If you’ve purchased Ontario beef, poultry, lamb, duck or pork products from Harvest to Gather, you may be interested in learning more about them. This includes our impact on the environment and local communities, the fundamentals of holistic management, and what regeneration looks like in action—plus, how we produce such high quality, tender, flavourful products.
Well, we’ve got good news—this fall, we’re welcoming wholesale customers to Hillview Farm in Haldimand County. This is Cory Van Groningen’s own farm where he and his family raise cattle, chickens, ducks, lamb and more. The first tour of the season will be on Wednesday, September 3rd starting at 1pm with additional tours on September 10th, 17th and 24th. Each farm tour will be approximately two hours in duration and will be open to select retail customers as well as retailers and food service operators.
These farm tours are a great opportunity for wholesale customers to meet their local farmer, ask questions and connect with the land. All are welcome—please read on for details or contact us if you’d like to know more. We’d be glad to speak with you!
Meet your guide
Cory Van Groningen is an active figure in the regenerative agriculture sector, playing multiple roles within the Harvest to Gather ecosystem (VG Meats, Rowe Farms, Olliffe butcher shop). As a certified Field Professional in Holistic Management, Cory is affiliated with Holistic Management Canada, where his expertise contributes significantly to advancing agricultural methodologies. Cory is the founder of the Ecosystem Hub in Ontario, where he focuses on creating and supporting regenerative agriculture training and monitoring. Cory also serves as a Hub Verifier for the Canadian Hub of the Savory Institute, an international organization dedicated to promoting large-scale restoration of the world’s grasslands through holistic management. He lives at Hillview Farm in Haldimand County with his wife, Heidi, and their four daughters.
During your visit to Hillview, Cory will share information about holistic management, regenerative food, going beyond sustainability, and why this matters so much to the Harvest to Gather team and Van Groningen family. You’ll get to see the entire farm, get your boots dirty and ask questions throughout the tour. We hope you’ll come out to enjoy this unique behind-the-scenes experience!
Important information for farm tour guests
We’re excited to welcome you to Hillview but before you visit the farm, please be aware of the following:
- While all are welcome at the farm, this tour is educational and therefore not geared towards children or families. This is a working farm, and there’s no playground or petting area! Please leave your kids at home.
- Please note that there is a good deal of walking involved, often over uneven ground (it’s a farm, after all). We recommend that participants dress for the weather and wear boots with a good tread. Sun protection and waterproof footwear are always good choices!
- There are no public washroom facilities at Hillview Farm. If you need a washroom, we recommend visiting Hewitt’s Dairy Bar in Hagersville—it’s about 15 minutes away by car and has great food and ice cream as well as washrooms. Making a stop here is another great way to support local businesses!
See you soon
Thanks so much for your interest in learning more about holistic management, regenerative agriculture and where your food comes from. As retailers and food service operators in Ontario, you have a wonderful opportunity to share high quality, delicious, local food with your customers while contributing to regenerative outcomes in your own community. We know that your customers want to support Canadian farmers now more than ever, and we welcome you to learn more about our products in order to feature them in your store or on your menu.
If you’re ready to book a tour of Hillview Farm, please speak to your Harvest to Gather wholesale representative or contact Cory directly by emailing cory@vgmeats.ca. Thanks again and see you soon—we’re looking forward to it!