Berry Farm Videos
Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries all have one thing in common– they’re delicious! Check out this video to learn all there is to know about berries grown in Canada: who grows them, how they’re grown, how they go from the field to the market, and more!
Berry 360
Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries all have one thing in common– they’re delicious! Check out this video to learn all there is to know about berries grown in Canada: who grows them, how they’re grown, how they go from the field to the market, and more!
BERRY GROWING TECHNIQUES
Did you know not all strawberries grow in a field?! Check out this video to learn ALL the different growing techniques that Canadian berry farmers use to grow strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries!
BERRIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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.
LIFE OF A BERRY FARM FAMILY
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.
FROM BLUEBERRY TO PRODUCT
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!
Berry Fast Facts
- The green leafy whorl or 'cap' on top of a strawberry is called the calyx. As the strawberry flower develops into fruit, the calyx remains intact.
- Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and fibre and are low in calories.
- To pick a strawberry, gently hold the stem between thumb and forefinger. Carefully pinch and break the stem to release the berry without squeezing the berry itself.
- Flavour is one of the most important characteristics when Ontario growers choose a strawberry variety. Size and shape, colour, firmess, and cold tolerance are other characteristics. This is why Ontario strawberries are so sweet!
- Raspberries are aggregate fruits, meaning that the big piece of fruit you eat is actually dozens of tiny fruits growing together. These tiny fruits, or bumps, are called drupletes.
- Cultivation of raspberries began in the 1600s. In North America, raspberries were considered a luxury in the 1800s.
- To pick raspberries, you must be gentle as they are the most fragile of all the berries.
- Raspberries are a classic jam fruit.
- In Ontario, the most common berries grown are strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
- Typical substrates are based on peat, coco coir, and/or perlite.
- A grower will develop a recipe based on desired specifications including water uptake characteristics, stability, pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrients.
- Coco coir is made out of the outer layer of the coconut. Those fibers are what make up coco coir.
- Blueberries are a source of Vitamin C and fibre; one-half cup contains 41 calories.
- Blueberries are native to North America with large stands in the Maritimes and coastal New England.
- For optimum flavour, bring refrigerated blueberries to room temperature before serving.
- Thanks to greenhouse grown strawberries, Ontario strawberries are available 12 months of the year! Enjoy locally grown strawberries, even through the winter months.