Ontario crops are nearing the end of their season just as Toronto-area holiday demand peaks
Thanksgiving isn’t a normal fall week. It’s one of the biggest vegetable holidays of the year, with big family dinners and exceptionally high demand for fall produce. At the same time, many Ontario crops are close to finished for the season, and a run of cold nights could limit supply quickly.
If you buy for a restaurant, grocery store or food service operation in Toronto or North York, our advice is simple: order early, and order extra. Availability will be limited and demand will be very high.
Order potatoes and beans first
Potatoes are always winding down by Thanksgiving, and so are beans. These are the two items most likely to be tight, so they should be at the top of your list. The other holiday staples are more plentiful right now, including:
- Squash
- Cranberries
- Apples
- Carrots
- Beets
- Onions
- Brussels sprouts
- Yams
Plentiful today doesn’t mean plentiful next week, though. The cold-night risk applies to all of them, so don’t wait until Thanksgiving week to place your order.
Stick with the classics
Thanksgiving customers want the traditional crops, and there’s no need to reinvent your selection. The job is making sure you have enough of what people expect.
For grocery produce managers, the big sellers are potatoes, yams, cranberries, carrots, onions and Brussels sprouts. Turnips also see strong demand this time of year. These are the items to plan your volumes around.
For restaurants, caterers and food service operators, the main crops for Thanksgiving menus, sides and seasonal specials are squash, pumpkins, cranberries, yams, potatoes, onions and carrots.
Apples are available now
Most Ontario apple varieties are available right now, including McIntosh, Cortland, Empire, Spy, Ambrosia, Gala, Russet, Mutsu, Fuji, Delicious and Honeycrisp.
What to look for when you buy
Whatever you’re ordering, it should look fresh. Pass on anything wilted, off colour, moldy or otherwise off-looking.
Plan for after Thanksgiving, too
Potatoes are usually the first to end. Most of the other fall crops on this list continue for a few more weeks after the holiday, so you can keep planning beyond Thanksgiving weekend.
Place your order early
Thanksgiving demand won’t wait, and neither will the end of the season. Contact DiLiso’s Fresh 2U to place your order now, and order extra to be safe.