Businesses and individuals in Norfolk County were recently acknowledged at the Local Food Recognition Day organized by South Central Ontario Economic Development Corporation (SCOR) held at the Fanshawe College Simcoe / Norfolk Regional Campus.
Jenn VanDeVelde of Wholesome Pickins
Wholesome Pickins, owned by Jenn and Dave VanDeVelde of Delhi, won the Farmers / Producers and Processors Award. Wholesome Pickins is a family owned fruit and vegetable farm market and scratch bakery. They grow June-bearing and ever-bearing strawberries, raspberries, and pumpkins.
Jennifer von Schleinitz and Ryan Rivard
Chef Ryan Rivard and partner Jennifer von Schleinitz and their team at The Combine of Simcoe and Lago Trattoria of Port Dover won the Restaurants and Businesses Award. The Combine Restaurant boasts a 2,200-square-foot garden, containing zucchini, pattypan squash, radishes, nine types of lettuce, as well as herbs such as chervil and lavender, and seven types of sweet and spicy peppers, which are harvested to make the restaurant’s sauces. A small corn patch with 21 plants is also an experiment for the future.
Jason Mayo, a teacher at Simcoe Composite School, won the Food Literacy / Education Award. Jason Mayo has appeared twice on the TV series Masterchef Canada.
Jason Mayo (center) with the Fairly Fat Guys, Norfolk County’s Local Food Ambassadors
Norfolk Fruit Growers Association of Simcoe won the Regional Award. The association presently boasts 10 active member-growers who collectively ship their apples and pears through central facilities. Their entire storage facilities presently exceed 3,500,000 cubic feet (102,000 cubic metres) with a huge capacity for cold, controlled-atmosphere, low-oxygen, common, and dry storage.
Several other Norfolk County businesses and individuals were nominated:
- Scott McRae, chef at David’s Restaurant
- Joy Café
- Blue Elephant Restaurant
- Mark Sloot of Austin’s Farm Market
- The Barrel Restaurant
- Local Vegetable Co.
- Hunts Honey
- Burning Kiln Winery
- Vanessa’s Bees
- Marg Land of Annex Publishing
- EZ Grow Farms
- Bonnieheath Estate Lavender & Winery
- Fanshawe College Agri-Business management Program
Norfolk Fruit Growers Association pack line
