To really experience the region you have to taste, smell and savour it. The CultivATE Taste Trail makes discovering the region’s sweet and savoury flavours and fragrances easy, with routes that run through wine country and along the waterfront. Download the map to discover farms, nurseries, greenhouses, and other hidden gems that deliver the best the region has to offer.
Learn about farming techniques, enjoy fresh air and sunshine, and do your grocery shopping right at the source with a visit to one of the region’s many U-Pick farms.
Depending on the time of year, Windwood Farms offers apples, pears, plums, pumpkins and squash, Tigchelaar specializes in strawberries, Inn The Orchard produces cherries, and Cherry Avenue Farms has cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, pears and nectarines. There’s a bounty to be found at Romagnoli Farms, from rhubarb to apples, asparagus to potatoes, while Bizjak Farms grows tree-ripened peaches, as well as berries, apples, grapes and more. If you’re sweet on maple, head to White Meadows Farms to snack on a maple-inspired tasting board.
Cherry Lane Farm has cherries, peaches and pears, and each spring hosts BlossomFest, a celebration of the community. Grab a bite from food trucks, sip samples from distillers, and meet local crafters and makers for some handmade souvenirs. If you’re an animal lover, drop by Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm for adorable farm animal viewing. They’ve got walking trails and a playground as well.
Be sure to browse the farms’ websites before you visit to find out what’s in season and where their farm stands are located.
The St. Catharines Farmers’ Market is a one-stop shop to indulge in the bounty from the region’s farmers, producers, bakers, and makers. Taking over Market Square year-round on Saturdays, and on Thursdays from February through December, you’ll find farm-fresh produce, local flowers, wines, teas and more. Additionally, running late spring to early fall, catch Music in the Square, a concert series that brings musicians to the square on Saturdays.
Who doesn’t love a bright bouquet of flowers? Pump House Gardens grows their own florals, think tulips, ranunculus, dahlias and more, and stocks its self-serve flower stand Monday through Saturday. And with two locations, the Watering Can Flower Market is an immersive experience. Pick up a bouquet at their St. Catharines shop, or in Vineland, browse through their boutique filled with flowers, succulents, tropical plants and cacti, and indulge in a sweet treat or two at their cafe. You can also book a table for their afternoon teas. Menus are themed, with new delicacies to try throughout the year.
