Blog Post
Herrle's Country Farm Market
Sylvia Pond • Oct 29, 2019
Herrle’s … a well-known destination in Waterloo region for all things farm fresh!
I don’t know how many times I bugged Trevor (farmer and owner of Herrle’s) to have me for a visit at the store and farm but we finally made it happen! I mean, I have shopped there many times and I don’t think I have gone one summer without enjoying at least a few cobs of Herrle’s famous corn so I wanted to make sure I got to feature this wonderful destination on this blog.
I visited Herrle’s at the start of fall. Strawberry picking season was over and now it was full swing into pumpkin, squash and potato season!
We started by hoping into a little tractor type vehicle so I could see where all the magic happens. I saw beans and peas growing on the land just beside the farm store.
Like many farms in the area there was a field of soybeans too, at the end of their cycle mind you but I enjoyed seeing this time of year too. Just because the season for growing and harvesting is coming to a close doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done. These fields will need to be ready for next season of course!
Heading out to the corn fields was the next stop. Let’s see where that famous Herrle’s corn grows! If you haven’t tried it, you MUST! You can taste the difference.
They grow two main varieties of corn here, sweet and very sweet! You can typically get these between the months of July and October depending on the weather and how the crop does throughout the season.
I personally love it so much I make sure to cut it off the cobs and freeze it in order to have it long after the harvest.
Before heading back to the store, we visited with a few of the Herrle’s family pets. Goats and pot belly pigs and chickens and dogs! I had to take a few photos of them too!
Time to shop!
Herrle’s Country Farm Market is open seasonally from May to October. They sell their produce based on the harvest and bring in items from partnering farms as well. They offer and amazing selection of baked goods, some made in house too! A great way to get familiar with what is available during which times of year is to check out the Harvest Schedule
There are SO many ways to use SO many items from Herrle's in your everyday cooking!
For starters, how about some corn in your salad?! I think so!
And while you work on making that salad... how about purchasing their in house made cheesy corn dip to snack on!?
Speaking of cheese... NACHOS! With Herrle's corn!
But it's not just about corn... I picked up a large butternut squash and made a simple and delicious soup!
Bon Appetit!
Finishing the blog it's Q&A from Trevor!
1. Tell me what a typical day looks like for you?
My alarm goes off at 5:30 (I don't necessarily rise and shine at that hour) I am not a morning person at all. I struggle each and every day of the season. :) I head over to the market, open it for staff, make coffee, and organize some of our pickers for the days harvest. By 7:30 I'm usually texting other growers, ordering produce, products that we will need for the day or next day. Freshness is our motto, so we never pick or order more than we will need for 2-3 days. Most emails and texts get responded to throughout the day. Social media is always a focal point early in the day and throughout. I like to engage with the community and see what everyone else is doing as well for the day. Most of the day is filling shelves with staff, talking to customers, answering questions, being accessible. I do spend a lot of time on the forklift loading and unloading trucks, organizing the coolers.
Most often during the planting season (April to mid August) i'm out planting after supper and spraying ... those days can easily be 16-18 hr days during those months 7 days a week. My wife Joanne, runs and organizes the bakery, so since I start earlier, I usually go home and make supper (not all the time, but most nights. I also do all the lawn cutting, to do everything it takes me about 6hrs each week, that's half of what it took when I bought a bigger mower. Our business is 7 days a week for the season and much different when we close the market at the end of October. We are very much a hands on family and all hands on deck all day everyday.
2. What do you want people to know about farming and/or what you do?
We as a family are very dedicated and passionate with what we do. We farm 600 acres of which 250 are in vegetables and strawberries. We employ about 70 local staff, and we treat them as if they were a family member. Customer service is a priority to us, and we spend a lot of our winters observing what to to and what not to do when we are frequenting other businesses.
We specialize in Strawberries, Peas, Beans, Sweetcorn, pumpkins, squash, gourds, the other crops we source from local farms whom we have had long relationships with, who have the same quality and ethical farming principals. That is extremely important to us. We believe very strongly that when we pick up a product from a local farm or business, we pay them that moment for their products. We feel this goes a long way in a proper business relationship.
3. What do you love most about being a farmer?
I'd have to say working with family. I am the in-law, been farming with the family now for over 20 years. I couldn't imagine working with a more accepting hard working family. We get along, and we still socialize. We all have our areas of specialties where we focus and look after the daily chores. We all run in 2500 different directions during the day, but our goals are all the same by the end of the day. It's just a great family life.
4. If you weren’t a farmer what would you be doing?
That's easy I would be a long haul trucker. There is nothing I like more than driving, being on the open road, lost in my own thoughts, and observing the great land around us. (maybe this is my retirement project)
5. Describe what your favourite meal looks like?
A hamburger, double patty, and french fries. I could eat this all day every day :)
Show Herrle's some love on social media
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