Making the Most of Harvest Time in the Kingston Area
by Glenn Rea.
There is something about harvest season in Kingston that always brings back a flood of fond memories for many families who call this area home, including us.
Maybe it’s the changing colours, the crispness in the air, or taking a short drive to pick apples right from the tree or find that perfect pumpkin for carving. Maybe it’s wandering through a farmers’ market on the weekend, or getting lost in a corn maze, or discovering a little farm just outside the city that you never knew was there.
Because harvest time isn’t just about what we gather from the fields, it’s also about harvesting core memories that last forever. So, we thought we’d share a few places that have become part of our own fall traditions… that just might become part of yours. Plus living in Kingston means you don’t need to travel too far to find them.
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Shortcuts to Our Must-Visit Markets:
- Fruition Berry Farm
- Wynn Farms
- Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market
- Kingston Public Market
- Katarokwi Indigenous Market
Fruition Berry Farm
There are places that have a way of becoming part of your family traditions instantly, and Fruition Berry Farm is definitely one of those places.
Ken and Christine Paul began growing berries at Fruition in 2005, and they opened the farm to the public the following year. But the family’s farming roots actually go back much further, with Ken growing up on his parents’ Paulridge Berry Farm near Napanee, and we have actually known Christine for decades (when we were all “working neighbours” in the hospitality business on Ontario Street). Their farm currently grows pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and pumpkins at various times of the year.
FUN FACT:
Ever wonder why a strawberry you pick yourself seems to taste so much better? There is actually some science behind this phenomenon.
Strawberries don’t continue to ripen after they’re picked, so the berries destined for grocery stores are often harvested before they’re fully ripe (to survive shipping and handling). When you pick your own, you can choose ones that are perfectly ripe, warm from the sun, and eat them minutes later.
Now that sounds sweet to us!
Anne and Jake love visiting Fruition throughout the year, but their favourite trip might just be their annual big pickup for their neighbourhood Pumpkin Party. There are so many awesome pumpkins to choose from; and Christine even lets them head right into the patch with their trailer to pick a pile of perfect pumpkins themselves! Say that five times fast. 😊
But wait there’s more!
On weekends in the fall, you can also take a wagon ride before losing yourself in their massive corn maze (and yes, they change up the maze theme every year to keep us on our toes). They have even added a breathtakingly beautiful ginormous sunflower patch too!
DID YOU KNOW?
Not only are sunflowers gorgeous and their seeds delicious, but they also have a secret superpower to boot by removing toxins from the soil and water as well. In fact, following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, scientists used sunflowers to help remove radioactive cesium and strontium from contaminated water near the reactor (using specially constructed floating rafts filled with growing sunflowers). In one field demonstration, they reduced the radionuclides in the water by about 90% in just two weeks.
How’s that for flower power? Don’t worry, there is no test at the end of this blog.
Fruition Berry Farm is a place where you can slow down, get outside and enjoy a genuine farm experience, all while making memories that will last a lifetime. Over twenty years later, Fruition is still one of those special family farms that helps make our area so awesome!
Fruition Berry Farm — 3208 Hughes Road, Kingston
What is Kingston all about and what is it like to live here? We can start by talking about the absolutely fantastic entertainment scene! Learn more in Non-Stop Entertainment, Live Theatre, Live Music, and A Whole Lot of Talent!
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Wynn Farms
Another favourite fall tradition for our family is hanging out for awhile in the apple orchard at Wynn Farms.
This family-run orchard got its start in 1986, when the first apple trees were planted; and over the years it has grown into one of those popular places that local families can count on. Today, the orchard grows numerous varieties of apples, including many familiar favourites.
And while you can certainly buy apples at the grocery store, it’s just not the same. There is nothing quite like picking a perfectly ripe apple right off the tree and immediately eating it… and watching your kids do it is even more gratifying.
FUN FACT:
Did you know that a healthy full-sized apple tree can produce 300–400 pounds of apples in a good year? That’s a whole lot of pies or apple crisp! Even a small tree can produce up to 150 pounds. Curious to know what’s Ontario’s top apple these days? Gala currently takes the crown!
Get Lost! Literally!
If mazes really are your jam, Wynn Farms also has a super fun cornfield maze to solve every fall season (plus, you can pretend you’re on The Amazing Race because they always have a fun game to play that asks you to collect 10 images hidden within the giant maze).
You also really owe it to yourself to try a caramel or candy apple at least once too. Better yet, bring both home to compare! And don’t forget about their freshly smashed lemonade and tasty apple cider that will help quench any thirst in a heartbeat.
Over the years, Wynn Farms has expanded even more to include their own Flower Farm a little further down the road. This farm is home to not only a bunch of different vibrant wildflowers, but also “Ontario’s Longest Blooming Sunflower Field” that is celebrated every summer with a fantastic Sunflower Festival!
My kids at Wynn Farms in 1999. Can you believe these two are grown-up, responsible adults now?
Wynn Farms — 8191 Highway 33, Greater Napanee (and 9592 Highway 33 too!)
Do you have questions about living in Kingston? Find answers in the posts below:
- Where Is Kingston, Ontario?
- Is Kingston, Ontario a Good Place to Live?
- A Homeowner’s Ultimate Guide to Kingston Real Estate
Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market
And for all the times when your schedule is a little too hectic to fit in a drive to the countryside, visiting the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market on any given Sunday feels like taking a mini vacation and a mindful reset from the week’s hustle and bustle. Our pooch, Lucy, absolutely loves it there too!
This particular market has been bringing the farm and a whole lot more into the city since 2012, when local farmers and the Williamsville Community Association helped get it started.
But after more than a decade, calling it simply a farmers’ market doesn’t really do it justice or fully capture the experience. Sure, there are plenty of friendly farmers selling their freshest organic crops. But there’s also so much more. There are bakers and apiaries. There are microbreweries and small-batch roast-masters. There are fragrant florists, artisan preserve makers, and creative crafters.
There are also several culinary professionals serving up their scrumptious specialties that are guaranteed to make your tastebuds dance. Whether that’s the freshly made samosas and flavourful curries at 1000 Curry, or the plant-based vegan options prepared-to-order at Knifey Spooney, or the made-to-order fluffy crust gourmet pizzas at Lori Anne’s Pizza (just to name a few), you are going to thoroughly enjoy whatever you choose.
Churros, Chocolate, Candy and Other Sweet Stuff!
Now, if you’re completely new to the Memorial Market and are wondering if the lineup in front of The Churro Guy is worth it, the answer is a resounding “ABSOLUTELY!”. In fact, if you wanted to skip the main course and go straight for the churros, we wouldn’t blame you one bit.
And of course, grabbing a bag of dark chocolate chipotle pecan brittle from Cocoa Bistro, as well as a tub of maple cotton candy from Salmon River Sugarbush should always be on your to-do list (just remember to safeguard it in your cupboard for when you desperately need a tasty treat that will bring you back from the edge).
There are so many awesome vendors, but a special shout out must also go to Generations Apiary as well, with a wide variety of delightful items produced by some very happy and busy bees. This apiary has been around for decades; and at the first sign of a sore throat in our family, a teaspoon of their honey always hits the spot and provides lasting relief.
Lucy, after enjoying a treat for being a good girl at The Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market. Look at that face!
FUN FACT:
There’s a good reason to buy your honey locally, but it may not necessarily be the one you’ve heard about. Local honey contains nectar and pollen gathered from flowers growing in our own area, giving different honeys their own distinctive flavours.
Honey also contains naturally occurring antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds, which can definitely help when you’re feeling a little under the weather. However, scientists say there is no concrete evidence that eating local honey can cure seasonal allergies. Supporting local bees and beekeepers is still pretty sweet in our books.
Finally, Collective Joy Farm isn’t just the name of an amazing plant-based market vendor either; it’s a phrase that could literally describe the vibe you feel in the market itself. Seriously, strolling along and listening to the laughter of multiple generations mixed with the live toe-tapping tunes played by local musicians is sure to provide a dopamine boost that is palpable by the time you leave.
The Memorial Market runs every Sunday from 9 to 2 all year long; however, if you want to try some of the freshest bagels ever from Bon Bagel or pick up a loaf of sourdough bread from The Crusty Baker then be sure to get there before 11 AM….and if you’re like our pooch Lucy, you can arrive at 7:30 in the hopes that The Churro Guy drops something while setting up. 😊
Memorial Centre Farmer’s Market — 303 York Street, Kingston
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Looking for even more ways to enjoy Kingston’s art, food, scenery, and culture? You’ll find plenty in the posts below:
- Exploring Our Favourite Nature Trails in Kingston
- The Ultimate Kingston Staycation
- Experiencing Kingston’s Best Coffee Shops
Kingston Public Market
If you like a little history with your harvest or already have Sunday plans, then it’s hard to beat the Kingston Public Market in Springer Market Square right in the heart of Downtown behind City Hall. Farmers and vendors have been gathering here since 1801, making it Ontario’s oldest continuously operating public market. And the history of trading on this spot goes back even further, with Indigenous peoples trading with settlers here before the market was formally established.
More than two centuries later, you can still wander behind City Hall on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday and pick up fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, preserves and locally made products, with one of the prettiest backdrops of any farmers’ market around. There’s also something very cool about buying some vegetables in essentially the same place Kingstonians were doing it 225 years ago.
FUN FACT:
Kingston’s Market Square became 1880s Buffalo for Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak, travelled back to 1907 for Murdoch Mysteries and stood in for 1891 New Orleans in HBO’s Vendetta (we actually served Christopher Walken at the Lone Star while he was in Kingston filming the movie). Apparently, even Hollywood knows a great location when it sees one.
The Kingston Public Market at Springer Market Square — 1 Market Street, Kingston
Is your dream home waiting for you right here in Kingston?
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Katarokwi Indigenous Market
And while we’re talking about markets and history, there’s a very special one to put on your calendar for next year. The Katarokwi Indigenous Market takes over Confederation Park on the last Sunday of each month from May through September, bringing together talented Indigenous artists, artisans, food vendors, entrepreneurs and musicians along Kingston’s waterfront.
The market itself may be relatively new, but Indigenous trading in this part of Kingston certainly isn’t. Indigenous peoples were gathering and trading around what became Market Square long before the Kingston Public Market officially began in 1801. More than two centuries later, the Katarokwi Indigenous Market provides an opportunity to support Indigenous-owned businesses while experiencing some of the phenomenal food, art, craftsmanship and culture of the people whose history here goes back much, much further.
Katarokwi Indigenous Market — Confederation Park, 211–225 Ontario Street, Kingston
These are only a few of the reasons we feel fall is so fabulous when living in the Kingston area. We have incredible local farmers, makers and markets so close to home, along with countless opportunities to get outside and enjoy them with the people we love. Sure, the apples will get eaten, the pumpkins will be composted and all the leaves will eventually fall, but we know the memories we harvest will stick around forever.
Are you sold on life in Kingston?
No one is more excited and eager to welcome you than our Kingston real estate agents!
Reach out to us at caldwellco@royallepage.ca or call 613.449.6588 today with any questions.
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