Summer: The Perfect Season to Taste, Explore, and Connect Farm to Fork

Summer is bursting with vibrant colours, fresh flavours, and endless opportunities to explore where our food comes from. For families, it’s the ideal time to slow down, try something new, and build meaningful connections to the farms and fields that nourish us.

Here are some simple, fun ways to make this summer one filled with delicious discoveries and farm-to-fork learning:

🥕 1. Visit a Local Farmers’ Market

Nothing beats the experience of wandering through a farmers’ market with your kids. Let them pick out a fruit or vegetable they’ve never tried before—maybe a purple carrot, heirloom tomato, or even kohlrabi! Meeting the farmers behind the produce gives kids a chance to ask questions and see firsthand how food is grown.

🍓 2. Pick Your Own Produce

Berry farms, u-pick orchards, and vegetable patches offer hands-on fun. Kids love the adventure of filling their own baskets, and they’re more likely to try new foods when they’ve picked them themselves. Bonus: it’s a great way to spend time outdoors and appreciate the work that goes into harvesting food.

🌽 3. Cook (and Taste!) Together

Turn your kitchen into a summer tasting lab. Choose a new ingredient from the market or your garden and prepare it in a simple dish—grilled veggies, fresh fruit salad, or even homemade salsa. Encourage your kids to smell, touch, and taste each food as you cook.

🐄 4. Take a Farm Tour or Visit an Open Farm Day

Many farms open their gates to visitors in the summer, giving families the chance to see animals, crops, and equipment up close. These experiences create lasting memories and help kids understand how food travels from the farm to their plates.

🥗 5. Create a “Taste Test Challenge”

Set up a fun taste test at home with seasonal fruits and veggies. Blindfold participants and have them guess the food based on taste and texture. Add a scoring sheet for a playful twist. You might discover a new family favourite!

🍯 6. Talk About the Journey of Food

While enjoying these experiences, take a moment to ask questions:

• Where did this food come from?

• Who helped grow or produce it?

• How does it get from the farm to our table?

These conversations build curiosity and respect for the farmers, land, and systems that make our meals possible.

🌾 Why It Matters

When kids see the connection between farms and the food on their plates, they gain more than just new tastes—they gain an appreciation for agriculture, sustainability, and the people who feed us. Summer is the perfect time to nurture that connection in fun, flavourful ways.

💡 Looking for more farm-to-fork fun?

Explore our website for hands-on activities, learning tools, and inspiration to keep the curiosity growing all summer long!