Organic farms near Toronto are just about to hit their stride for the summer growing season. Good things grow in Ontario, and with more of us choosing local and organic food options, there's no shortage of places near Toronto to find freshness and quality. If you're up for an afternoon in farm country, you can explore the quaint lands of Ontario's fantastic organic farms - or look for these producers at a market near you.

Here are my picks for the top organic farms located close to Toronto.

Meadow Sweet Farm
A regular supplier to high-end produce markets like Harvest Wagon, Meadow Sweet Farm also has a farm stand open at Warden Avenue and Stouffville Road on weekends throughout the summer months. Here you'll find heirloom vegetables, pork and beef, as well as various greens. There's also a hop farm that supplies local breweries and DIY types.

Organics Family Farm
Located in Markham, Organics Family Farm is a small family owned and operated certified organic farm in operation since 2007. The farm offers naturally raised meat included pastured raised beef & pork, which in turn makes the offerings hormone and antibiotic free. They also have an abundance of crops that come in through the season including asparagus, raspberries, apples, kale, beets and more. All crops have been certified organic and vary due to availability of the season.

Fenwood Farm
Ancaster's Fenwood Farm has been a family owned and operated business since 1990 providing quality organic and antibiotic free meat. They offer everything from chicken, beef and pork, plus turkey during Thanksgiving - you can either pre-order or visit the farm direct. Also on-site at the farm, they offer a variety of items such as coconut oil, emu oil soap, honey and organic ice cream.

Greenfields Organic Farm
Greenfields Organic Farm has been operating in Campbellville since 1989; it's been certified organic since 1997. The farm offers everything from organic fruits and vegetables (year-round) to fresh farm eggs and chicken (depending on availability). Visitors can stop by the farm or visit them at one of the many Toronto farmer's markets they frequent weekly.

Moondance Organic Gardens
This Angus family market garden farm opened in 2001. Moondance offers a variety of different garden day camps and workshops to inspire aspiring gardeners and teach the basics of tending your garden or farm. For those looking to try out some of Moondance's offerings, several different season veggies and herbs are available, alongside fresh eggs, honey and seeds.

Mapleton's Organic Dairy Farm
Mapleton's Organic Dairy Farm has been processing organic milk into ice cream and fresh yogurt for purchase since 1999. The Wellington County farm also produces organic pork, free-range chickens and turkey available only in the summer months. Visitors are welcome to take part in the many barnyard demonstrations or explore the on-site cedar hedge maze and labyrinth.

Our Father's Farm
Located in Dundas, Our Father's Farm offers up CSA-approved organic weekly vegetable baskets as well as grass-fed beef. The farm is available for on-site purchases or online ordering (with delivery to Toronto) - they sell everything from herbs, sprouts and root vegetables to maple syrup and raw honey.

Vanhart Greenhouse All Organic
This family-owned organic farm located in Kettleby has been in business since 1975. Within their 10,000-square-foot greenhouse, they grow several different types of produce, including tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, onions and carrots (to name a few). Open Monday through Saturday, the farm encourages visitors to visit and find out more about organic crop production.

Uphill Farm Organics
Located in the town of Erin, Uphill Farm Organics specialises in perennial crops, plants/herbs and free range eggs. All items through Uphill are available in their Farmhouse store open Tuesday through Friday and weekends.

Everdale Organic Farm
Hillsburgh's Everdale is more than just an organic farm. They pride themselves on being a farm-based organization that provides hands-on farming education and engaging community programming on food and farming. While you can visit on-site, Everdale has set-up the Harvest Shares package where you can choose from 20-30 seasonal vegetables weekly for pick-up at local farmers markets.

BONUS

Beretta Family Farms
Beretta Family Farms has been in business for 20 years providing grass-fed, all-natural and organic beef, chicken, pork and a frozen baby food line called Sweetpea. They butcher, prepare, and ship out all retail orders (unfortunately no walk-ins allowed at this time) at their Etobicoke location. Several farm events (open to the public) are held year round which can be found on their Facebook group.

Writing by Amanda Scriver. Photo via Everdale Organic Farm on Facebook.