E.F.T. Farms held its annual Pumpkin Festival on Sunday – and despite chilly temperatures and persistent drizzle, the event was a success as a steady stream of customers pulled in to pick up their pumpkins for pies, autumn décor and Halloween jack-o-lanterns.
The farm was first purchased by Francesco Spina, back in 1981. It has been E.F.T. farms since 1994, now operated by brothers Emilio and Tony Spina.
From their roadside stand at 5420 Sideroad 10, the brothers sell a range of fresh produce that varies with the season – from romaine, green onions and head lettuce, to carrots, beets, potatoes and local apples.
And pumpkins – plenty of pumpkins.
The third annual Pumpkin Festival was an opportunity to say ‘Thank-you’ to loyal customers, explained Emilio – featuring free hot chocolate or coffee, an array of local vendors, and an invitation to come out and enjoy the afternoon in the Innisfil countryside, picking the perfect pumpkin.
Among the participating vendors were My Grandma’s Farm, bringing a selection of home-made pickles, jams and jellies from New Lowell; DJ Meats’ European and smoked meats; and Terry’s Unique Hot Sauce, out of Barrie.
Terry Williams has been creating unique hot sauces for the past five years. “Our top sellers are Tropical Heat, and Cranberry,” said wife Karen, manning the booth. The Hot Cranberry sauce is made with Carter’s Maple Syrup and fresh berries from Bala – “It’s great on turkey sandwiches!” she said.
Families arrived from as far away as Toronto for the Pumpkin Festival, well-prepared for the outing with raincoats, umbrellas and facemasks. And they had fun, even while practicing social distancing and dodging raindrops, as they shopped, bought fresh produce, and selected pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.
For more information on E.F.T. Farms, click here.
