Berrylicious Fruit Farm: A slice of netted paradise
Berrylicious Fruit Farm is the story of two farmers who believed in connecting people to their food through education and great farming practices.
The Story of Berrylicious Fruit Farm
When Wendy and Don Colcuc realized that 99% of Canadians don’t have any direct connection with agriculture (Stats Canada, 2018), they saw it as an opportunity to change that number. Starting Berrylicious Fruit Farm in 2002 on 75 acres, The Colcucs wanted a place to grow healthy food for their children and their community.
They also desired a connection between themselves and the people eating their food. They believed farming was an opportunity to educate the public about where their food comes from and the Colcucs did not take that job lightly.
The hobby farm really took off in 2004 when the family decided to plant four acres of blueberries. They followed that up the next year with three acres of elderberries and then they were off to the races.
Today, Berrylicious Fruit Farm is much larger than it was in those early days. Growing to include pick-your-own patches, raspberries, elderberries, specialty items like honey, jams, pies and even an on-farm experience, Wendy, Don and their four kids are truly doing what they set out to do: connect with their community and teach them about where their food comes from.
“We believe in agriculture education.” Says farmer and co-owner Wendy Colcuc. “Our customers come to us with their own beliefs about how food should be produced.
By offering farm tours, we can help people understand the complexity of plant cultivation, the risks and benefits of production decisions and the hard work required to care for and harvest crops from living plants.”
Approaching their customers with transparency, Wendy emphasizes, “We welcome tough questions.”
So what can you expect when you visit Berrylicious Fruit Farms this summer? Enjoy a scenic back roads drive to find their 85-acre, sandy-soiled farm along a beautiful gravel road.
Just a short drive from the city of Woodstock and only about 18 minutes off of Highway 401, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find a slice of netted paradise to be explored.
Skip ahead to learn more:
Picnics in the Patch
Join the ones you love in the blueberry patch this summer. Berrylicious Fruit Farm’s Picnics in the Patch experience offers up the opportunity to reconnect with your food for a relaxing few hours in their netted blueberry patch.
Each experience offers a picnic basket meal catered to your group. With four baskets to choose from, it’s the perfect experience for couples, small groups of friends in the same bubble and families alike.
You’ll start by heading out into the patch, bucket in hand, to pick your own 1-gallon (3.78L) bucket of farm-fresh blueberries in one of seven different varieties. Staff from Berrylicious will teach you about the different varieties, show you how to properly pick a blueberry and give you a little history of the farm. Kids will love learning about the bumble and honey bees and becoming expert taste testers.
Afterwards, settle in at your own private picnic where your local foodie baskets await. Depending on which basket you choose (check out this link for a list), you’ll find delightful treats suited to your needs!
Those who choose the couples’ basket (also perfect for besties, parent-child combos etc.) will enjoy a tasty berry flatbread and mason jar salad as well as a blueberry-raspberry shortcake for two.
Those who select the Snacks in the Patch basket will enjoy snacks for four or a meal for two that includes blueberries, local cheese made just minutes away at Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese plus crackers and a refreshing drink!
Those bringing the fam can choose the Family Basket for Four (call ahead if there are more) which includes four sandwiches, a fun-filled mason jar of jello with floating blueberries topped with whipped cream, a signature jelly roll dessert bar and bevies for everyone.
Finally, those with a sweet tooth will love the Desserts in the Patch basket which features a refreshing beverage and the aforementioned jellyroll. Once you’re done eating, enjoy some unplugged games found in your basket, toss around a Frisbee or just lounge for a bit. It’s the perfect way to kick back and relax on a beautiful day.
This experience was recently certified as an Ontario's Southwest Signature Experience.
Picnics to Go
From July 1st to Thanksgiving, you can order a picnic-to-go bag from Berrylicious Fruit Farm to be enjoyed on the road or, if available, at one of their four picnic tables on-site!
The picnic-to-go bag includes a wedge of Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese, locally made crackers (your choice of three including a gluten-free option), 1 pint of fresh blueberries or 1/2 a pint of fresh raspberries, a fresh veggie, bottled water/juice plus napkins, a knife and a plate. What a great way to savour the season!
New Adventures
Regulars to the farm this summer will be pleasantly surprised by some new additions! Berrylicious has expanded on the produce that they already grow into vegetables. When in season, customers will be able to enjoy sweet corn, potatoes, beans and tomatoes.
So there you have it! Blueberry season starts in July and Berrylicious will be serving up the delicious goodness well into fall. You can also access their frozen pies and preserves throughout the year by appointment and on Fridays with regular hours from 1-5 pm.
Come fall, Berrylicious transforms the summer berry stand into a colourful fall collection of jack-o-lantern pumpkins, specialty pumpkins, gourds, ornamental corn, straw, and fall mums.
Saturday Special Days
Finally, this year, Berrylicious Fruit Farm is bringing back some beloved events! Visitors to the farm can look forward to Saturday Snacks on the farm with a new and improved menu (stay tuned).
Also, after a 2-year COVID-19 hiatus, Berrylicious is bringing back their famous Berry Days! You'll be able to bring the family out to the farm on Saturday, July 30th from 10 am-4 pm of the Civic Holiday long weekend for loads of berry-inspired fun. Details are to come soon!
Finally, those who enjoyed the mini-farm tour with Berrylicious and their neighbours last year can look forward to the return of this collaborative tour in August with stops to Wild Comfort Body Care, Gunn's Hill, Greener Pastures Eco Farm and of course, Berrylicious Fruit Farm along the way!
More to Come
Stay tuned on Berrylicious Fruit Farm’s Facebook Page for all the details of the upcoming season or check out their website.