Gobble gobble! It’s October - the season that ushers in crisp weather, comfy sweaters, and the arrival of Thanksgiving!
Greenbelt farmers are busy growing the produce that we need to make a healthy and nutritious Thanksgiving dinner - including dessert! This October we challenge you to purchase as many local products and incorporate them into your Thanksgiving feast!
The Greenbelt’s got everything you need - from turkey, potatoes, and carrots for dinner to pumpkins and apples for dessert. Use our list to find everything on your Thanksgiving shopping list at a Greenbelt farm near you.
Turkey
Durham
Forsythe Family Farms, Uxbridge
Sunnyside All Natural Meat, Cannington
Willowtree Farms, Port Perry
York
Diversity Farms, Gormley
Round the Bed Farms, Kettleby
MacWilliam Farms, Queensville
Peel
Broadway Farms Market, Caledon
Heatherlea Acres Country Market, Caledon
Hamilton
Morden’s Organic Farm Market, Dundas
Betzhaven Turkeys, Lynden
Niagara
Lake Land Meats & Farm Market, St. Catharines
Windwood Farms, Beamsville
Silmaril Farms, Grimsby
Potatoes
Bake, mash or fry the delicious spuds - find the closest farm that sells them here. Want something sweeter? Every one’s favourite sweet potato can also make an appearance at your Thanksgiving dinner. You can buy them here, and you can try our roasted sweet potato recipe.
Carrots, Beets, Okra, and Onion
Creating a delicious and in-season side dish has never been easier during the fall, all you have to do is dice your favourite root vegetables to about equal size with a little oil and salt and roast them with the turkey but not for the same amount of time - find the closest farm that sells your favourite root vegetables here. Try adding some rutabaga or turnips to the mix! They definitely add a new and interesting mix to the usual roasted vegetables.
My favourite side dish to the potatoes and any poultry is sauteed okra with garlic - get the recipe here. Find the closest farm to you that sells okra here and local garlic here.
Pumpkins and Apples
After indulging in a delicious thanksgiving meal it’s time to finish the evening with an apple or pumpkin pie (or both) - find the closes apple farm and pumpkin farm to you here. Don’t know what dessert to make? Try our apple crisp recipe!
Don’t forget that no meal is complete without a glass of local wine, craft beer, or cider. Share your in-season meal with us on Twitter by tweeting @OnGreenbelt or using #ONGreenbelt.
– Andreea Nicoara
