2010 Guide to Organics

A directory of Ontario organic and/or pesticide-free farms with pick-your-own and farmgate sales, plus markets, stores, suppliers, restaurants, and events around the province

 

Compiled by Michelle Singerman

 

~ ORGANIC FARMS ~

 

Organics Farm • MARKHAM

 

OCPP certified PYO, FG:  Strawberries, raspberries, apples and small fruit.  We are a family owned and operated farm producing primarily PYO fruit, but also operate a market where we sell our ready picked fruit, vegetables and other products. On weekends we fire up our wood- fired oven and bake organic pies, tarts and artisan bread.  Open seasonally with our crops, 9am - 5pm weekends, and 9am - 7pm weekdays.  Please call ahead for a crop update.

 

(905) 640 - 5206. For more information and directions, visit our website at www.organicsfarm.ca

 

Spring View Farms • UXBRIDGE

 

PYO: Chemical-free pick your own strawberries and raspberries (not certified organic). Our goal towards chemical-free berries is to avoid any chemical residue in our produce by producing strawberries and raspberries without insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides. Strawberry season — June; Raspberry and Black Currant season — July. Located 10 km north of Uxbridge in the hamlet of Leaskdale at 11680 Durham Rd. 1 (Main St. N.). Open mid-June, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. No Sunday sales.

 

Phone (905) 852-2795. www.harvestontario.com/springviewfarms.html

 

Lahmans Heritage Produce • TARA

 

FM, CSA: Sheila and Rob are experienced farmers / growers with a healthy herd of dairy goats that are pastured and raised in a natural environment. They provide for the land and the land provides for them. They live off their "no mile market," and eat raw and seasonal. At the farm, find rare and unusual varieties of vegetables, fruit, herbs, and plants. Also offered is organic goat meat: smoked, summer sausage, and ground. Enjoy quality nutrient-dense food for your grocery dollar. Farm tours are available. Farmgate sales available only by pre-order.

 

Lahmans is located at RR#2 Tara, Ont N0H 2N0. For more info, visit www.realrarefood.wordpress.com, email s.lahman@bmts.com, or call (519) 934-3890.

 

Everdale Organic Farm & Environmental Learning Centre • HILLSBURGH

 

CSA, FG: 40 different vegetables. Eggs and meat. Everdale has a Farm Membership program and sells at various farmers’ markets around the GTA (see website for current locations).

 

Everdale offers a workshop series on topics such as straw bale construction, and canning and preserving. The 50-acre property encompasses a working organic farm, forests, nature trail, and demo models of sustainable technologies including: Home Alive! The House that Thinks, Drinks and Breathes. New this year, a Kid’s Farm Camp! Please check the website for the dates of our farm festivals including Carrot Fest! on September 18th.

 

Wellington County, one hour NW of Toronto, 1/2 E of Guelph. Visit www.everdale.org, info@everdale.org or call (519) 855-4859.

 

Mapleton’s Organic Farm • MOOREFIELD

 

CSA,FG,FM: A working organic dairy farm founded by Ineke Booy and Martin de Groot. The farm consists of 600 acres of certified organic land, 75 milking cows and their offspring, chickens, turkeys, pigs, donkeys, alpacas, a pony, and more. Mapleton’s Organic Dairy was born in 1999, when they began processing milk into organic ice cream, frozen yogurt, and fresh yogurt on the farm with a small retail store. In 2004 an ice cream café was added to better serve the steady stream of ice cream lovers. Today, Mapleton’s serves organic lunches and packaged organic products including dairy, meats, dry goods, and seasonal produce. Demonstration barnyard open to the public year-round; two acre cedar hedge maze with a pirate ship in the middle; hilltop labyrinth; onsite barbecuing, picnic area, birthday parties. Open Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, 7 days a week, 11am - 6pm.

 

Mapleton Farms products are available at fine grocery stores and health food stores across Ontario.

 

Located at: 8548 Wellington Road #7, Moorefield, Ont. Tel: 1-877-779-9795, email: info@mapletonsorganic.ca, web: www.mapletonsorganic.ca

 

Plan B Organic Farms • HAMILTON

 

CSA, FM: 50-acre certified organic vegetable and herb farm established in 1997, with a 1,000-family Multi-Farm CSA serving Hamilton, Halton, and Toronto. Weekly farmers' markets: Thursday at Dufferin Grove Market (Toronto), and Dundas Farmers' Market, Saturday at Westdale in Hamilton.

 

For information, contact (905) 659-2572 or info@planborganicfarms.ca. Visit their website to order, www.planborganicfarms.ca.

 

Mike Lanigan

 

FM, CSA: Farmer Mike Lanigan grows seven different types of vegetables at his farm in Uxbridge. And as Lanigan says, “Anything that can grow in Ontario, I give it a try.” All produce is certified organic by Pro-Cert. Lanigan also has a CSA that offers beef and chicken for locals. His produce is available only at the Village Market on Saturdays.

 

For more info, contact Mike Lanigan at (905) 852-4080.

 

Thorpe’s Organic Farm • MILLGROVE

 

FM, FG: Ted Thorpe, a fourth-generation Ontario vegetable farmer, was one of the pioneers of the Toronto-area farmers’ markets, supplying them with fruits and vegetables since 1990. The bounty ranges from cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and zucchini, to melons, potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries. Find the farm’s produce at Evergreen Brick Works market on Saturdays; also at Wychwood Green Barn Farmers’ Market, Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market, Riverdale Farmers’ Market, as well as retail stores: 4 Life and Organics On Bloor. Farmgate sales on Fridays, call first.

Contact the farm at (905) 689-2114.

 

Fenwood Farm • ANCASTER

 

FG: Natural grain-fed, certified organic chicken, gluten- and nitrate-free sausages, venison, wild caught seafood, emu oil and soap, natural pork and beef, Mapleton's organic ice cream and frozen yogurt, and natural, drug-free raw pet food.

 

Located at 774 Sawmill Road, RR#2, Ancaster. (905) 765-1479 or 1-800-373-7686, www.fenwoodfarm.com.

 

Greenfield's Organic Farm • CAMPBELLVILLE

 

FM,FG: OCPP certified, Bullfrog Powered. Farm fresh vegetables grown organically. At Guelph Farmers’ Market Saturdays 7am to noon; Dufferin Grove Park in Toronto on Thursdays 3:30 to 7 pm, both year round; Wednesdays at our Red Barn (farmgate sales) 2:30 to 7 pm (produce, eggs, maple syrup, baking, etc); Tuesdays at Riverdale Farm Market and Trinity Bellwoods Farmers market 3 - 7pm; Saturdays at Brickworks in Toronto (June through October). Roadside by chance in season.

 

10715 Guelph Line, Campbellville. Tel: (905) 854-5458, info@greenfieldsfarm.ca, www.greenfieldsfarm.ca

 

Cookstown Greens • THORNTON

 

FM, FG: David Cohlmeyer started his farm more than 20 years ago, because he couldn’t find organic produce that met his standards as a restaurant owner and chef. Today Cookstown Greens supplies a list of restaurants such as the Miller Tavern and Canoe, as well as Pusateri’s, The Healthy Butcher, and Brick Works Farmers’ Market. He offers baby salad greens (drawing on a seasonal assortment of 35 ingredients, including edible flowers); root vegetables, all grown from heirloom seeds; seedlings (e.g. sunflower, fennel, chickpea, amaranth); edible flowers; and seasonal vegetables. Available direct from the farm by pre-order.

 

Cookstown Greens, Egbert (north of Cookstown). Call 1-705-458-9077; email: info@cookstowngreens.com; www.cookstowngreens.com

 

Sosnicki Organic Produce • WATERFORD

 

FM: Jessie Sosnicki and husband Ben have been running their certified organic farm since 2003. Now they grow some 30 different crops over the season, offering market customers everything from heritage tomatoes (50 varieties!) to potatoes, sweet corn, root crops, peppers, onions, broccoli, herbs, and salad greens. Sold at Brick Works Farmers’ Market, Riverdale Farmers’ Market, Dufferin Grove Market, Withrow Park Farmers’ Market.

 

Call 1-519-443-5903. Visit www.sosnickiorganics.com

 

Avalon Apple Orchard • INNISFIL

 

PYO: Apples; also fresh pressed cider, honey, and other organic produce. Open 10am to 5pm daily during harvest season. Unfortunately, Avalon is closed for the 2010 harvest season due to adverse conditions which resulted in crop failure. For more information visit: www.avalonorchards.net.

 

Located 45 minutes north of Toronto. North on Highway 400 to Highway 89. Go east to side road 10. Travel north on side road 10 for five miles to 5th Line. Turn west. Second lane on north, (705) 458-9902.

 

Fun Guy Farm • GOODWOOD

 

FM: Fun Guy Farm’s product is mushrooms and their main interest is farmers’ markets. On a typical day, founder Bruno Pretto and his partner Paula Vopni, offer a variety of mushrooms (primarily Shiitake and Oyster), Shiitake mushroom stock, Kombucha drinks and cultures, Reishi and Reishi preparations, Spawn and Kits for outdoor log and indoor sawdust block cultivation, and polenta “con funghi,” all from their farm. He also brings in miso produced by another local farmer, and some imported cheeses and dried seaweed.

For more information, please email office@mycosource.com or go to www.mycosource.com.

 

Lifespring Organic Farm • KAWARTHA LAKES

 

LifeSpring Organic Farm is situated in the Kawartha Lakes area of Janetville, between Port Perry and Lindsay.

 

Organic and biodynamic in growing and raising a whole array of veggies, berries, herbs, eggs, pasture grazing Scottish Highland beef (no GMO grains!), and free range chicken as well. Ken and Anastasia are both Wholistic Health Practitioners and so endeavor to find better ways to grow food high in Nutrition and Beyond Organic. Ken is constantly researching-radionics, ormus energies, sound and light frequencies, humic and fulvic acid, EM, compost teas, sea minerals, structured water, dowsing, EMF's, etc.

 

Workshops are available ranging from self-sufficiency, alternative energy, survival, life in 2012, health and healing breakthroughs, organic farming and spiritual growth.

 

Come by and visit us in our 100 acre Paradise, we are open all year but call first as we tend to be a busy farm!

 

Call (705) 878-3363 ...Working from our Space to make the World a better place…

 

Pfenning's Organic Vegetables Inc. • BADEN

 

Grower, wholesaler and distributor of certified organic seasonal fresh vegetables and imported off-season and tropical produce. A family-run farm emphasizing local first. Farm-grown produce includes carrots, potatoes, onions, broccoli, kale, chard, red leaf, green leaf and romaine lettuces, dandelion, parsley, spinach, parsnip and beets on a 300-acre farm. Pfenning’s also produce and pack raw sauerkraut according to a traditional German recipe. Other local products distributed for fellow farmers are leeks, rutabaga, jerusalem artichoke, shiitake and button mushrooms, strawberries, zucchini, herbs, shallots, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, cold-pressed sunflower oil, and more.

 

All produce available at your local independent health food store. To find a list of stores that carry Pfennings produce, see our website.

 

For more info visit our website at www.pfenningsfarms.ca or Buy Local, Buy Fresh Foodlink at www.foodlink.ca.

 

~ WINERIES ~

 

Frogpond Farm Organic Winery • NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE

 

Pro-Cert Organic certified, 100% bullfrogpowered and Local Food Plus certified: Owners Heike Koch and Jens Gemmrich grow and produce a variety of organic table wines, including icewine, on their unique family farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake, 1385 Larkin Road. Come for a visit, tour the farm, and taste our organic wines.

 

Hours are 11am to 6pm, daily in the summer (May to October), and 11am to 5pm daily in the winter months (November to April). For a delivery fee of $10 per order, we can ship our wines to most places in Ontario. You are welcome to enjoy your picnic lunch in the summer.

 

For more information visit www.frogpondfarm.ca or call us at (905) 468-1079 or 1-877-989-0165.

 

Southbrook Vineyards • NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE

 

OCPP and Demeter certified, Local Food Plus certified and LEED Gold building: Owners Marilyn and Bill Redelmeier have a selection of certified organic and biodynamic wines available for tasting and sale at their stunning hospitality pavilion in Niagara-on-the-Lake, 581 Niagara Stone Road. The Tasting Room is open seven days a week. Hours are 10am to 6pm, Monday through Saturday, and 11am to 6pm on Sundays in the summer (May long weekend to Labour Day), closing at 5pm during winter months. For a small shipping charge, wine orders can be delivered anywhere in Ontario. In the summer, enjoy the Pizza Patio 11am to 4pm, call ahead to check days.

 

For more information visit www.southbrook.com or call 1-888-581-1581.

 

~ ORGANIC OUTLETS ~

 

The Village Market • THORNHILL

 

FM: Open Saturdays year-round, 8:30am to 1:30pm. An organic farmers’ market featuring fresh organic fruits and vegetables, organic milk, butter, cream and yogurt, organic beef and chicken, eggs, plus some organic breads, pies and pastries. Also featured is a whole foods café, live music, and health practitioners.

 

Toronto Waldorf School, 9100 Bathurst St. Located 1 mile north of Hwy 7/407. Call (416) 875-4205 or visit www.villagemarket.ca.

 

Harmony Whole Foods • ORANGEVILLE

 

Harmony Whole Foods Market has been purveying the finest organic and whole foods, natural-source supplements, organic body care products and more for over 30 years. Our experienced and knowledgeable customer service specialists (including a Homeopathic Doctor, two Registered Nutritionists and an Aromatherapist) look forward to serving you. Free in-store public lectures, “gluten-free” store tours and e-newsletters are offered. We invite you to come and see the “new and improved” Harmony, now that our exciting renovations are nearly complete. We are your “Organic Lifestyle Store”, promoting the well-being of our community in body, mind and spirit!

 

Harmony Whole Foods Market is located at Credit Creek Plaza North, 163 First Street, in Orangeville. For more information, please visit www.harmonymarket.com, or call 519-941-8961.

Trinity Bellwoods Farmer's Market • TORONTO

 

FM: Open every Tuesday from 3 to 7pm, May 11th to October 26th, rain or shine. Approximately 18 farmers / vendors bring fresh Ontario produce directly from the farm, plus other organic and sustainable goods. Located in a historic park, the Market is an initiative of the Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park, a volunteer-run community group. Our mandate is to support and promote local and urban sustainable agriculture. To educate the community in the foods they eat, and how it is grown and / or prepared. To increase community access to healthy, local, organically grown produce, meats, and dairy. Located at the north end of Trinity Bellwoods Park, at Dundas and Shaw Streets.

 

Please bring your useable shopping bags from home. For more info, please visit www.tbfm.ca / twitter.com/tbfarmersmarket / www.trinitybellwoods.ca

 

Pusateri’s Fine Foods • TORONTO

 

Pusateri’s Fine Foods offers the widest selection of natural, organic, fresh, and nonperishable foods. The key to our family owned business is sourcing the finest quality organic fresh fruits and vegetables, along with a tremendous selection of food products imaginable. Our services include catering, floral and home design, gift baskets, home delivery, weddings, special events and much more. Our philosophy is about taking greener steps to healthier living for you and our environment. With two locations to serve you, and a fast approaching third location at Bayview Village, we do more than fill your plate, we fill your senses.

 

Two open locations: 1539 Avenue Road, 57 Yorkville Avenue. Coming Soon: 2901 Bayview Avenue, Bayview Village. Call (416) 785-9100, visit www.pusateris.com

 

4 Life Natural Foods • TORONTO

 

Organic fruit, vegetable, and grocery market located in the heart of Kensington Market. Open seven days a week.

 

Located at 257 Augusta Avenue. (416) 591-6800.

 

The Big Carrot • TORONTO

 

This Canadian worker-owned natural food market (Est. 1983) specializes in a wide selection of organic, non-GMO, cruelty-free, and environmentally safe products. Proud to be one of Canada’s first retailers to be certified to the new Canada Organic Standard, The Big Carrot is certified by Ecocert Canada to process and package more than 700 organic products in its juice bar, bulk, spice, cheese, and produce departments. The Vegetarian Deli, featuring more than 26 fresh dishes daily, is in the final stages of Organic Certification. Visit The Wholistic Dispensary and Big Carrot Organic Juice Bar located in the Carrot Common mall.

 

Located at 348 Danforth Ave. For information call (416) 466-2129 or visit www.thebigcarrot.ca

 

Baldwin Naturals • TORONTO

 

Healthy shopping made simple. Featuring fresh, certified organic produce, a large selection of natural groceries, supplements, herbal remedies, and natural body care.

16 Baldwin St., just northwest of University and Dundas. (416) 979-1777.

 

Nature’s Emporium • NEWMARKET

 

From produce to beauty supplies; vitamins to grocery products, we have a wide selection of organic and natural solutions to meet all your daily needs. Established in 1983, all products that fill our 50,000 sq. ft. floor are supplied only by the most reputable companies in the health and organic food industry. Come on in for freshly made vegetarian meals and healthy juices and drinks in our Juiceppe’s Café – right inside the store.  A wide variety of delicious soups, salads and entrées are prepared fresh daily in our new kitchen.

 

Location: 16655 Yonge St., Weston Produce Plaza, Newmarket. For more information (905) 898-1844. www.naturesemporium.ca

 

Organic Garage • OAKVILLE

 

This is a full service, Canadian, family run grocery store with a mission to bring you the best quality organic and natural foods at the best possible prices: produce; meat; vitamins; bakery; prepared foods; health and beauty. Featuring healthier food for less.

579 Kerr Street, Oakville. Call (905) 849-1648. www.organicgarage.ca

 

Noah’s Natural Foods • TORONTO, WOODBRIDGE

 

Extensive variety of bulk and packaged vegetarian foods, plus a range of organic produce, dairy products, meats, and gluten-free breads and pastas. Also a vegan, mostly-organic café located inside Bloor Street location. One of Toronto’s original health food stores.

 

Locations at 322 Bloor St. W., at Spadina (416) 968-7930; 667 Yonge St., south of Bloor (416) 969-0220; 2395 Yonge St., north of Eglinton (416) 488-0904; 9121 Weston Rd. at Rutherford Rd. Woodbridge (905) 850-2873. For more information visit the website at: www.noahsnaturalfoods.ca

 

Whole Food Market • TORONTO, OAKVILLE

 

A wide selection of organic produce, meat, seafood, as well as extensive selection of hot and cold prepared foods for those short on time. Fair trade coffees and teas, healthy breads, local and imported organic foods, pizza oven, sushi bar, fresh flowers, a well stocked supplement department and broad range of natural skin and hair care. Great customer service and a fun atmosphere make it a pleasure to shop!

 

Locations: 87 Avenue Road, at Lowther (Hazelton Lanes) (416) 944-0500; 301 Cornwall Road, Oakville please call (905) 849-8400, www.wholefoodsmarket.com

 

Karma Co-operative • TORONTO

 

Karma is a non-profit food store, owned cooperatively by the people who shop there. Founded in 1972, Karma carries a comprehensive inventory of organic, local, fair trade, and natural food products. Membership is open to anyone. New members pay a one-time loan of $70. Members may opt to commit hours working at Karma or pay a small surcharge on purchases.

 

739 Palmerston Ave. Please call (416) 534-1470 or visit their website at www.karmacoop.org

 

Paisley Farmers’ Market • PAISLEY

 

FM: Enjoy heritage, organic, pastured meats, vegetables, herbs, plants, and baking supplied by local growers. Located behind the LCBO and arena off Church & Queen St., Paisley, Ont. Market runs Saturdays from 9am to 1pm, May 22 through October 9. 

 

For more information, please go to www.farmersmarketpaisley.com or send email to:  office@farmersmarketpaisley.com

 

Fiesta Farms • TORONTO

 

Toronto’s largest independently-owned grocery store is perfect for all your grocery needs. We offer local, organic and naturally raised meats, dairy, produce and more. In October 2008, Fiesta Farms launched a partnership with Local Food Plus, to bring produce from Ontario’s Greenbelt to Toronto. We proudly support Ontario farmers and food artisans.

 

Located at 200 Christie St, just north of Bloor St., (416) 537-1235

 

Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market • TORONTO

 

Enjoy fresh food from local farms, producers and artisans during our Sun-ripened Saturdays, each week from 8am to 1pm. We feature an incredible assortment of meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, wild fish, eggs, oils and milled flour from local farmers. Live music and eco-crafts also on-hand for your pleasure each Saturday during the summer.

 

The Chefs’ Market offers bulk quantities of fresh local food direct from farmers from the Greenbelt and beyond every Tuesday from 8am-1pm. It is a place that is as much about commerce as it is about building the network of chefs, caterers and retailers with farmers to strengthen local agricultural economies and help the environment by reducing the distance food travels. 100km Foods Inc. offers delivery service for the Evergreen Brick Works Chefs’ Market. Call first to check hours.

 

Located at 550 Bayview Ave, between the Prince Edward Viaduct (Bloor/Danforth) and Pottery Rd. Call (416) 596-1495 or visit http://ebw.evergreen.ca/whats-on/farmers-market/ for info on how to get there by car, bike, or public transit

 

Vital Planet Health Shop • TORONTO

 

We supply a large selection of quality products, including: Gluten free & organic foods, organic hormone-free dairy products, wild-crafted bulk teas, herbs and spices, Organic produce, Sports nutrition vitamins and supplements, as well as Homeopathic and Herbal remedies. Vital Planet carries major brand names as well as local and specialty brands, and will do special orders or obtain information about specific products if available. Product quality assurance is provided by a full money back guarantee. Visit our two clean, attractive, well organized stores where products are well priced, the atmosphere is relaxing, and where staff members will be pleased to help you find what you are looking for. So come take a gander, it is always nice to see friendly new faces!

 

Two Locations:

 

53 Lower Jarvis St (corner of Esplanade & Jarvis) (416) 366-4353; 2789 Lake Shore Blvd W, (Lakeshore and 2nd St.) (416) 251-0553.

 

For more information on products, specials, and store services, visit: www.vitalplanet.com

 

The Healthy Butcher • TORONTO

 

The Healthy Butcher is an excellent source for the best tasting and largest selection of certified organic meat, specializing in locally grown beef, lamb, pork, chicken, bison, elk, venison, duck, and many other premium meats. The store also offers a wide selection of sustainable seafood, produce, and gourmet prepared foods created by an in-house team of chefs always seeking local, organic and seasonal ingredients.

 

Locations: 565 Queen West (at Denison); 298 Eglinton Ave. West (at Avenue Road)  As well, we have a Kitchener address: 25 Bruce St. (at Victoria St). Please call (416) 674-2642 for all locations. www.thehealthybutcher.com

 

Butcher by Nature • TORONTO

 

Butcher shop featuring certified organic lamb from Seldom Seen/Seldom Heard Farm, wild game, turkey, beef, Berkshire pork, gourmet sausages, Irish organic salmon, local organic artic char and more. Offering numerous deli items, plus prepared foods that are barbecue-ready. Also a selection of organic produce and groceries.

 

520 Annette St at Runnymede (416) 241-8187 or email: bynature@rogers.com

 

~ ORGANIC SUPPLIERS ~

 

Advantage Health Matters • TORONTO

 

This company was founded by Jerry Zeifman for the purpose of bringing pure food nutrition from around the world to Canadians seeking the highest level of quality in their supplements. Featured brands include: Bali’Sun virgin coconut oil; New Chapter organic probiotic nutrients and herbal formulas; Health Matters certified organic and wild foods; and Pukka certified organic Ayurvedic teas.

 

Find these brands at your local health food store, or visit www.advantagehealthmatters.com for a comprehensive list of stores and products. Tel: (905) 946-1011.

 

Harmony Organic Dairy Products Inc • TORONTO, LISTOWEL

 

Harmony Organic Dairy Products Inc. produces 12 varieties of milk and cream, as well as organic, local brie cheese.  Our newest product is 48% Crème de la Crème. Our products are certified through EcoCert Canada, Kosher, Local and we are part of Foodland Ontario. We are the original company to package our milk in returnable glass bottles. Harmony Organic milk is available in more than 300 stores across Ontario.  

 

Visit our website to find a retailer near you. www.harmonyorganic.on.ca

 

Jennifer’s Original Gluten-Free Bread • TORONTO

 

Jennifer founded her specialized bakery to provide a local source of fresh baked goods for those with gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Her breads contain organic cane sugar, organic apple cider vinegar, organic flax seeds, and stone ground rice flour. You can find Jennifer’s Original breads at various outlets throughout the GTA, including the Big Carrot (Danforth), Fiesta Farms (Christie), Beaches Bake Shop (Kingston Road), and Nature’s Emporium (Newmarket).

 

For more information call: (416) 694-5333, or visit her website: www.jennifersoriginal.com

 

Organic Select Mike & Mike’s • TORONTO

 

Mike & Mike’s is a Canadian owned, family run business that offers a broad selection of certified organic nuts and dried fruit. Their line of 26 products includes dried goji berries, raw or roasted cashews, raw or roasted almonds, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and medjool dates. Mike & Mike’s Organic Select snacks are available at grocery and health food stores in the GTA, including Fiesta Farms.

 

For more information, visit www.organicselect.ca or www.mikeandmikes.com

 

Organically Grown Fish

 

Our Organically Grown Arctic char (Salvelinus Alpinus) has the most northerly distribution of any of the fresh water fish with the highest level of essential fatty acids (DHA + EPA). Our fresh (never frozen) fish and fillets are sold all year round at the 9100 Bathurst St., Waldorf Village Market in Richmond Hill, every Saturday between 9am and 1pm.

 

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.

 

Contact (705) 424-4465 or email: Orders@TedTheFisherman.com

 

~ ORGANIC DINING ~

 

Vegetarian Haven • TORONTO

 

Vegetarian Haven is a vegan bistro that uses local, seasonal and organic produce whenever possible. Popular dishes include: ‘Sizzling Egglant’ made with organic tempeh and seasonal vegetables cooked in a coconut curry sauce and served on a hot iron plate. Another popular item  is ‘Curry Pad Thai’ made with fresh rice noodles in curry sauce, served in a seitan bread bowl.  Also featured is a ‘daily special’ main course. In summer, healthy cooling beverages are hot sellers – including fresh organic juices; the ‘Slushy’ made with lime juice and fresh mint; and Macha green tea smoothie (green tea powder, banana, soymilk, agave nectar). Tea lovers will enjoy the selection of loose-leaf herbal teas. Sit a spell on their lively summer patio, and enjoy the best of Toronto’s vegan cuisine.

 

Located at 17 Baldwin St., Toronto. Tel: (416) 621-3636. Visit www.vegetarianhaven.com

 

Kensington Natural Bakery & Cafe • TORONTO

 

A variety of organic baked goods and desserts including carrot cake, cocoa cake, brownies, apple and blueberry squares. All organic. The bakery makes custom cakes and accommodates allergy or dietary restrictions. A selection of deli items also available, including Vitality editor’s favourite: snow peas and tofu salad.  Located at 460 Bloor St. W. Call (416) 534-1294, or visit the website at www.kensingtonnaturalbakery.com.

 

~ ORGANIC GARDENING RESOURCES ~

 

Green Thumbs Garden Supply • TORONTO

 

Your earth-friendly garden store. Opened in May of 2010, Green Thumbs Garden Supply targets the needs of those who want to practice environmentally sustainable garden and lawn care. Offering a large selection of organic fertilizers, soils, compost, alternative pest and weed control methods, irrigation supplies, environment-friendly pots, planters, and baskets. You are sure to find what you need to get your soil living again. They also offer complimentary advice, and plan to start doing free in-house seminars beginning this August / September. Seminars will include such topics as: Organic gardening made easy; Composting and vermicomposting; Continuing the zero mile diet; Growing produce indoors for the winter and planning for the spring; and Seed starting, transplanting, choosing location and method of gardening. As well, they have more than 20 varieties of heirloom tomato starts, organically grown, in-house from May until mid-summer. They also offer certified organic heirloom seeds from Cubit’s organics.

 

We are located at 338 Kingston Road (east of Woodbine). For more info, visit www.green-thumbs.ca or call (647) 345-4769 (GROW).

 

Urban Harvest • TORONTO

 

Located in Parkdale at 193 Sorauren Ave., Urban Harvest provides heirloom organic seeds, seedlings, and garden supplies promoting ecological diversity. Also available at several local farmers’ markets and many retail outlets including The Big Carrot, Karma Co-op, 4 Life Organic Foods, and Grassroots.

 

Visit www.uharvest.ca, e-mail grow@uharvest.ca or call us at (416) 504-1653.

 

Seeds of Diversity

 

Seeds of Diversity Canada is a national grassroots network of more than 1,400 volunteer gardeners who grow heritage varieties and share seeds with one another. They offer an online resource list of seed companies which sell heritage seeds, a searchable inventory of all vegetable seeds sold in Canada, a booklet to help you learn the simple techniques of saving your own seeds, and members receive Seeds of Diversity magazine, as well as the Annual Seed Exchange Directory.

 

Seeds of Diversity is a registered charity and takes tax-receiptable donations for the important work of promoting food diversity.

 

Contact Seeds of Diversity Canada, P.O. Box 36, Station Q, Toronto M4T 2L7, call 1-866-509-7333, email mail@seeds.ca or visit www.seeds.ca.

 

Canadian Organic Growers (COG)

 

A non-profit organization helping farmers, gardeners, and consumers understand and transition to organic growing and eating. By donating to or volunteering for COG, you can help give it the clout it needs to support consumers and growers of organic food. By choosing to participate in the Toronto Chapter of COG, you can actively contribute to the organic movement in your area, find good sources of organic food, become educated on organic issues, and make an effective difference in cleaning the environment and improving health.

 

The Toronto chapter presents speakers and panel discussions on organic food and food production, hosts an annual conference in February in downtown Toronto, promotes organics by participation in public events, updates a directory for the GTA area, and produces a regular newsletter for members. COG Toronto has recently embarked on a project called “Off Our Plates,” which helps restaurants, schools, and daycare kitchens remove genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from their menus.  Watch out for Organic Week, a weeklong, national celebration of organic food and the producers of organic food. This year it will be October 10 to 17. 

 

For more information visit the website: www.cog.ca, send an email to torontochapter@cog.ca, or leave a message for Elizabeth at (416) 960-9011.

 

~ ORGANIC EVENTS ~

 

21st Annual feast of fields • KING TOWNSHIP

 

Savour the Moment…Be part of a truly innovative organic experience at this year’s wandering-outside Feast of Fields event.

 

Wander through a feast of organic and local wines, brewers, organic meat and vegetable producers, and local food artisans. Enjoy the commitment to local organic producers by our local chef supporters. With the goal of truly being green, all Feast of Fields’ food will be served on vegetable leaves and other innovative serving options. Join us at the 21st Anniversary of Feast of Fields on Sunday, Sept. 12 from 1 to 5pm in the beautiful Cold Creek Conservation Area, in the township of King.

 

Get up close and personal with more than 40 of Ontario’s top and prestigious chefs including Chef Daniel Gilbert, Celebrity Chefs Brad Long and Michael Smith, Bernardin’s in-house Chef Emerie Brine and Millcroft Inn’s Chef Roberto Fracchioni, to name a few. This extraordinary wandering open field event offers the organic foodie an opportunity to sample and taste a wide variety of exciting local and organic food and drinks. Feast of Fields is an event created by Organic Advocates, a non-profit association that supports organic food awareness and sustainability.

 

Tickets are $100 each and $90 for a group of 10 or more. Purchase your tickets on-line at www.feastoffields.org and or call (905) 859-3609.

 

30th Annual Guelph Organic Conference  & Trade Show • January 27 to 30, 2011

 

The theme for 2011 is Generation Organic, which highlights how (after 30 years) the organic sector can reflect on its first generation and plan for its next (to 2040, the next 30 years). This is Canada’s longest running organic marketing event.

 

The Canadian organic movement has become an economic engine and this show is where the business of organics can connect with the consumer of organics.

 

During the four-day Guelph Conference workshops, growers can be trained in opportunities to grow and supply the market, with several new farmer instructional sessions plus organic production workshops. There are more than 30 programs over the weekend. Special themes: organic certification stream; Ontario Organic Promotion theme; the young farmer training stream; intensive micro-farming workshops; eat your weedies; meet the worm you'll learn to love; forest gardening, etc. As always, the workshops are economically priced and pre-registration is possible. Watch for the Eco-Scholar Program.

 

The Trade Show runs on the last two days of the event in the Guelph University Centre (Jan. 29 to 30 only). This Saturday-Sunday, 155-booth Expo / Tasting Fair is free to consumers, students, and all retail shoppers who want to meet organic food suppliers face-to-face. Come prepared: bring carry-bags and cash to spend on organic chocolate, organic cheeses, jams, miso, pickles, and vegetables. Also, dozens of other vendors will sell organic books, seeds, garden supplies, and memberships to a number of great organic organizations. Vitality Magazine is an Organic Media Partner.

 

For info, sponsorships, exhibitor terms, contact Event Coordinator Tomás Nimmo at organix@georgian.net or call (705) 444-0923. Info is updated regularly.