Local Food Week returns to Ontario on June 1, and residents looking to eat closer to home won't have to look far. According to a post from Invest Durham, the region's economic development office is marking the occasion by spotlighting the restaurants, markets and farms that make up Durham Region's agri-food scene — including two Whitby restaurants.
The annual week celebrates the people who grow, raise, harvest and prepare food across the province. In Durham, that means everything from field-to-fork dining to roadside farm stands and weekly farmers markets.
Whitby kitchens on the list
Invest Durham highlights The Springwood in Whitby as a restaurant focused on locally sourced ingredients, hyper-seasonal cooking, regenerative farming practices and minimizing waste. Portobello Road, also in Whitby, gets a mention for a menu that evolves weekly based on what's seasonally available from nearby suppliers.
Elsewhere in the region, the post points to Three Six Kitchen in Bowmanville, which serves dishes such as a smash burger made with Kendal Hills chicken and Ontario beef, and Bistro '67, which draws on its own gardens for plates like a harvest bowl and Ontario beef empanadas. Urban Pantry in Uxbridge features local bison from Thunder Ridge in dishes including chili and pasta.
Markets and farm stores
Farmers markets across the region bring together growers, bakers and food producers selling fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, baked goods and preserves, according to the post. Weekly markets and smaller pop-up events run throughout the growing season, and a full listing is available through the Invest Durham Farmers Market Calendar.
Farm stores and roadside stands offer another way to buy directly where food is produced, and often come with seasonal activities for all ages. Stops named by Invest Durham include Pingle's Farm Market, Sargent Family Dairy, Willowtree Farm Market and Forsythe Family Farms Market.
Durham Farm Fresh, a regional farm organization, also directs residents to member farms through its road signs and website, making it easier to find a local producer nearby.
Invest Durham points to more than just flavour as a reason to shop local. Buying from area producers supports farmers, strengthens communities, reduces environmental impact and keeps fresh, high-quality food accessible, the post notes.
For residents planning to take part, the Invest Durham Local Food page offers a directory of restaurants, producers, agritourism destinations and food businesses across the region.
