We often associate fall with endings. It is when the weather begins to turn, marking the completion of the long, warm summer days. It is also harvesting time, when growing finishes and farmers steadily pull in the last of their produce before frost sets in and growing ceases until spring. These facts of nature are undeniably an “ending”; however, autumn can also be a beginning as well.
As anyone who waits all year for “sweater weather” can tell you, fall ushers in a unique season of warmth and gathering. Autumn is the time when we stop and reflect, not just individually, but as a community as well. At the heart of this is the harvest, the plentiful tables loaded with fresh breads, hearty vegetables, and of course, sweet treats. To me, fall is a celebration. It is a celebration of who we are, what we’ve accomplished, and the strength that will carry us through winter—and few places are better equipped to support you through that celebration than Gerrie’s Farm Market on the corner of Colborne St and Gerrie Rd in Elora.
Since they opened, Gerrie’s Farm Market has been committed to providing their customers with high-quality local produce, which manifests itself in their “Gerrie’s Grown” logo. This logo, which marks the produce they’ve grown themselves, is a promise that their product is 100% organically grown, giving their customers naturally grown, nutritious food. This is, of course, a year-long promise; however, at fall and harvest time, it means a wide range of hearty root vegetables. From potatoes and sweet potatoes to carrots and beets, Gerrie’s Farm Market has all of the fresh fall veggies that you need to turn your autumn tables into cornucopias of nutrition and colour.
Of course, the farm market is only half of Gerrie’s business, and the turning of the weather doesn’t mean that their garden centre is closed quite yet. September sees the arrival of a plethora of mums in a range of colours waiting to decorate your outdoor spaces. September into October is also the ideal time for planting spring-flowering bulbs (i.e., your tulips, daffodils, etc.). Gerrie’s carries a wide variety of bulbs in both flowers and colours, meaning that there is something for everyone.
When it comes to autumn, there is one produce that is so iconic that it is essentially synonymous with the season: pumpkins. Whether you’re looking for a smaller, sweeter pumpkin for baking or the larger variety to add a delightful pop of bright orange to complement your mums (or carve into a jack-o-lantern), Gerrie’s has all you could possibly need. Each fall, their store fills with pumpkins, as well as squash and gourds, ensuring that you’re covered from Thanksgiving to Halloween.
Speaking of Thanksgiving, Gerrie’s isn’t just about veggies and natural décor; they can be your one-stop shop when it comes to your harvest table. Along with fresh local produce, Gerrie’s is also proud of their equally fresh and just as local baking. When it comes to breads, muffins, and some speciality pies, they bake many of these themselves in-house. However, they carry an even larger variety of fresh baking, especially pies, from local bakeries, so there will be something for everyone, no matter their taste buds.
As for the show-stopper of every Thanksgiving meal, Gerrie’s Farm Market sells fresh turkey for the holidays. While they always carry a few extras, they go fast. The best way to ensure that you’ve got a turkey for the big dinner is to order it ahead of time.
Regardless of whether we’ve been speaking about produce, baking, or meat, you may have noticed one word continued to appear: local. Gerrie’s grows a lot of their own produce, but they also carry product from a large variety of local Ontario vendors. In a world that has only become bigger, it is now increasingly easier to access global products, Gerrie’s Farm Market wants to act as a connection between local producers and local consumers. That’s part of the inspiration for their latest event: “Sample It Saturday” on September 26 from 10am to 2pm.
Set to happen along with the Fall Rural Romp by Taste Real, Sample It Saturday aims to put the personal back into shopping. On this day, several of Gerrie’s vendors are invited to set up small booths in their parking lot, giving their customers a chance to talk to them directly. Visitors will be able to meet the vendors, ask questions, and learn a little about industries that may include olive oil or goat/sheep dairy products. Free samples, of course, are also provided.
So, this year, instead of mourning the end of summer, let’s celebrate fall and all that is has to offer. Gerrie’s Farm Market has everything you need to get you started.
WRITTEN BY: JILLIAN KENT | PHOTOS: GERRIE’S FARM MARKET
