Local Food in Durham Region

Durham Region has a vibrant local food movement that is connected to our local farmers and producers. Farm-fresh products include a range of goods from beef and lamb, to honey and jams, to fresh fruit and vegetables. Our region is home to many craft beverage producers making wine, beer and cider, as well as numerous farmers’ markets, and bakers and bistros that focus on local ingredients. 

Where to find local food in Durham Region 

Durham Region is made up of the cities of Oshawa and Pickering; towns of Ajax and Whitby; Municipality of Clarington; and townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge. Across the region there are markets, on-farm retail, and online options to purchase local food. 

The Invest Durham Local Food Directory provides a list local food sources that can be searched by location or by type, such as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Farmers’ Markets or online retailers.

We are proud supporters of the Durham Farm Fresh (DFF) Marketing Association. DFF is a membership association representing farms, farmers’ markets, retailers, chefs and restaurants located within Durham Region. DFF provides resources for local producers and connects those interested in local food to the agricultural products grown in the community. Check out what’s in season and find DFF farms near you on their interactive map.   

More ways to discover local food in Durham Region: 

• Check out the Durham Tourism blog post 8 Most Instagrammable Restaurants in Durham Region 
• Durham’s guide on the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance: A field guide to the best food and drink in Ontario 
• Download the Great Taste of Ontario - Durham Tourism passport 

Farming in Durham 

Durham Region is home to more than 1,300 farms, and our agriculture sector is one of the largest primary goods-producing sectors. Production includes beef and dairy cattle, poultry and egg, sheep and goat, oilseed and grain, vegetable and fruit, and greenhouse, vertical farms, nursery and floriculture. 

Durham Region’s farmers are known for their modern technology; state-of-the-art farming practices; research and innovation; and effective distribution of goods.  

Get to know farmers in your community with Durham Farm Connections (DFC) or view our Agriculture Career video series.

Vertical and indoor farming 

What is vertical farming? Vertical farming allows farmers to grow fresh food year-round indoors. Through vertical farming stacked layers, farmers can use less water, reduce pesticides, and continue to focus on sustainability. Growers produce products via humidity and temperature control; artificial lighting (sometimes mixed with natural light); roots misted with water (rather than saturation); and monitoring of nutrients and fertilizers.

In Durham, there are more than 100 farms that focus on vertical farming, greenhouse growing, nursery and floriculture production.  

Some examples of vertical and indoor farming businesses thriving in Durham Region: 

• Greenwood Mushroom Farm: Located in Ashburn and Port Perry, Greenwood is one of the largest mushroom producers in Canada. Greenwood has 315,000 square feet across two locations. 
• Rekkers Garden Centre: Located in Bowmanville, Rekkers operates with approximately 120,000 square feet. Of note, Rekkers grows 150,000 poinsettias annually to supply across Ontario. 
• Mighty Harvest Produce: Located in Oshawa, this new vertical farm business grows fresh leafy greens and herbs, and sells directly to consumers.   
• BioFresh Farms: Located in Whitby, this vertical farm business grows microgreens and offers them via subscription. 

W. Galen Weston Durham College Centre for Food

Focused on field-to-fork and sustainable business practices, the spectacular W. Galen Weston Centre for Food is home to Durham College’s programs in culinary, food and farming, horticulture, hospitality, and special events management, along with a retail store and Bistro ’67—a fine dining restaurant. The campus also includes the Centre for Craft Brewing Innovation (CCBI) which offers the local beverage industry access to industry leading technology. 

A recognized leader in food, urban agriculture and horticulture science education, Durham College recently announced it had received a $5 million donation from The Barrett Family Foundation. The funds will be used to create The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture (Barrett Centre). They are developing new industry professionals, and giving students a toolbox and experiences to continue to cultivate both local food and local communities.  

Food processing and local food businesses in Durham Region 

Durham Region is home to both large and small businesses in the food processing value chain, including production, processing, packaging, distribution and logistics.  

Some examples of small food and beverage businesses include: 

• Eat My Shortbread: Premium shortbread available online and in grocery stores across Ontario. 
• Neale’s SweetNNice Ice Cream: Premium ice cream inspired by Trinidadian heritage, available in major grocery stores across Canada.
• SocialLite Beverages: Handcrafted packaged vodka soda beverages, available across Canada.
• Second Wedge Brewery: Located in the heart of Uxbridge and available at LCBO locations across Ontario. Second Wedge is one of more than a dozen craft breweries in Durham Region.
• Geissberger Farmhouse Cider: Offers hard apple cider, sweet apple cider, apple cider vinegar, as well as non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider, and also offers a mobile cider press that they supply to farms across the region. Geissberger is one of six cideries in Durham.
• Sargent Family Dairy: Single farm reserve bottled milk, pasture butter and a selection of artisanal cheese and curds, made on-farm.
• Local honey from beekeepers such as Bee-verton Honey in Beaverton, and Wildflower Honey Collective in Orono.

Some examples of larger food and beverage businesses include: 

• Gordon Food Services Distribution Centre in Ajax
• Flanagan Food Services in Whitby 
• Delmonte Fresh Produce fresh fruit production hub in Oshawa 
• Loblaw and Sobeys Distribution Centres 
• Algoma Orchards: Apple growers and packers with a state-of-the-art packing and juice-bottling facility located in Newcastle, the Apple Capital of Canada. 
• Hela Spice: Design and formulate custom spice mixtures and seasoning blends for meat, poultry, vegetarian, bakery and other sectors of the food industry.
• Derlea Brands Foods Inc: Packaged fresh garlic, ginger and sun-dried tomato products manufactured in Pickering.
• TC Transcontinental: A global packaging and printing company with a local presence, specializing in food packaging production in their Whitby facility. 

Starting a food business in Durham Region 

Our entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem are part of what makes Durham a great place to start a business—and our partners can help you achieve your business goals. Work with us to discover ideal locations and partnerships to ensure your business is a success.

Small and home-based food business 

The Business Advisory Centre of Durham Region (BACD) is a not-for-profit organization that specifically supports entrepreneurs in Durham Region and has numerous success stories within the food industry. They provide business advisory services, training and mentoring, as well as workshops, funding programs and networking opportunities.  

The Province of Ontario recently announced their support for home-based food businesses by providing a guide on how to start a home-based food business. The guide includes an overview of public health requirements that need to be followed as a food operator. To further support these entrepreneurs, the government has also made regulatory changes to allow more flexibility to sell low-risk, home-prepared foods. These supports are part of the government's continued efforts to help small, independent businesses succeed and contribute to Ontario communities during COVID-19.

• View the Ontario’s guide on how to start a home-based food business. 
• View the Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs information about starting a food selling business. 
• View the Durham Region Health Department’s information related to food safety and permits. 

Small, medium and large food business

Durham Region and our local area municipalities are nimble and open for business—we collaborate to help businesses with their investments. Across Durham Region, there are numerous industrial, office and retail properties available for sale or lease. Our team can assist your business in selecting a location. The benefits to locating a food business in Durham Region include:

• Rapid growth of population and economy 
• Ideal location close to primary producers and a large consumer market 
• Access to rail, highway, port and other transportation options 
• Access to top talent from our three post-secondary institutions, including the Durham College Centre for Food 
• Guidance and support from the Invest Durham - Rural and Agriculture team, as well as our Investment Attraction team

To locate or expand your food business in Durham Region, contact us for support!

Incentives 

Selected currently available incentives include the below programs:

• Agri-Innovate Program: Provides repayable contributions for projects that aim to accelerate the commercialization, adoption and/or demonstration of innovative products, technologies, processes or services that increase agri-sector competitiveness and sustainability.
• Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership: Encompasses a suite of programs for the agri-food sector.

• Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association: Current funding opportunities and workshop offerings for the farming community.

• Business Advisory Centre of Durham: Offers access to grants and funding for small business.

Please contact us for assistance with these incentives.

Quick links: 

• Entrepreneurship Funding Programs 
• Business Associations, Entrepreneurship Programs 
• Co-Working Spaces in Durham Region 
• Durham Region Agriculture profile 
• Durham Region Local Food Business Retention and Expansion Project Report 
• Follow Invest Durham – Rural and Agriculture on Twitter  
• Durham Farm Fresh 
• Invest Durham Local Food Directory