Our
Story
Owners Nazim Bardai and Terry Tai, both coming from health backgrounds, started paying closer attention to what they were eating. Noticing the lack of variety and availability of local produce in grocery stores, they decided to start something new and different -- a store dedicated to carrying as much variety of local produce as possible. A kind of year-round Farmer's Market. And with that, Farmer Jack's was born.
With the creation of a new store, they decided to take a lesson from the past. Grocers have traditionally been a community store -- where your grocer would know your name, and where your produce comes from and the people who grew it. They would tell you what's in season, and offer suggestions you could trust and rely on. Food has always been integral to any community -- and that's something we don't want to see lost in this fast-paced world of instant gratification.
That's why we're there every morning, bringing in fresh produce daily from the farmers who grow our food in Ontario. There's a relationship from the growers, to us, to you and your family.
We source as much as we possibly can from the local farms and businesses in our vicinity. The Niagara Green-Belt, Holland Marsh, Waterford, Leamington, Bala, and Simcoe are homes to a few of the farms we regularly get our produce from.
We believe in our duty to be more socially responsible -- both to ourselves and to each other. Supporting Local is a philosophy we live by, and that extends to the food we eat as well.
WHY EAT LOCAL ?
Taste and Nutrition
Local produce is fresher, tastier, and more nutritious. Less travel time means that produce is picked when it is fully ripe – and not before. Many foods lose their nutritional value with storage and transport.
Food Safety
Ontario is proud to be home to some of the highest food safety standards in the world. Eating local Ontario grown produce ensures that you and your family are eating the safest and most nutritious foods available.
Local Economy and Farmland Preservation
By supporting the local farms, we circulate the money spent within our own economy, strengthening the local community. We also help to preserve the beautiful farmlands that have been around us for so many years.
Sustainability
Environmental stewardship and responsibility are not just trendy words to throw around. Ontario farmers are proud to adopt modern sustainable growing methods such as hydroponics. We can do our part to help by buying local. Less transportation time of produce means less fuel consumption and emissions.
It’s Our World.We’re all in this together.
SUPERFOODS OF ONTARIO
Good things grow in Ontario! Here are some seasonal superfoods to watch out for.
Strawberries
Sweet and bursting with flavour, these delicious seasonal treats are packed with antioxidants like Vitamin C. They help fight cancer, inflammation, and diseases related to aging. The fibre in strawberries help to reduce 'bad' cholesterol, while the folate keeps your heart healthy and reduces the risk of anemia.
Peaches
A low-calorie fruit, these make an excellent snack or dessert, and are a great source of Vitamin C and potassium. Potassium is a key electrolyte that keeps your body functioning properly and helps to balance water levels throughout your body.
Cherries
An excellent source of beta carotene, these seasonal sweets are rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients, and melatonin. Their distinctive red colour is a product of powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins which work to reduce inflammation, prevent cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, reduce the risk of diabetes, and aid in the prevention of memory loss.
Plums
These little beauties increase your iron absorption, and are a natural laxative. High in Vitamins A and C, they help with your eyesight, and are a high source of dietary fibre.
AVAILABILITY CALENDAR
FRUITS
| Apples | January-June, August-December |
| Apricots | July-August |
| Blueberries | July-September |
| Cherries | June-July |
| Crabapples | September-November |
| Cranberries | October |
| Currants | July-August |
| Gooseberries | July-August |
| Grapes | August-September |
| Muskmelon | August-September |
| Nectarines | August-September |
| Peaches | July-September |
| Pears | August-December |
| Plums | July-October |
| Raspberries | July-September |
| Rhubarb | January-June |
| Strawberries | June-July |
| Strawberries (day neutral) | May-October |
| Watermelon | July-September |
VEGETABLES
| Artichoke | August-October |
| Asian Vegetables | June-November |
| Asparagus | May-June |
| Beans | June-October |
| Beets | January-April, July-December |
| Bok choy | June-November |
| Broccoli | June-October |
| Brussels Sprouts | September-November |
| Cabbage | January-April, June-December |
| Carrots | January-May, July-December |
| Cauliflower | June-November |
| Celery | July-October |
| Corn | July-October |
| Cucumber (field) | June-October |
| Cucumber (greenhouse) | January-December |
| Eggplant | August-October |
| Garlic | January-February, July-December |
| Leeks | January-February, August-December |
| Lettuce (assorted) | June-October |
| Lettuce (greenhouse) | January-December |
| Mushrooms | January-December |
| Onions (cooking) | January-December |
| Onions (green) | June-November |
| Onions (red) | January-March, September-December |
| Parsnips | January-April, August-December |
| Peas (green) | June-July |
| Peas (snow) | June-September |
| Peppers (field) | July-October |
| Peppers (greenhouse) | March-November |
| Potatoes | January-December |
| Pumpkin | September-October |
| Radicchio | June-August |
| Radishes | May-November |
| Rapini | July-October |
| Rutabaga | January-December |
| Spinach | May-October |
| Sprouts | January-December |
| Squash | January-March, August-December |
| Summer squash | June-October |
| Sweet potatoes | January-December |
| Tomatoes (field) | July-October |
| Tomatoes (greenhouse) | March-November |
| Zucchini | July-October |