August is the ultimate locavore’s paradise.

If you had any doubts, here are three reasons why August is the best month of the year. One, the fields are overflowing with the ultimate variety of summer vegetables (and even early fall varieties sneaking in later in the month). Two, the harvests are ridiculously plentiful. And three, it’s fruits galore with Ontario peaches, plums, and grapes, Quebec melons of all shapes and sizes, and the return of apples. Seriously, August is a locavore’s paradise.

Keeping in stride with the rest of the summer, we’ve been on the road checking in with our partner farms to see what this month has in store for us. Check out some of our favourite moments captured below.

BIO-SAVEUR - Laval & Mascouche, QC

By August, organic corn takes over the fields at Bio-Saveur. And it’s certainly reached greater heights than Léo, Karl’s son, and his friend Lionel (pictured above respectively). Karl dedicates almost 10 acres to the crop so no need to worry about any shortages for your épluchettes this year.

Half a dozen varieties of melon making their way to the Marketplace. To make the most of the short fruit season, Karl planted organic red, yellow, sureness, sweet beauty, and faerie watermelons and cantaloupe - all trickling in throughout the month alongside beans, celery, onions, shallots, and squash.

JARDINS D’AMBROISE - Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, QC

Late summer and early fall varieties cross paths for pinnacle field bounty at Jardins d’Ambroise. Joining kale and green and yellow beans and zucchini are all the cabbage varieties (we’re talking green, red, and Savoy), garlic, leeks, shallots, turnips, watermelon (!), cantaloupe (!!), and Brussels sprouts. And at the very end of the month, we might even get the first winter squash!

With so many varieties to harvest, the team is in the fields from dawn till dusk. Superstar team member Moises (on the right) supervises the other seasonal workers who, together, harvest two to three tonnes of zucchini on the daily. Not to mention all the other veg they tackle.

VERGER MAIA -  Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, QC

Blueberry season is going strong for three more weeks at Verger Maia. Over the years, Mario  realized that keeping a good balance of predator insects in his orchard (that after all, does take up the most of his land) is just as beneficial for his blueberries. While the season stretches longer in other regions of the province, by the end of the month Mario will focus solely on his favourite fruit: apples.

His team is here for the long haul. Once the blueberry harvests are over, the team will focus solely on apples. A few longtime employees even stay up to 10 months out of the year to make their fresh apple juice long after the last apple of the season has been picked.

WARNER'S FARM - Beamsville, ON

Up in the trees, every stone fruit is ready to be picked. While Torrie is checking up on some apricots, his team (that he considers a part of the Warner family) is busy harvesting peaches, plums, and apricots (and nectarines, grapes, apples, and pears following suit) all grown responsibly - a rarity in the region.

Swapping synthetic pesticides for biocontrols some 15 years ago was no easy feat. So when people come knocking to know how he does it so successfully, Torrie’s happy to share his lifetime of fruit-growing know-how.

VINELAND GROWERS - Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Fifty family farms make up the Vineland cooperative. The largest of the lot being Phil Tregunno’s 700 acres of stone fruit and organic vines. When we recently visited, his son Jordan (on the right) who oversees all operations explained that although the family grows several wine grapes, only one of their varieties is for snacking: the Sovereign Coronation.

Pheromone ties are the biocontrol of choice for the Tregunno family. Hidden in the leaves, these ties are extremely effective combating the number one grape enemy - the grapevine moth. To preserve the crop health, the team makes sure to weed mechanically and add turkey fertilizer between the rows to enrich the soil with all the needed nutrients.

Ready to make the most of the abundance?