Autumn means harvest season in Canada, a great time to visit local farms to see where your food comes from.
As the second-largest producer of cranberries globally after the United States, Canada is an ideal place to tour a cranberry farm and find out more about this tangy fruit.
In 2023, Canada saw a drop in fruit production after seeing a near-record high in 2022, which was attributed to a record harvest of cranberries and lowbush blueberries, according to
Statistics Canada.
Quebec and British Columbia together accounted for almost 93 percent of Canada’s cranberry crop in 2023, according to StatCan. New Brunswick is the third-largest cranberry-producing province and produced close to 5 percent of Canada’s crop in 2023.
For those looking to celebrate cranberry harvest in Canada, here are some of the top spots to check out.
Bala Cranberry Festival, Ontario
In the small community of Bala north of Toronto, the
cranberry festival has attracted more than 500,000 visitors since it began in 1984. A whole-community effort goes into hosting the festival each year, according to the website. Falling on Oct. 18 to Oct. 20 this year, visitors can experience a celebration of cranberry harvest time with rides, performances, musical acts, vendors, and candy-covered cranberries on sticks.
Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery, Ontario
The cranberry harvest at
Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery in Bala, Ont., runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 27. The family farm has been growing cranberries since 1950. Each fall, they host various activities and events to celebrate the season. Harvest events include a wagon tour, wine tasting, farm and trail access for exploring, and a cranberry plunge that allows visitors to get in the water with the berries. Guests can purchase tickets for all events or only a select few.
Canneberge, Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Quebec
From Sept. 28 to Oct. 15, Quebec is buzzing with cranberry harvest activities at
Canneberge festival. Visitors can take part in a variety of activities such as wagon rides and guided tours of a cranberry farm, sampling a cranberry snack and drink, or getting a selfie in a cranberry pool. Attendees can also learn more about cranberry farming with a discovery centre that includes puzzles, games, and quizzes.
Fort Langley Project, British Columbia
Each Saturday before Thanksgiving, Fort Langley, B.C., hosts a
cranberry festival. The event has been supported by the local community since 1995 and celebrates the role of cranberry harvesting in the community. Festival
activities include a pancake breakfast, a kids area, crafts, face painting, live entertainment, food vendors, and beer gardens. In 2024, the event will be in its 29th year. Attendance usually reaches 35,000 people, according to the Fort Langley Project website.
Riverside Cranberry Farm, British Columbia
Tour a British Columbia cranberry farm in Langley, B.C., from Oct. 4 to Oct. 12 at the
Riverside Cranberry Farm and get a behind-the-scenes view of a Canadian cranberry farm. Visitors can also take a cranberry “plunge” to find out what it’s like to be a cranberry farmer.
