Taste the Season: 10 Family-Run Farm Stands to Visit in Niagara 

One of the best things to do in Niagara in the summer is explore the many farm markets and stands in the Niagara Region. And there’s something special about strolling through a family-run farm stand overflowing with fresh, local produce. Maybe it’s the smell of just-picked fruit, the friendly faces behind the counters, or the charm of seeing fields stretch out behind the produce bins. 

If you love shopping local, supporting farm families, and filling your basket with seasonal goodness, this guide is for you!

Here are 10 amazing family-run farms and seasonal markets to visit across Niagara (plus a little bit of their history)! From sweet cherries and juicy peaches to fresh corn and homemade jams, these farms serve up the freshest flavours of the season.

✨Have a favourite farm market you love visiting? ✨
Let me know in the Navigating Niagara Facebook group!

🍒 Cherry Lane Farm — Vineland

Cherry Lane is Niagara’s oldest cherry farm! The Smith family has been farming for 10 generations, and they’ve called their Vineland property home since 1908 – complete with a house built in 1873! 

Jen Smith is now the 10th generation farmer who oversees 400 acres of juicy cherries, peaches, and pears at Cherry Lane. Their market has a great selection of fruit in summer and a year-round market selling preserves, frozen fruit, gifts and more. What I love most is their 24/7 vending machine for tart cherry juice concentrate! 

📍Location: 4230 Victoria Ave, Vineland Station, ON

🍑 Bizjak Farms — Vineland

Bizjak Farms is a multi-generational, family-run farm with deep roots in Niagara’s tender fruit tradition. It all began when Louis and Maria Bizjak came to Canada from Slovenia in 1968 and moved to Beamsville in 1973 with dreams of building a legacy. 

They bought a charming century home on 14 acres of fruit trees – mostly peaches, but also cherries, apricots, plums, apples, and pears – and got to work while raising six kids.

It continues to be a family tradition today with Louis and Maria’s son Milan, daughter Mimi, and son-in-law Ignacio working two farms, growing fruit in sustainable and environmentally friendly ways, and selling it at their farm stands. 

 📍Location: 4503 Victoria Ave, Vineland

🍓 DeVries Fruit Farm — Fenwick

DeVries Fruit Farm all started when Leo DeVries grew up working on fruit farms and dreamed of owning one someday. That dream became reality in 1984 when he and his wife Margaret bought a small property with acres of pear trees, overgrown apple trees, and plenty of open space.

Leo planned to grow sour cherries while continuing his career as a carpenter. But since cherry trees take about seven years to produce fruit, apple and peach trees were added, too.  As crops thrived and nearby orchards became available to rent, Leo made farming his full-time job.

As the farm expanded, so did the family’s involvement. With sons Dan and Mark joining full time, Devries has become a true family-run success story.

They have a full country market vibe open year-round with friendly staff, baked goods, and U-pick strawberries in early summer along with PYO peaches. If you can’t make it to their farm, you’ll also find them at the Niagara Falls Farmers Market and St Catharines Farmers Markets on Saturdays from May – October.

📍Location: 825 Canboro Rd, Fenwick

🌽 Hildreth Farm Market — Beamsville

Hildreth Farm Market is a charming roadside market that’s been around for four generations! They’ve long been known in their community for the awesome market that offers all kinds of seasonal produce, delicious pies, flowers, and preserves. 

And if you love corn, this is THE place to get it! It’s the best tasting corn we’ve ever had and we always make a point to eat our weight in it every year.

The farm has long offered pick‑your‑own strawberries and PYO cherries and a seasonal market stand beloved for Ontario sweet corn and seasonal baked goods.

 📍Location: 5528 Greenlane, Beamsville

🍐 Epp Farms — Niagara-on-the-Lake

Tucked away in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Epp Family Fruit Farm has grown into one of the region’s peach powerhouses! What started as land once owned by Canadian Canners is now a bustling, family-run orchard. 

Since the late 1960s, the Epp family has welcomed seasonal workers from Jamaica, building friendships and a strong farm community along the way, at one point bringing on over 100 seasonal workers at harvest time. They continue to do what they do best: growing amazing fruit and treating everyone like family.

 📍Location: 1023 East & West Line and 15896 Niagara River Pkwy, Niagara-on-the-Lake

🌶️ Thwaites Farms — Niagara-on-the-Lake

The Thwaites family story starts in 1909 with 14-year-old Reginald F. Thwaites, who came to Canada from England through an orphanage immigration program. He started out on cattle and hay farms, but it was fruit farming that was his passion. By 1920, Reg had saved enough to buy his own fruit farm in Jordan Station.

His son Ron took over in 1938 when Reg’s health declined—quitting school in Grade 9 to run the farm full-time. After serving in WWII, Ron returned home and bought a 20-acre fruit farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake. That little farm – with a small house, barn, and one horse – became the heart of Thwaites Farms, and the original farmhouse and barn still stand today!

Thwaites Farms continues to grow – powered by four generations of passion, hard work, and plenty of peaches.

📍Location: 1984 Townline Rd. RR3, Niagara-on-the-Lake

🍒 Mathias Farms — Ridgeville

Mathias Farms has been growing goodness for three generations right in the heart of Niagara. In 1974, siblings Beth and Tom took the reins from their father Joe and have been running the show ever since. 

With a whole lot of heart and a serious work ethic, they’ve dedicated themselves to growing some of the tastiest fruit around—season after season, year after year!

This is my favourite place to go cherry picking. It’s a great family-friendly spot that’s relaxed and is a great way to spend a summer day in Niagara!

 📍Location: 1909 Effingham Rd, Ridgeville

🍓 Overholt Orchards Farm Market — St. Catharines

Overholt Orchards Farm Market has been part of Niagara’s farming tradition for generations! With roots going back to the 1800s, the Overholt family is of Mennonite heritage and when they settled in Ontario, they brought their tradition of strong work ethic, a love for the land, and a spirit of community.

Today, Overholt Orchards is proud to keep that tradition alive, growing delicious fruit, vegetables, flowers, and working with amazing local bakers and makers to stock their stands with the best of Niagara.

 📍Location: 1656 Seventh Street Louth, St Catharines

🍑 Warner Orchards — Beamsville

Family farmed since 1970, Warner Orchards has two farm stands, and one is right in the heart of Beamsville. Offering fresh picked seasonal fruit and vegetables, these self-serve farm market stands have some different finds than other markets: produce like donut peaches and cucamelons!

Now that Lincoln Ave has sidewalks, it’s even more accessible by foot!

 📍Location: 4505 Lincoln Ave & 5151 North Service Rd, Beamsville

🍁 Why Support Niagara’s Family-Run Farms?

Shopping at these farms means more than bringing home the best peaches or corn – it’s about supporting local families, preserving rural traditions, and getting to know where your food comes from. You’ll taste the difference in every bite.

So grab your reusable tote bags and hit the road! Whether you’re pie-making, produce-snacking, or just browsing, these Niagara farms offer a delicious taste of the season that’s hard to beat.

📌 Save this list for your next weekend adventure, and don’t forget to check each farm’s hours before visiting – most are open seasonally from May through early fall (October).