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.

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. Additionally, in order to maintain LFP certification, when pesticide use is necessary, only pesticides that are considered to be of lower risk  are  permitted. This 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.
         Cover Crops: Use of 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 Safe Food Consulting, we continually monitor our operating procedures to ensure we are producing safe, healthy fruits and vegetables.