September marks the beginning of one of the most exciting times of the year at Gwillimdale Farms: harvest season. After months of planting, nurturing, and caring for our crops, it’s finally time for farm-fresh vegetables that will make their way from our fields to your family’s table.
The Importance of Timing
The harvest process is much more than simply gathering vegetables from the soil. It’s about precision and care. Timing is crucial. Each crop must be harvested at just the right moment to ensure it’s at it’s peak for both flavour and size. Pick too early, and the vegetable hasn’t reached it’s full potential. Leave it too long, and quality can diminish.
At Gwillimdale Farms, we work closely with nature, monitoring conditions daily to make sure your vegetables are harvested when they’re at their very best. In mid-August, we kicked off our onion transplant harvest, and the results have been strong. The onions are coming in with good quality, and it’s always rewarding to see the season’s hard work come to life in the fields.
By late August, we shifted into carrot harvest. While this year’s drought presented some challenges, our team has been working hard to adapt. Despite the tough weather, the carrots are coming along, and our Farm Manager Murray remains hopeful as we move through the season. With the resilience of our fields and our farmers’ dedication, we’re confident that we’ll continue to bring in a healthy, nutrient-packed harvest for our customers.
The Onion Harvest
From seed to storage, onions require patience and precision. In the weeks before harvest, onions are “topped” and laid in the field to dry naturally in the sun. This important step helps preserve quality and ensures they store well, so their flavour lasts long after harvest season ends.
We’re proud to play a role in delivering this versatile vegetable from our fields to your table.
The Potato Harvest
With specialized equipment, our team carefully lifts potatoes from the fertile soil of Bradford, ensuring they remain intact and undamaged. From there, they’re sorted, stored, and packed with food safety and freshness at top of mind. Whether they’re destined for fluffy mashed potatoes or crispy roasted sides, this nutrient-packed crop provides endless possibilities for family meals.
Up in Northern Ontario at our New Liskeard location, potato harvest is also in full swing, and the fields are looking promising. Our Fingerlings are a standout this year, a truly beautiful crop you won’t want to miss! We’re also working with red varieties, which faced some challenges from the hot summer temperatures, but overall, the crop is progressing well. To get the best results, our team starts early in the morning and wraps up by early afternoon, making the most of cooler hours in the day.
A Nutrient-Packed Harvest
Harvest season begins in August and carries through September and October, as we bring in Gwillimdale onions, carrots, potatoes, beets, and parsnips. These root vegetables thrive in the rich soils of our region, developing deep flavours and nutrient density as they grow.
Each harvest is the result of months of hard work, sustainable practices, healthy soil, and generations of farming knowledge, all coming together to provide vegetables that are as nourishing as they are delicious.
Farm-Fresh Vegetables, From Us to You
Every step of our harvest process is handled with care and commitment to quality. From the fields, vegetables move to our storage and packing facilities, where they’re washed, graded, and prepared for delivery. Because we manage everything from seed to store, we can ensure only the freshest farm-grown produce reaches your table.
Why Harvest Season Matters
Harvest is a reminder of what farming is all about: working with the land, respecting the rhythms of nature, and feeding our community. It’s a time of long days, teamwork, and celebration of the food we’re proud to grow.
Stay connected on social media for behind-the-scenes looks at this year’s harvests, including thoughts from our farm managers and team members who make it all possible. After all, great food starts in the field and we’re proud to share that journey with you.