No, farmers don't get to kick back and relax during the winter months as they await spring. Food columnist Andrew Coppolino spoke with several local farmers about the important work they get done when their fields are snow-covered.
With cooperative weather, there has been a bounty of local crops available at farmers markets and at farm stores in the region. Food columnist Andrew Coppolino spoke with some local farmers about how the summer season has been and what's ahead that's good to eat.
From heat and frost to floods and drought, crops can be impacted. Growing asparagus in this part of the province is no easy task, as the crop can not only face climate-related challenges but also can be expected to live for years. “The thing about asparagus is that we call it a perennial plant because it lives from year to year, so when a farmer plants an asparagus plantation he or she wants that plantation to grow for maybe up to two decades, said Dr. David Wolyn, a professor at the University of Guelph. Creating a crop that can do just that takes years of research.