November Bus Tour – 2009
Farm Fresh’s November 2009 Bus Tour to Eastern Ontario and Quebec
Date: Sunday, November 8 to Thursday, November 12, 2009
Summary: This was Farm Fresh’s 26th tour. Since 1987, we have been touring markets, pick-your-own operations, entertainment farms, some related businesses, and some “just plain fun.”
This year, the Bus Tour featured farms in Eastern Ontario and Quebec.
Here’s a few of the hot spots that were visited.
McMaze, St. Andrews West, ON - www.mcmaze.ca
McMaze is in its ninth year of “Four Seasons of Family Farm Fun” and is operated by Stephen and Valerie McDonald and family. Year-round, there’s lots to do with a full complement of farm animals, watching the McMaze Corn Launcher, or enjoying the picnic/family area.
Marlin Orchards & Garden Centre, Cornwall, ON – www.marlinorchards.com
Located close to the St. Lawrence River, Marlin’s is more than an orchard. It is also a destination garden centre that has been a fixture in the Cornwall community for over 45 years and operated by the Lunan family. Of course, apples are plentiful and the variety available is extensive, but there is so much more. The complete garden centre, landscaping services, and horticultural expertise is enough to excite any enthusiast.
Fromagerie Ruban Bleu, Mercier, Quebec - www.rubanbleu.net
Open since early 1980, their dairy is considered one of the first to specialize in the production of goat cheese in Quebec. Every day, milk from their goat herd is transformed into a multitude of tasty cheeses renowned for their fine texture and taste. Fromagerie Ruban Bleu has 21 types of homemade cheeses for sale throughout the year in their shop. Other goat products, such as meat, soaps, beauty creams, and mohair are also available.
La Face Cachee de la Pomme, Hemmingford, Quebec – www.cidredeglace.com
Driven by a passionate desire to create an authentic product inspired by the bracing chill of the Quebec winter, François Pouliot, a well-known film producer, participated in the development of the first ice cider (apple ice wine) in 1994. In 1999, visual artist Stéphanie Beaudoin joined La Face Cachée de la Pomme, lending her vision, energy and unflagging attention to details. As a family estate, this entrepreneurial couple endorse the vision of a ‘new world terroir’. With their ice cider Neige, they have sparked a trend that has played a major part in making Québec renowned worldwide for its grand dessert wine.
La Ferme Quinn, Notre-Dame de l’Ile-Perrot, Quebec - www.quinnfarm.qc.ca
The story of La Ferme Quinn begins in 1982 starting from scratch on an abandoned farm that hadn’t been cultivated since the 1950’s. Elwood and Marie Quinn’s story is one of perseverance and adaptation. During the 1980’s, they began with strawberries, sweet corn, and raspberries and as the decade went along added asparagus, pumpkins, gooseberries, currants and 3800 dwarf apple trees of 18 varieties. At the beginning of the 1990’s, they planted over 1600 balsam fir trees, adding a Christmas tree element to their enterprise. Now it’s the younger generation’s turn to bring their vision to what La Ferme Quinn will focus on. Matthiew, Genevieve, and Philippe, are in the process of re-inventing the enterprise. Their story of transition provides some interesting insight for all farm marketers.
Pure Lavande, Saint-Eustache, Quebec – www.purelavande.ca
Thanks to a trip to France, the idea of growing lavender on their land came to former journalists, Daniel Joanette and Nancy Ferron. The couple began a little over three years ago to plant their first lavender. Although still in its infancy, Pure Lavande is able to amaze visitors with 60,000 lavender plants. Visitors soak up their enjoyment of the lavender fields in bloom, while having a picnic or walking down a path where they can admire the beauty of this flower and smell its fragrance with its soothing properties. There is a host of products containing lavender in the Pure Lavande shop.
Intermiel, Mirabel Saint-Benoit, Quebec – www.intermiel.com
Intermiel was founded in 1976 by Christian and Viviane Macle. In France, at the age of fourteen, Christian started making his own honey and on his bicycle, he went to the village public market in the next town to sell his honey. Intermiel is now an enterprise with 35 employees. Within this enterprise there is an oenologist, a consulting chemist, teachers, a sales representative as well as customer service representatives and specialized tour guides. From the very first day, Intermiel has developed an educational component to their business. An average of 20,000 children from kindergarten to high school come to visit annually.
Les Vergers Lafrance, Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Quebec – www.lesvergerslafrance.com
Les Vergers Lafrance is the story of three generations of apple growers, passionate about their calling. They passed on their love of apple farming from father to son, along with their drive and experience. The family-operated orchard is now one of the largest in the region. Today, a new and energetic generation of Lafrances led by the founder’s grandson Éric Lafrance, and his wife Julie Hubert, is keeping the family tradition alive, while continuing to infuse the apple growing business with a fresh level of enthusiasm. In the past 10+ years, the owners have gradually converted their orchard into a magnificent agro-tourism estate with a delightful countryside touch, where apples are now processed into a sweeping range of fine products. The facilities include a Euro-style Country Store replete with delicious apple products; a Cider House where traditional methods are used to create 15 apple-based alcohol products, including the renowned Domaine Lafrance ice cider; a Coffee House with an outdoor terrace offering a breath-taking view of the grounds; a kitchen redolent with the scent of wonderful dishes prepared the old-fashioned way.
Valleyview Little Animal Farm, Nepean, ON – www.vvlittleanimalfarm.com
The Valleyview Little Animal Farm is open from mid-April to October 31. They offer a fun, friendly family farm experience. In addition to the many little animal friends, there is a party room for birthdays, puppet shows, a mini train, farm playground, a café and a gift shop. Throughout the seasons, Valleyview celebrates their passage with special events on the major holidays with entertainment, sheep shearing, corn roasts, and farm fun. Bill’s Old Farm Museum is part of the farm’s attractions. It is full to the haymow with old-fashioned equipment and farm memorabilia. Their farm museum houses an antique collection especially meaningful to farmers, agriculturists, historians, and old engine buffs.
Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, Edwards, ON – www.stanleysfarm.com
On Earl & Joy Stanley’s farm, you can experience the authentic production of pure Canadian Maple Syrup – from horse drawn sap collection to taffy in the snow – each spring. The farm has been producing maple syrup since the 1800′s. Visitors can have a sleigh ride, go to the Sugar Shack and witness the boiling of the sap into delicious sweet maple syrup, enjoy taffy on the snow and delight in the maple cookery of the Pancake House, with their ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Pancake Brunch.
Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush, Pakenham, ON – www.fultons.ca
The sugar bush at Fulton’s is comprised of 400 acres of mixed forest (mostly sugar maple trees), a 120 seat restaurant, newly renovated gift shop, maple sugar camp (production facility) and main office. The facility has grown from a small personal production sugar camp to a 4 season International Canadian destination. It is now home to national and international group tours, teambuilding/training and personal development camps, corporate retreats and conference centre, banquet facilities, and special occasions as well as the traditional spring maple syrup season.
Saunder’s Farm, Munster, ON – www.saundersfarm.com
Saunders Farm first rose to prominence as one of the Ottawa region’s original pick-your-own strawberry farms. At its peak, the farm grew 25 acres of the first fruit of summer. As demand decreased strawberry production was cut back. In 1980, the flat, tree-less landscape began to be transformed with the first planting of a tree nursery. In 1991, Bill and Anne Saunders were inspired to build a new vision for the farm. That vision would be a Fall season to attract customers and showcase the farm’s growing beauty. It was the perfect location for a Hallowe’en farm attraction. An extensive renovation of the farm’s historic log buildings began and in October 1992, and Haunting Season was born. With just a small 4 scene haunted hayride and a 4 scene haunted house, Saunders Farm opened its inaugural Fall festival. Mark, the middle son, returned to help the farm navigate its new direction. Crowds of people visited and the rest as they say is history.
