Why are Farm's Important to Norfolk and the Rest of Ontario and Canada?

According to data from Statistics Canada’s 2011 Census of Agriculture, Norfolk County is the leading grower of many farm commodities in Ontario and Canada. In addition to the crops listed below, Norfolk County is also the Number One grower of peanuts, sweet potatoes and ginseng in Canada.

Can we really afford to lose more prime agricultural land in our community?

#1 Growing Region of…

Asparagus (in Canada): 1,730 acres

Blueberries (in Ontario): 113 acres

Cabbage (in Canada): 1,167 acres

Cucumbers (in Canada): 1,081 acres

Ginseng (in Canada): 4,440 acres

Peppers (in Canada): 1,109 acres

Pumpkins, Squash & Zucchini (in Canada): 1,795 acres

Rye (in Ontario): 17,489 acres

Sour Cherries (in Canada)

Strawberries (in Canada): 465 acres

Sweet Corn (in Canada): 4,530 acres

#2 Growing Region of…

Apples (in Ontario): 2,225 acres

Potatoes (in Ontario): 2,691 acres

Raspberries (in Ontario)

#3 Growing Region of…

Tomatoes (in Ontario): 1,058 acres (field)

#4 Growing Region of…

Cauliflower (in Ontario): 68 acres

#5 Growing Region of…

Onions (in Canada)

*Source: Statistics Canada , Census of Agriculture, 2006

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Share of Ontario Crop Production

With only 2% of Ontario ‘s productive agricultural lands, Norfolk County growers produce…

• 58% of Ontario’s tobacco

• 54% of Ontario’s asparagus (1,730 acres)

• 52% of Ontario’s rye crop (17,489 acres)

• 51% of Ontario’s ginseng (4,440 acres)

• 43% of Ontario’s Saskatoon berries

• 40% of Ontario’s sour cherries

• 35% of Ontario’s cucumbers (1,081 acres)

• 30% of Ontario’s “other vegetables” (specialty vegetables)

• 24% of Ontario’s peppers (1,109 acres)

• 22% of Ontario’s pumpkin, squash and zucchini crop (1,795 acres)

• 20% of Ontario’s cabbage (1,167 acres)

• 15% of Ontario’s sweet corn (4,530 acres)

• 15% of Ontario’s blueberries (113 acres)

• 14% of Ontario’s apples (2,225 acres)

• 14% of Ontario’s shallots and green onions

• 12% of Ontario’s strawberries (465 acres)

• 10% of Ontario’s cauliflower crop (68 acres)

• 9% of Ontario’s beet crop

• 8% of Ontario’s greenhouse flowers

• 7% of Ontario’s potato crop (2,691 acres)

• 7% of Ontario’s field tomatoes (1,058 acres)

• 5,116 maple syrup taps

*More accurately, the percentages of the commodities outlined above are based on reporting of acreages by Norfolk County farmers during the 2006 Census of Agriculture, compared to acreages reported by all other farmers in Ontario.

These statistics were provided by http://norfolkfarms.com/

It would be nice if it was updated from the 7 year old data.

Current Data can be found here :

http://www29.statcan.gc.ca/ceag-web/eng/data-type-selection.action?geoId=350128052