even “before it was cool”. (They made their own cheese so every ingredient that day could be local!)
Marshall’s Real Farmers Market came next, where Ryan Marshall spoke to the large diverse group with his farm as the backdrop. A young, educated farmer, Marshall spoke to the growth, success and challenges of his 100-acre farm, and shed light on a plethora of important topics: sustainability, technology, soil quality, land use, collaboration amongst neighbouring farms, and the required adaptability in such a dynamic sector. With their young kids right on the farm among the tour group, the generations of farmers and their farms, and the importance of sustaining this into the future, was right in sight.
The final stop was DG’s Greenhouses in Halton Hills for a buffet long-table style dinner outside. Here, well-known Chef Jamie Kennedy presented the Keynote Address, speaking of his commitment to environmental issues and support for organic agriculture, local producers and traditional methods. Before the long (very long) table dove in to a locally-sourced exquisite buffet, Kennedy concluded that we don’t have to look elsewhere for food inspiration, we should celebrate what is here.
And so HAAC, Regional and Local Councillors, farmers, conservation authorities, media, and others, concluded the day in the most appropriate (and elegant) way: eating and enjoying what Halton has to celebrate… including corn on the cob that came from a farmer that was at that very table.
The implications of the sector’s significance are ubiquitous.
An annual forum to learn about Halton’s agricultural industry, this year’s tour no doubt demonstrated the vitality of the region, and the importance of the agriculture sector for a number of reasons. It’s an imperative message to convey so that future decisions, such as keeping certain land designated as farmland, are made with this knowledge and understanding in mind. A day like this truly brings it all together – showing the land, the restaurants, the food, the farmers, the families, and the people themselves simply eating what Halton grew. It is the perfect platform to instill understanding and appreciation, and illustrate the impact of a sector that virtually affects everyone – even simply coming down to your evening dinner with that corn on the cob…