We are proud to be one of the first "pick-your-own" farms in Ontario to be "LFP Certified"

Local Food Plus Certification stands for:
·    Environmentally responsible farming
·    Sustainable production methods
·    Reduced greenhouse gases
·    Farmland and wildlife habitat preservation
·    Fostering a strong local economy

To learn more about Local Food Plus visit their website at www.localfoodplus.ca

In addition to our recent LFP Certification, many things are being done at the farm to honour our environmental  commitment.

Barrie Hill Farms is a plastic bag free zone. Since May 2009, all of our asparagus and other veggies has been sold in 100% compostable bags. With the widespread introduction of curbside green bin programs, you can re-use your bag as a liner for your green bin. By composting household food scraps and organics, we can all do our part to reduce our ecological footprint, and divert waste from our landfill sites. Since all of our berries are packaged for sale in either recyclable plastic or cardboard, this change means now you can purchase fresh Barrie Hill Farms fruits and veggies without any waste packaging. All of our packaging is either recyclable, or fully compostable!

No GMOs. None of our crops are genetically modified.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is practiced. This means that pesticides are used only when absolutely necessary and are never the only means to control pest problems. We use organic practices like crop rotation and cover crops to limit pests and improve soil structure and nutrients. We also use crop scouting to identify pests early and treat them only when necessary. Additionally, in order to maintain LFP certification, when pesticide use is necessary, only pesticides that are considered to be of lower risk are permitted. When we do use a pesticide, we make that decision based on the long term impact to our land, our health, and the safety of our produce – not just on today’s economics. The use of IPM has enabled Barrie Hill Farms to greatly reduce pesticide use, and our environmental impact.

Environmental Farm Plan (EFP). This is a voluntary self assessment that is done by Ontario farmers and reviewed by a peer group committee. Farmers assess environmental risks posed by their operation and develop an action plan to minimize or eliminate these risks. Barrie Hill Farms completed an Environmental Farm Plan soon after the program began in 1993, and has since made many changes to its operation, such as:
         Water Conservation: Increased use of drip irrigation technology to minimize water required for irrigating our crops. Look closely in the strawberry fields next time you're picking. Each row of plants has a drip line buried beneath the roots of the plants. We apply water directly to the root  zone - sometimes during the day when people are picking - and are able to use irrigation water very efficiently. The fruit and leaves stay dry, which not only conserves water, but also reduces leaf diseases and fruit molds, thereby reducing the need for pesticides.
         Cover Crops: We plant alternate crops to reduce wind and water erosion of our soils.
         Crop Rotation: Where possible crops are grown in rotation to decrease disease and pest pressure. Many of our crops, however, are long term crops and rotations may be over several years.

On Farm Food Safety Program. Barrie Hill Farms has operating procedures in place to minimize the risk of food borne disease and food contamination. Working with various organizations, including The Canadian Horticultural Council, we continually monitor our operating procedures to ensure we are producing safe, healthy fruits and vegetables.