Frontenac Farm to Kingston Table

Adapted from articles written by Aric McBay | Jul 02, 2020

In Frontenac County, there’s a community of farmers who believe in growing crops and raising livestock in a way that is sustainable and ethical. Their farming practices actually improve the land, support healthy and happy animals, and produce food that is whole and nutrient rich. As a result, Kingston’s culinary creators rely on the talented and tireless farmers in the region as they work together to bring organic, compassionately raised and ethically sourced ingredients to the table. Here are a few ways you can experience the taste of Frontenac, on the farm, from the market or at the table.

Food Less Travelled

Kim and Dave Perry operate both Perry Maine-Anjou Farm and Food Less Travelled located at 6674 Road 38 in Verona.

Food Less Travelled carries products from the Perry farm, Kim’s handmade take-home meals, and products from local farmers across Frontenac County and the region. “We try to stay as local as possible,” explains Kim. “Where it was grown is a priority, and then where it was processed. Whether it is organic, if possible, and whether it is from a family farm or a small family processor.”

Long Road Eco Farm

Xiaobing Shen and Jonathan Davies run Long Road Eco Farm, just north of Kingston on Highway 38. At the centre of their farm operation are the Chinese peasant foods that Xiaobing prepares -- “farm sum,” that includes delicious steamed buns, along with chili oil and fermented vegetables and tofu. The food is based on what Xiaobing ate growing up in rural China.

You can buy Farm Sum and other products at the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market in Kingston every Sunday from 10-3. Get in touch with Xiaobing to arrange a Farm Sum workshop so you can learn how to make delicious steamed buns and dumplings.

Maple Ridge Farm

Becky Williams and Mark McCrady run Maple Ridge Farm just north of Sydenham. They raise grass-finished Dexter Beef, pastured Berkshire pork, and pastured chickens for meat and eggs. They also keep honeybees and grow cut flowers.

“Our goal is to grow the most nutritious, delicious food,” says Mark. “When you buy meat from us it’s good for you, it’s good for the animal, and it’s good for the environment.”

Maple Ridge meat or flowers can be ordered at www.mapleridge-farm.ca. Order by Wednesday for delivery to your door on Thursday, or choose farm pick-up on Fridays. Flowers can also be found at Glenburnie Grocery, Tara Natural Foods, Limestone Creamery, and Sigrid’s Natural Foods.

Sonset Farm

“We don’t inherit the land from our parents,” reads the label on Sonset Farm flour, “we borrow it from our children.” That’s the ethic at the heart of Sonset Farm, an organic family farm with a farm-gate store at 4403 Latimer Rd, just west of Inverary.

Visit their on-farm store and purchase farm products at Glenburnie Grocery, Sigrid's Natural Foods, Tara Natural Foods, and Wendy's County Market or experience their food as part of a meal at The Everly, located in downtown Kingston.

de Ruiter Black Angus Beef

Trudy and her husband Case run de Ruiter Black Angus Beef on Wolfe Island. A few years ago, after more than 30 years of dairy farming, Trudy and Case decided to transition from dairy to beef. Now they exclusively raise grass-fed Black Angus cattle.

Grass-fed beef can be ordered directly from the de Ruiter farm via email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). You can also purchase from their on-farm store (operated out of an 1880’s granary building) and find de Ruiter beef at The Pig and Olive in Downtown Kingston, and on the menu at The Wolfe Island Grill.

Henderson Farms

Along with family, Robert Henderson runs Henderson Farms on Wolfe Island; his farm’s speciality is their award-winning jellies and jams. “We have about 50 different types of jams, jellies, and marmalades.” Robert is the four-time Grand Champion Jam and Jelly Maker of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

Purchase Henderson Farms jams and jellies at Fargo’s General Store on Wolfe Island at the Kingston Public Market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the spring, summer and fall. Learn more at www.hendersonfarms. on.ca and get in touch with Robert to book your own afternoon tea experience.

Open Farms

Open Farms is an annual celebration of local food and agriculture, where the farms of Frontenac invite visitors on to their farm to meet the people who grow their food and to stand on the land it comes from . Plan to be in Frontenac on Sunday, September 13, 2020 for Open Farms, the award winning annual event that allows you to get a behind-the-scenes look at real working farms. Event details and updates are available at www.openfarms.ca.

Read the full articles at www.infrontenac.ca/local-farms