Latest agriculture data from Statistics Canada confirms that Norfolk County is a leading farming region in the nation from several perspectives, including technology use, fruit and vegetable production, and employment.
Norfolk County is located along Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario. Farms around Port Dover, Turkey Point, Simcoe, and Delhi produce fruit and vegetables consumed by the Greater Toronto Area, located just 90 minutes away.
Norfolk County farmers grow the most asparagus, cabbage, tart cherries, ginseng, peppers, pumpkins, rye, squash and zucchini, strawberries, and other vegetables in Ontario.
The region is also a major source of apples, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, lettuce, raspberries, sweet corn, and tomatoes. Wineries and craft breweries are sprouting up in Norfolk County.
“Our farmers use more technology per acre than any other region of Canada,” said Clark Hoskin, Economic Development Manager for Norfolk County, who analyzed the data.
Technology includes usage of computers and laptops, smartphones and tablets, GIS mapping and GPS technology.
Norfolk County farmers employ more than 7,600 workers, the highest number of any region in Canada.
“Our farmers and people who work in agriculture, food production and agribusiness should be proud of the very positive, lasting contribution they make to prosperity and well-being in our communities every day and into the future,” Hoskin said.
The report Census of Agriculture: Norfolk County by the Numbers is based on a detailed analysis of the Census of Agriculture 2016.
For more information or to download the report, visit www.norfolkbusiness.ca/agriculture.
Highlights
- Total land in crops: 196,403 acres
- Number of farms: 1,307
- Number of farm operators: 1,860
- Average age of farm operator: 55.7 years
- Total farm market capital: $3.29 billion
- Total farm gross receipts: $519 million
Number 1 Grower in Canada
- Asparagus, Tart Cherries, Ginseng, Peppers, Pumpkins, Other Vegetables
Number 1 Grower in Ontario
- Asparagus, Cabbage, Tart Cherries, Ginseng, Pepper, Pumpkins, Rye, Squash and Zucchini, Strawberries, Other Vegetables
Leader in Farm Employee Numbers
- #1 in Canada – Total Number of Employees
- #1 in Canada – Total Number of Seasonal or Temporary Workers
Leader in Farm Receipts & Capital Value
- #1 in Ontario – Number of Farms reporting Gross Farm Receipts over $2 million
- #2 in Ontario – Total Farm Capital Per Acre of Land in Crops
Leader in Technology Use
- #1 in Canada – Highest usage per acre – Computers & Laptops, Smartphones & Tablets, GPS Technology, GIS Mapping
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is much more info on our website.
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