Maple Trails & Tales

Support Local: In-Season Produce for Winter and Spring 2025

From February to April 2025, Canadians are encouraged to support local agriculture by choosing seasonal produce amid geopolitical challenges. Available options include root vegetables, greenhouse crops, and stored fruits like apples and cranberries. Highlighted local brands prioritize sustainability, contributing to food security and economic resilience while addressing climate and supply chain concerns.

Zach Bohaychuk
4–5 minutes
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Seasonal Vegetables: February – April 2025. Amid trade tensions, discover the power of seasonal eating in Canada.

No one could have predicted that the current political climate south of our border would have such huge effect on Canadian buying habits, myself included. From checking labels to checking which retailers are Canadian, me and many others are doing our small parts to follow through with the buy Canadian movement. This harsh winter season has made me want to continue to do my part and support Canadas agriculture industry even through the coldest winter. From February to April Canada’s harvest brings winter storage crops and early spring greens, offering many local fresh options. This guide will highlight in-season produce, fruit availability and Canadian agriculture brands to look out for in your next grocery store visit.

Winter-to-Spring Produce: Vegetables and Fruits in Season.

Vegetables

Root Vegetables (Carrots, Beets, Potatoes)

Stored from fall harvests, these staples remain widely available. Ontario and Quebec are top producers, with root vegetables alone accounting for 45% of Canada’s vegetable exports. Root vegetables are great for winter months for soups and stews and typically have a long shelf life.

Greenhouse Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Peppers

Advanced hydroponic systems in Ontario and BC greenhouses enable year-round production. Sales of greenhouse vegetables surged to $2.5 billion in 2023. These veggies are a staple in my daily grocery list as they are a good way to maintain some freshness throughout the winter and a good summer salad in the dead of winter helps bring up the energy during these hibernating times.

Hardy greens (Kale, Spinach)

Southern Ontario and BC farms begin harvesting cold-tolerant greens by March, though leafy greens remain vulnerable to U.S. supply chain disruptions so make sure to double check those labels.

Fruits

Apples

Stored varieties like McIntosh and Ambrosia from Ontario (32.2% of national production) and BC dominate winter markets. Ontario’s 2023 apple crop hit a decade-high 166,153 metric tons. Apples are my go to fruit during winter as they are readily available, cheap, and last for a long time.

Cranberries

BC and Quebec supply frozen or processed cranberries, with BC’s 2023 crop reaching 47,905 metric tons (+1.8% YoY). Typically seen as a holiday fruit, this may not be the most popular purchase. They are full of vitamins and antioxidants, and can still be bought and stored throughout the winter to bring out for such holidays or enjoyed in a sauce or drink.

Canadian Brands & Farms to Support

These organizations prioritize local sourcing, sustainability, and nationwide distribution

Lufa Farms (Montreal, QC)

Year round greenhouse vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers) and herbs. This agriculture branch supplies 30,000+ weekly grocery boxes in Quebec, with plans to expand hydroponic operations.  

Ontario Apple Growers

Grows fresh and stored apples of multiple varieties (Honeycrisp, Gala).  Ontario produced 166,153 metric tons in 2023, leveraging high-density orchards for efficiency.  

 BC Cranberry Marketing Commission

Main production of Canadas sustainable harvested cranberries.  They are quite innovative as they funds research on drought-resistant varieties and eco-friendly processing.

Flanagan Foodservice (Kitchener, ON)

Distributes Ontario-grown produce (meat, dairy, vegetables) to retailers nationally.  Their mission is to partner with local farmers to ensure freshness and reduce transport emissions.  

Left Coast Naturals (Burnaby, BC)

Supplier of organic snacks and frozen fruits (blueberries, raspberries for example). B Corp, emphasizing fair trade and sustainable packaging.

Dee Bee’s Organics

Specializes in producing and supplying freeze-at-home fruit packs. Dominates 80% of the freeze-at-home organic market, shipping Canada-wide. 

Frankie’s Organic (Laval, QC)

Organic frozen fruits and veggie blends that ship nationwide. This brand was able to achieve 502% revenue growth in 3 years by prioritizing nutrient-dense ingredients.

How to Access Canadian Produce Nationwide

  1. Farmers’ Markets & CSAs: Winter markets across Canada prioritize hyper-local goods and are a way to directly support local agriculture farms.
  2. Grocery Retailers: Although this is currently what most Canadians are doing just double check those labels. Look for KeHE Canada (natural foods) or Affinity Sales Canada (niche brands) on labels.
  3. E-Commerce: Brands like Dee Bee’s Organics and Frankie’s Organic ship frozen goods directly to consumers.  

Looking Ahead: A Call for Policy & Consumer Action

Supporting Canadian agriculture—by choosing brands like Lufa Farms, Ontario Apple Growers, and Dee Bee’s Organics fuels economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and food sovereignty. These innovators reduce reliance on fragile global supply chains through hydroponic greenhouses, high-density orchards, and eco-friendly practices, directly addressing climate challenges while preserving rural livelihoods and cutting carbon footprints. With agriculture contributing 7% of Canada’s GDP and employing over 2.3 million people, every purchase of local produce strengthens domestic food systems, empowers agtech advancements like precision farming, and safeguards against geopolitical disruptions. By uniting consumers, policymakers, and investors in prioritizing Canadian-grown goods, we cultivate a future where food security, innovation, and community prosperity thrive one seasonal carrot, crisp apple, or frozen berry at a time.

References

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