Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association

Fresh Facts
Providing knowledge and leadership to grow the farm fresh experience.

Newsletter #345
June 2020
– Volume 36, Number 4

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Inside this issue:

– Membership News 2
Useful Tips 3
Member Profile 4
Fanshawe Centre 5
– for Research &
Innovation

COVID-19 Success 6
Stories
- Upcoming Events 8
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Erin
Page 2 Fresh Facts
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
- cut arrangements, DIY workshops, “cut
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Congratulations to Steve Martin on
his retirement.
Steve joined OFFMA in 2008 as the
representative for Martin’s Family Fruit
Farm. Steve and his wife Rose, attend-
ed several workshops and participated
in many bus tours.
Steve is a natural leader and rose
through the ranks to be OFFMA’s presi-
dent from 2017 to 2019.
During the last virtual hospitality suite
of May, Steve shared with the group
that he was given an offer he couldn’t
refuse and has decided to hang up his
on-farm market manager’s hat.
Steve himself acknowledged that he
was too young to retire but will be en-
joying more time with his grandkids
and promised to visit more OFFMA
members with Rose during his newly
found spare time.
Don’t be a stranger, Steve!
Welcome to our new members
If they are located close to you, reach out
and say HI!
Hilde & Marcel Makkink
Makkink’s Flower Farm
Tillsonburg, ON 226-993-2048
www.makkinks.com
At Makkink’s Sunflower Farm, it’s all
about the experience. They offer fresh
your own flowers”, and tours. All of their
flowers and succulents are grown on
their farm. Makkink’s also offer full-
service weddings, as well as DIY wed-
dings and events services. Everything
they do is done with a lot of fun and en-
joyment!
Samuel Bergen
Berry Hill Market
Aylmer, ON 519-765-1752
www.berryhill.market
After over 25 years, the Saarloos family
sold Berry Hill Fruit Farm. New ownership
went to Sam Bergen this spring. The Ber-
ry Hill Market will continue to provide
customers with the same great strawber-
ries and seasonal fruit and vegetables
sweet corn, followed by lots of apple vari-
eties in the Fall. New hands on the
plough, but the same great tradition con-
tinues.
Congratulations to
Anne and Hugh Nauman
on their retirement and the sale of
their farm. They will be enjoying life in
Grand Bend.
A note from the Naumans—I would like
to thank you so very much for all you (&
Gary) have done for us and on behalf of
OFFMA…but especially for the friendship.
It is the friendships that become so all
important during all the struggles.
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The OFFMA members only Facebook page is active 24/7.

It is a great source of information and inspiration. Debby Oakley’s com-

ments after she first joined the group were “WOW, what a great group,
I’ve read a year back and taken all kinds of notes so far. Thanks so
much!”
If you aren’t already—get plugged in by searching for Ontario Farm
Fresh Marketing Association and send a request to join.
A great place to share ideas, post items you may have for sale and/or
are looking for, for your farm business.

TIP—if you are having trouble finding information about a topic that
was discussed on the members only Facebook page, try the search
function on the left hand side where it says ‘search this group’.
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Ontario Farm Fresh

Cathy Bartolic, Executive Director
PO Box 250 Gormley Post Office
Gormley, ON L0H 1G0
Ph: 905-506-0371 Fax: 647-556-7254 -
E-mail: info@ontariofarmfresh.com
www.ontariofarmfresh.com
2020-21 OFFMA Board of Directors
Erin McLean, President
McLean Berry Farm
Jordan McKay, Vice President
Willowtree Farm
Kristin Ego MacPhail, Past President
Ego Nurseries Ltd.
Paul Baxter, Associate Member
Baxter’s Kitchen
Darlene Downey, Downey’s Farm Market
& Estate Winery
Meghan Snyder, Snyder’s Family Farm -
Shane Van Casteren, Nicholyn Farms
Karen Whitty, Whitty Farms
Thomas Wilson, Spirit Tree Estate Cidery - - -
Karen McPhee, OMAFRA Advisor

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http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/workplace-guidance-for-sector-employers-and-employees/?
id=1588862952557
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https://www.hortcouncil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20.06.04-
CHC-Guidance_Preparing-for-COVID-1.pdf