About Berries
Videos
Discover how Ontario growers innovate to enhance strawberry and raspberry quality while extending the harvest season.
What happens to blueberries once they’re harvested from the field? Watch this video to learn all there is to know about a Canadian blueberry farm, and how the blueberries can go from the field to your table in a variety of products!
If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to grow up and live on a berry farm in Canada, this video is for you. Watch to hear the story of some Canadian berry farmers and learn why they choose to do what they do.
Growing berries in Canada has its challenges as everything wants to eat them – including YOU! Click to watch, and learn how Canadian berry farmers have adapted to the changing environment on their farm.
Nothing is as quintessential to Canada Day as strawberries.
That’s why Berry Growers of Ontario invited food media and influencers to experience the heart of berry production in Ontario’s Norfolk County.
In June 2019, journalists visited Blueberry Hill Estates, St. Williams, Ontario. Owner Nick Vranckx showcased his 13 varieties of blueberries. He’s fervently passionate about how blueberries “make your day better.”
Articles
Berries are nutritious in so many ways!
Blueberries contain more vitamin K, which plays a role in wound healing and bone health, than other berries.
Just cup of strawberries packs in your daily quota for vitamin C.
Raspberries offer double the amount of fibre found in most other berries.
Nothing says summer like fresh strawberries. With their sweet flavour and bright red colour, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and disease-fighting phytochemicals.
On the nutrition front, strawberries serve up a hefty dose of heart-healthy nutrients including folate, vitamin C and potassium. In fact, one cup of sliced strawberries delivers 97 milligrams of vitamin C – more than a day’s worth!
Whether you add them to smoothies or salads, or eat them on their own, you can’t beat the delicious taste and nutrient profile of raspberries – they’re one of my favourite summer fruits!
Raspberries have a reputation for being a super fruit, and for good reason. They’re high in fibre and packed with powerful disease-fighting antioxidants. In fact, raspberries rank in the top 50 foods when it comes to their antioxidant powers.
Whether you add them to smoothies or salads, or eat them on their own, you can’t beat the delicious taste and nutrient profile of raspberries – they’re one of my favourite summer fruits!
Raspberries have a reputation for being a super fruit, and for good reason. They’re high in fibre and packed with powerful disease-fighting antioxidants. In fact, raspberries rank in the top 50 foods when it comes to their antioxidant powers.
Eating blueberries every day improves heart health.
Eating one cup (150 g) of blueberries a day reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to new research led by the University of East Anglia. The new findings suggest that eating 150 g of blueberries daily reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 15 per cent.
Most members of the Berry Growers of Ontario are family run farms.
Several of them are multi-generational operations that have, over time, finely honed stewardship of their land through innovative and sustainable agricultural practices. These include the introduction of new varieties of berries, such as the high bush blueberries, to increasingly northern locations of Ontario for the first time.
Berry growers in Ontario use advanced methods of sustainable berry cultivation, harvesting and packaging.
Many are multi-generational, family-run operations. They steward the land through techniques such as soil testing, crop rotation and mulching with biodegradable materials. Straw is commonly used to protect strawberries and suppress weed competitors.
Berry Growers in Ontario are increasingly using sustainable forms of packaging to deliver their berries to consumers.
The move towards sustainable packaging has been hastened with the 2019 Canadian government announcement of a ban on harmful, single-use plastic by 2021.
What's the best time to pick berries?
Ontario berries are always best at their peak freshness, and timing depends on their variety and geography. As a general rule, Ontario field berries can be purchased anytime from May through October, while Ontario greenhouse berries are available almost all year-round.
Blueberries are picked July, August, and September.
About the Berry Growers of Ontario
The Berry Growers of Ontario (BGO), a provincial organization regulated by the Farm Products Marketing Act, represents blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry growers by funding industry promotion, research activities and educational events for the benefit of its members.
BGO is active in all facets of the berry industry from wholesale and retail to pick-your-own and on-farm markets on behalf of its approximately 200 members. BGO also works closely with the Agribusiness value chain with current farm gate value for fresh Ontario berries estimated in excess of $40 million annually.
Local, field-grown berries can now be enjoyed from May until October. Your local growers are using new growing techniques to serve up flavourful, fresh Ontario berries for five months of the year. And recently, Ontario greenhouses began selling greenhouse-grown strawberries with great success, providing local strawberries to Ontario consumers year-round.
Our Vision
Empowering Ontario berry growers to cultivate a vibrant, competitive industry that provides consumers
with local, great-tasting, and nutritious berries.
Our Mission
BGO will aide growers in expanding the Ontario berry consumer market base while readying its
members for the challenges they face. They will:
• Provide the best available resources to growers through research and education on
innovative production methods and technology.
• Clearly and consistently communicate the availability, accessibility, and superiority of
Ontario berries.
• Work to expand the window of availability of Ontario berries and create a market with
consistent volume.
