Just 38 years in operation, Andrew’s is a fairly young farm but has already become a leading producer in the GTA’s berry market and the community’s go-to farm for seasonal berry picking. Sweet corn, squash and elderberries are among the farm-grown goodness available here. Guests can also gather fresh field flowers such as dahlias and sunflowers. For the little ones there's Straw Mountain, where kids can jump from stacked bales of hay or trek through a haunted forest. For the adults in the group, an in-house winery offers tastings of fruit wines.
On this self-guided trail, stops into dairy-centric delights include cheese factory tours and tastings at Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese and Mountainoak Cheese, to name a few. Enjoy some fresh country air and learn about the rich history of handmade cheeses, Swiss producing techniques, and the types of milk used to make different cheeses. The trail also includes stops at local cheese-focused eateries, as well as a cheese-themed playground where children can spin on a wheel of blue cheese and climb up large slices of swiss.
Opened in 1967, Chudleigh’s has been a long-standing staple for families. It was one of the first pick-your-own apple orchards in the province, offering jam-packed rows of apples ranging from russets to granny smiths. Their signature creation, the Chudleigh’s Apple Blossom, is a must-try. Also make sure to taste the freshly made butter toffee sticky cake and apple crumble if you’re in the mood for something sweet. Adventurous activities for kids run the gamut, including a long list of cute farm animals to pet, a huge (and tricky) hay maze to get lost in and pony rides that are sure to inspire any child’s inner cowboy.
One of Toronto’s only city farms, Riverdale spans seven acres over the heart of Cabbagetown. You can pop by to check out its scenic wooded pathways and gardens; or have a chat with the farmer while he does his daily chores collecting eggs, feeding the energetic animals and milking the goats. For Halloween, expect an on-site pumpkin carving station and a Boo Barn complete with face painting and crafts for kids. The farm is open year-round, giving us urbanites a chance to experience a bit of the country right here in the city.
The Hughes family has been growing fruit on this Milton farm for over six generations. Find an assortment of freshly picked strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins and gourds, along with other fruits and vegetables for sale at their barn market. Here, you can also purchase cherry pies and tarts inspired by the season’s harvest. Visit the observation beehive and learn how honey is harvested from more than one million bees. Until Oct. 29, catch their annual Harvest Festival for activities such as barbecues, wagon rides through a giant corn trail and puppet shows.
After two centuries in the business, Whittamore's Farm is saying farewell and will be closing their doors. For its final season, the 330-acre farm, known for its ripe-for-the-picking fruits and vegetables, will be open to families and friends until October 31. Farm-focused activities are aplenty here, from a sky-high corn maze to cow and goat milking and a pumpkin cannon show that catapults gourds to impressive heights. A short way up Strawberry Mountain will give you a perfect view of the rest of the farm and the scenic Rouge River Valley. There's also some Halloween fun to be had with wagon rides through a spooky forest.
