Want to save time and eat farm-fresh meals? 11 Ways in Simcoe County.

Add the farm to the list of businesses that deliver. It’s tough to prepare nourishing meals with fresh ingredients on a consistent basis when you are living life on the go. Many of us are hard pressed to get to the grocery store let alone a local farm. Luckily, there are businesses that will bring the farm to you.

These Simcoe County businesses deliver local, farm-fresh produce grocery items, and meal boxes right to your front door.

Farms that deliver to your door in Simcoe County:

1. Edencrest Farms www.edencrestfarms.com

2. McBride’s Organic Farm www.mcbridesorganic.farm

3. Nicholyn Farms www.nicholyn.com

5. Northern Organics www.northernorganics.ca

7. ClearWater Farms www.clearwaterfarms.ca

8. Carron Farms Ltd. www.carronfarms.ca

These businesses deliver food boxes containing local ingredients along with recipes to make your meal prep easier:

1. Hello Fresh www.hellofresh.ca

2. Cook It www.chefcookit.com

3. Chef’s Plate www.chefsplate.com

Edencrest Farms

Jim and Maureen Giffen have a 260-acre farm where they raise cows, chickens and hens. They also grow and sell their own crops, run a bed-and-breakfast, manage a greenhouse, and a year-round Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) in which people purchase annual shares in the farm’s harvest and then receive a weekly food basket full of fresh produce each season. Baskets can be customized on a weekly basis and can be delivered to your home.

Location: 2904 Rainbow Valley Road, MinesingHome delivery or Pick-ups:Wednesday, 11 am to 8 pm – Edencrest FarmWednesday, 2 pm to 7 pm – 413 Georgian Drive, BarrieThursday, 2 pm to 7 pm – 387 Codrington Street, BarrieThursday, 3 pm to 6:30 pm – Oasis of Hope Church, BarrieThursday, 11 am to 8 pm – Edencrest Farmwww.edencrestfarms.com

McBride’s Organic Farm

Doug and Sharon McBride have been growing organic local food for 20 years. They believe in sustainable agriculture that leaves the smallest carbon footprint possible and offer a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, dry goods and more, for delivery. Customers can go online to choose options from “This Weeks List” for their weekly boxes.

Location: RR # 2, 1432 8 Line N, Oro StationHome delivery or Pick-ups:Friday, afternoon or by appointment – McBride’s Organic FarmSaturday, 7:30 am to 12:30 pm – Orillia Farmers’ MarketSaturday, 8:00 am to noon – Barrie Farmers’ Marketwww.mcbridesorganic.farm

Nicholyn Farms

Nicholyn Farms is a multi-generational family business that produces local, organic, and traditionally-raised foods. They offer quality meat, nutrient-rich produce, fresh-baked goods, homemade preserves, meat packages, and ready-made meals. Nicholyn Farms also offers an award-winning, healthy school lunch program that helps children get the nutrition they need all year long.

Location: 3088 Horseshoe Valley Road W, PhelpstonSchool delivery or Pick-ups at Nicholyn Farms:Monday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pmTuesday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pmWednesday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pmThursday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pmFriday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pmSaturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pmSunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pmwww.nicholyn.com

Northern Organics

Northern Organics deliver organic fruits and vegetables to your door. They strive to provide the highest quality produce in the most convenient and cost-effective way. They believe that fresh, healthy, organic foods should be accessible to all.

Location: OnlinePhone:  1-800-745-1617Home or Business Delivery:Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pmNorthern Organics Facebook Page

ClearWater Farms

ClearWater Farms is committed to combining state-of-the-art, chemical-free growing practices with tender, love and care to consistently produce delicious, nutritious food for you and your family. Door-to-door delivery is available within a 10 km radius for an additional cost.  Consult the website or give us a call to discover the pick-up location for areas outside this radius.

Email: info@clearwaterfarms.caPhone: 705-242-9300Location:  Onlinewww.clearwaterfarms.ca

Carron Farms Ltd.

Owned and operated by the Verkaik family since 1934, Carron Farms produces high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables for Ontario’s families, retail grocers, and food service companies. Carron Farms also offers a Harvest Share Food Box program either weekly or bi-weekly. This program runs from Mid-June to the end of October each year.  Each week you receive a box of fresh seasonal Ontario produce. This season’s first boxes go out June 14, 15, and 16 and the final boxes go out October 25, 26, and 27.

Location: 819 Canal Road, BradfordPhone: 905-775-2432Email:  contact@carronfarms.cawww.carronfarms.ca

These aren’t farms that deliver, but pretty close. The idea of having a box of fresh, pre-portioned ingredients from local farms delivered to your door along with easy-to-follow recipes is growing in popularity and many now deliver within Simcoe County.

Hello Fresh

Hello Fresh even offers a Pronto Plan which offers to pre-cut your veggies for you. Hello Fresh gets their ingredients from Artisan Farms, which is a co-op of over 300 small family farms dedicated to doing things the old-fashioned way − families working together to produce fine meats, based on generations of knowledge and techniques. Meal plans range from $10.83/meal to $12.33/meal. Every week their chefs create delicious recipes that can be completed in 30 minutes and include photos and step-by-step instructions. Shipping is free.  On the Family Plan menu as of August 3, 2018: Garlic-Ginger Glazed Beef, Sage-Butter Pork Chops, Herby Asparagus Potato Bake.

Location: Onlinewww.hellofresh.ca

Cook It

All of the food offered is from local farms, the meats are hormone-free, and the fish is from sustainable fisheries. Vegetarian and low-gluten options are available in their meals and this plan offers up to 5 meals per week and between 2-6 servings per meal, with each serving being enough for 1 adult or 2 children under 13. Their chefs prepare 8 new recipes every week, and Cook It offers a lot of flexibility. On the menu at the time this blog was posted: Steak Gyros, Grana Padano Chicken en Papillote, Miso Pork Skewers and Mexican-style Grilled Cheese.

Location: Onlinewww.chefcookit.com

Chefs Plate

Choose from 2 or 4-person plans that can be personalized. There are also new 15-minute meal plans that include prepared sauces and pre-seasoned and marinated ingredients. Some of the options on the menu at the time this blog was posted: Mongolian Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry, Spiced CHicken & Heirloom Tomato Caesar, Dijon Turkey Burgers, and Summer Corn Risotto. Delivery is free on all of their plans with the exception of the 2-person plan with 2 meals per week which the delivery fee is $6.

Location: OnlinePhone:  1 (855) 420 2327Email:  hello@chefsplate.comwww.chefsplate.com

Eating healthy is made easier with local businesses that care enough to bring the local farm right to your front door. Isn’t it time you went local?

If you know of a business in Simcoe County that delivers the farm right to your door, comment on this Facebook post.