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 Canada GAP, we continually monitor our operating procedures to ensure we are producing safe, healthy fruits and vegetables.