The McLean Family Selected As 2019 Farm Family Of The Year

The Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce have announced the McLean family, of 2191 16th Line, Lakefield as the 2019 Farm Family of the Year.

In January 1991, Sam and Jane McLean purchased the farm and moved in with their two small children, Ben and Erin. In 2010, with Ben and Erin’s increasing involvement, the McLeans purchased a second berry farm, Buckhorn Berry Farm, one concession north of the McLeans’ home farm. 

The McLean Family

They now work both farms, harvesting strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, snap peas, beans, asparagus, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, pumpkins, peppers, currants, rhubarb, squash and zucchini; they also produce maple syrup, jam, pickles, and preserves.

Aerial view of farm

At McLean Berry Farm, the main store offers produce from the farm as well as other local farms. Each spring, the McLeans welcome families from all over to their sugarbush and sugar shack for their annual Maplefest. 

The sugar shack

At Buckhorn Berry Farm, the family offers two on-farm stores, pick your own strawberries and raspberries, and other fruits and vegetables. 

The family also hosts the annual Pumpkinfest, attracting 13,000 visitors in 2019. Each farm also sells to local grocery stores and attends various farmers’ markets throughout the region.

The family uses a number of growing techniques including trickle irrigation, day neutral strawberries, fall raspberries and high tunnels in order to extend and improve their growing season and provide fresh fruits and vegetables each season.

The McLean family is actively involved in volunteering in the farming community, including service on the Haliburton Kawartha Maple Syrup Producers Association, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Farmers’ Market Ontario, and the Lakefield Farmers’ Market.

In 2017, McLean Berry Farm was awarded the Tourism/Hospitality Award and Erin McLean received the Young Professional of the Year Award from the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. 

The award will be presented at the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture Annual Banquet on Friday, November 22nd, at the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.

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