Home Community Clearwater’s Greatest Hits: Tomatoes, Tunes, and Togetherness

Clearwater’s Greatest Hits: Tomatoes, Tunes, and Togetherness

July 18, 2025

By Ewa Chwojko-Srawley

Located a stone’s throw from the shores of Lake Simcoe, Clearwater’s popular farmstand is back with extended hours this season: Fridays (12pm – 6pm) and Saturdays (9am – 1pm).

Jennifer Gidge, Resource Development Manager says, “More and more people realize the value of buying local, and buying Canadian. In stores, it can take days for produce to arrive—often from the U.S. Our food is grown either right here, or across the road, or across the lake. It doesn’t get more local than that!”

The stand features produce grown right on the farm or sourced locally. It offers honey from Sutton, bread from Keswick, and spice blends from Pefferlaw. Asparagus and apples come from nearby Homestead Orchard, and garlic from Elmgrove farm.

“We partner with farms that specialize in these products,” explains Alex Smith, Sustainable Food Business Manager and head of the Farmstand. “Until we’re able to grow everything ourselves, we’re happy to collaborate.”

They also sell eggs from a farm in Newmarket, where some of Clearwater’s own chickens now live, so the connection is still very much there!

“We work with like-minded farmers, with the furthest being Niagara,” adds Smith. “Some farms follow natural practices similar to ours, while others are certified organic. We don’t use any pesticides or chemicals, just good old-fashioned care.”

Clearwater is known for its tomatoes. This year the farm offers six varieties of cherry tomatoes and five types of heirloom tomatoes in every shade from golden yellow to deep purple. They also expanded a selection of cucumbers and eggplants. This fall, they will also offer more varieties of pumpkins, along with peppers and homemade preserves.

But Clearwater isn’t just feeding your body—it’s feeding your soul too.

This summer marks the return of their homegrown farm concerts, a collaboration with Connors Music that turns the farm into a stage for local talent. Gidge says, “It is music meeting nature. All the performers are from around Lake Simcoe, and the Connors brothers—who organize the series—are from Georgina.

The free, family-friendly event will feature a full day of performances, local vendors, a food-and-beer garden, and plenty of activities for kids. Expect a mix of musical styles—from indie folk to acoustic rock.

“Our mission,” Gidge says, “is all about the intersection of nature, art, and community. Whether it’s the food we grow or the music we host, everything we do is local, thoughtful, and rooted right here.”

If you’re in the mood for tomatoes with flavour, garlic with roots, or tunes untouched by tech, head to Clearwater Farm on Saturday July 26th, 10am – 7pm.

For more information visit: https://clearwaterfarm.ca/communityevents/