Latest news with #freshproduce
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
This mobile food market aims to help low-income families in Montreal
MultiCaf is helping people get more access to fresh, local and affordable produce close to home. The non-profit organization takes its solidarity market on the road in the summer to different locations in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood.
CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
Pilot project introduces fresh fruit to Fredericton park
Social Sharing Fresh produce is an expensive commodity in this day and age, but a pilot project in Fredericton hopes to expand access to fresh fruit and other ingredients. The city's parks and trees department, along with kids from the multicultural centre, spent a day in June planting 30 skinny fruit trees in Wilmot Park, each inside a mulch circle with sunflower stalks on either side to protect the trees. While the trees might seem bare right now, Victoria Cray, an urban forest technician for the City of Fredericton, said she estimates the trees will start bearing fruit in five to seven years. "Fruit trees do take a little bit to get bigger, but after that, they'll be producing fruit for the rest of their life," she said. Cray said the trees came from Quebec, but the city hopes to start its own fruit trees by seed in the future. The trees include plums, pears, apples, cherries and mulberries. Along with the trees, the food forest includes some plants that were sourced from the Fredericton region such as borage, which has edible leaves that can be used in salads or dressings; chamomile, which can be used in teas or for medicinal uses; as well as poppy, oregano, thyme, chives and others. Cray said the project was relatively cost effective, with the most expensive thing being the trees, since the perennials — more than 100 of them — were all grown locally. "I think this is why it will work in the future, because especially with growing our own trees … we'll be cutting costs a lot," she said. Cray hopes that if given the go-ahead, she can expand the planting to the north side of Fredericton along some of the trails next year. The City of Saint John took on a similar project last year called the "blossom buffet," planting 43 fruit trees in Queen Square West using a $10,000 grant from Tree Canada. In Moncton, the city said it planted six cherry trees at the front steps of the Moncton Coliseum over the last couple of years as well as 32 arguta kiwi vines at the Ian Fowler Oval. At the Fredericton fruit forest, Cray hopes for more signage to be added in the future that will explain what's growing and that people should take what they need and leave some for others. The trees are small at the moment, said Cray, but as they grow, they can be pruned as big or small as you want them. She said the department hopes to keep them relatively small so people of all ages can pick from them. Cray said there's another benefit to having small trees. "A smaller tree … has more time to establish and have a better system for the future," she said.
Washington Post
22-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Washington Post
How to blanch fresh produce to preserve flavor, color and texture
We love fresh, seasonal produce for its superb flavor and vibrant color, especially during the summer. But these prized traits are fleeting. This is where blanching can come in to save the day, helping to keep those fruits and vegetables at their best to enjoy now or months later. Think of the technique like flash-boiling: Bring a pot of water to a rapid boil, season it with salt, briefly submerge the produce, then plunge said produce in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Once it has cooled, dry the produce and enjoy it, or store it in a number of ways.
CBC
21-07-2025
- CBC
Pick your own fruits and vegetables at these scenic farms across Canada
Looking for a fun way to enjoy the outdoors? Harvesting your own in-season veggies and fruits can make for a memorable outing, while allowing you to purchase fresh, local produce at a good price. At farms across the country there are pick-your-own opportunities for strawberries, rhubarb, peas, blueberries, peaches, apples and many more. As a long-time U-pick aficionado, I've collected garlic scapes, picked asparagus spears and once even dug up my own potatoes (very messy). Many farms also have additional entertainment for all ages. With highlights such as corn mazes, playgrounds, petting zoos and wagon rides, it's easy to turn an outing into an entire day of country fun. Of course, the timing for each crop can vary widely each year and from region to region, so you'll want to look up the harvest calendar for your area, and call or check social media accounts for local farms to confirm their availability before heading out. With that in mind, here are 15 Canadian U-pick farms to check out this year. This farm offers raspberry, blueberry and strawberry picking, the latter of which are grown at standing height so there is no kneeling required. The property also produces wine from on-site berries. For kids, there's the Barnyard Adventureland, which features farm animals, a zipline and more. Abbotsford, B.C. You can pick strawberries, apples, goji berries, pears, plums and pumpkins at this Abbotsford farm. Later in the summer, there will also be a petting barn, sunflower garden, pumpkin patch, hay rides and other fun attractions. Kelowna, B.C. This scenic organic orchard offers a variety of U-pick fruit crops such as apples, cherries, apricots, peaches and three varieties of pears. Visit the shop, which sells honey, eggs and fresh hazelnuts. Foothills County, Alta. You'll find a farmers' market, garden centre, restaurant, bakery, retail shop and more at this family-run farm just a 35-minute drive outside of Calgary. While there, you can also pick saskatoon berries, sour cherries, apples and blackcurrants. Eagle Creek Farms Red Deer County, Alta. Located about an hour and a half's drive north of Calgary, Eagle Creek Farms offers U-pick gardens for potatoes, carrots, peas, beans, onions and zucchini. You can also cut your own fresh flowers, with varieties including gladioli, sunflowers and zinnias. Don't miss the sunflower maze, which opens in mid-August. At this family-owned farm you can pick many types of berries, including red, black and yellow raspberries (they grow 14 varieties!), blackcurrants and saskatoon berries. If you miss the seasonal window for picking your own, the farm also sells frozen berries, juice, jams and sorbet. Portage la Prairie, Man. This eight-hectare farm is located about an hour and 15 minutes' drive west of Winnipeg. Visit its U-picks for cherries, saskatoon berries, haskap berries and gooseberries — plus apples later in summer. You can also pre-order pies, plants and berries and pick them up when you visit. Milton, Ont. This popular farm is located about an hour and a half's drive west of downtown Toronto. It grows a wide variety of crops across 67 hectares and, depending on when you visit, you can pick your own rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries, currants, raspberries, blueberries, apples or pumpkins. Check out pretty fields of U-pick peonies, dahlias and sunflowers, as well as family-friendly attractions such as wagon rides, farm animals and a straw mountain. Dutchyn Farms Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Located just a 20-minute drive from Niagara Falls, this third-generation farm offers pick-your-own peaches, nectarines, plums and seedless grapes. There's also a tractor-drawn farm wagon to take would-be harvesters around the orchards, and a market with pre-picked fruits for sale. Pingle's Farm Market Hampton, Ont. A great destination for a family outing, this farm market about an hour's drive east of Toronto is open year-round. Stop by and pick fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, blueberries, peas, beans, corn, peppers and apples. Visit farm animals, hop on a wagon ride and, later in the season, explore corn mazes and a pumpkin patch. Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, Que. This U-pick farm is about 40 minutes' drive from downtown Montreal. It sits on more than 80 hectares and there are 10,000 apple trees in the orchards — plus you can pick your own strawberries, blueberries, corn, pumpkins, potatoes and even Christmas trees. You'll also find a large play yard and animal barn with goats, cows and pigs, and a farm shop that sells freshly baked goods, meat from local producers and lots more. Trueman Blueberry Farms Sackville, N.B. Only a 40-minute drive from Moncton, this family-owned farm offers pick-your-own high-bush and wild blueberries. Depending on when you visit, you can also pick tulips, rhubarb, raspberries or pumpkins. Expect a variety of homemade ice-cream flavours, preserves and baked goods at their retail store. Plus, there's a sunflower maze, a giant bouncy pillow and blueberry-themed attractions. Dempsey Corner Orchard Aylesford, N.S. This Annapolis Valley orchard, located about an hour and a half's drive from Halifax, is home to a market, gift shop, café, petting zoo and, of course, U-pick. The wide variety of fruits and vegetables available includes strawberries, raspberries, peaches (don't miss their annual Peachy Palooza!), pumpkins and potatoes. They also have picnic tables for dining outdoors. The Grove Orchard and U-Pick Cornwall, P.E.I. Just a 15-minute drive from Charlottetown, this eight-hectare orchard and fruit stand offers U-pick options for Asian pears as well as a dozen varieties of apples, including lesser-known types such as Liberty, Yellow Transparent and Akane. In the fall, visitors can also enjoy coffee, apple cider and mini doughnuts. St. John's There are pick-your-own strawberry patches and flower fields on this almost 20-hectare farm, as well as other fun activities such as wagon rides, a corn maze, bee observatory and petting barn. The property also grows more than 100 different kinds of fruits and vegetables, including harder-to-find ones such as artichokes, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, bok choy and tatsoi, which can be purchased at the on-site market.
CBS News
19-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
This Aurora farmer's market, organized by a veteran, accepts food stamps: "A space for health and wellness"
An Aurora veteran says healthy people build strong communities, and he hopes he can continue to make his community stronger for the future. "It brings everybody together. Fresh produce is one of those things that we all need," said James Grevious. He's the organizer of Rebel Marketplace, which aims to bring fresh local produce to Aurora so people can eat healthier and live better. "You can't plan for your future, you can't think ahead, and all these things if you're hungry, habitually hungry," said Grevious. "If you're malnourished, if you're eating junk food and sugars and all that stuff, that messes with your brain, and you can't necessarily plan your way out of some of these conditions that we're in." He sweetens the deal for people on federal food assistance by increasing the spending power of people using SNAP. "We also work with Nourish Colorado, so they have a 'Double Up Food Bucks' program, so every $20 that you spend on SNAP, up to $20, and double up. And then through my nonprofit, Urban Symbiosis, as well, we match that with our vouchers of an additional $20," said Grevious. But now he's worried that his mission might take a hit. Between potential SNAP cuts from the Trump Administration's Big, Beautiful Bill and the fear that immigrants have about coming to public events, he says what this market will look like the rest of the summer is uncertain. "We understand, we don't want people to kind of support, but then 'at their own risk,'" Grevious said. "We're trying to navigate, I don't know how we can navigate that." But he says no matter what, he and his partners will continue to be out in Aurora to keep his community fed and healthy. The next Rebel Marketplace will be Aug. 2 at the Aurora Town Center mall and then again on Aug. 6 at the Hoffman Library in Aurora. "So this is just a small solution," Grievous said. "We're not solving Aurora's problems by any means, but we're trying to at least alleviate it and say 'hey, this is a space for health and wellness where your food is gonna be safe and clean.'"
