Market gardeners David and Jennifer VanDeVelde, from Wholesome Pickins Market & Bakery located at Delhi are Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2022. The winners were announced at the regional event held Sept 12-13, in conjunction with Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock.

Both University of Guelph graduates, David and Jennifer returned to the family tobacco farm in 2006. They chose to use their education in horticulture to take the farm in a different direction. They began growing strawberries in 2005 and in 2007 added ever-bearing strawberries to the fields. Their growing business has seen many changes including the creation of Wholesome Pickins.

With the help of the rich, sandy Norfolk County soil, Wholesome Pickins produces more than 200 acres of crops including strawberries, asparagus, raspberries, pumpkins, rhubarb, tobacco and a variety of field and cover crops. The operation continues to expand the retail farm market and scratch bakery each season, adding delicious goods created with local ingredients. Everything sold at Wholesome Pickins is fresh from a Norfolk County farm because they believe it is important to know where food comes from!

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2022 will be chosen at the National event in Saskatoon, SK from November 23-27, 2022. The annual competition recognizes farmers aged between 18 and 39 who exemplify excellence and promote agriculture in ways that foster urban-rural relations.

Source:  Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer Program September 14, 2022 news release