Over five generations of operating its resort on the north shore of Rice Lake, the Elmhirst family has learned that the guests who come to experience lakeside living in cottage country also want a taste of The Kawarthas. That’s why Elmhirst’s Resort proudly supports local farming though agricultural programming led by Peterborough County.
The family’s connection to the land in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan dates back more than 200 years. Today, Elmhirst’s Resort is a year-round retreat featuring 30 waterfront cottages, two restaurants, conference facilities, 10 kilometres of walking trails, a wine cellar, a spa, and an indoor and outdoor pool.
Elmhirst’s Resort is renowned for its farm-to-table dining experiences at both the upscale Hearthside Dining Room and the more casual Wild Blue Yonder Pub & Patio. Seasonal dishes are crafted from fresh locally sourced ingredients — including premium beef, duck, turkey, eggs, and seasonal vegetables farmed on the resort’s 240-acre property. For other ingredients on the menu, Elmhirst’s Resort sources from as close to home as possible.
That’s why the resort will be participating in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program, which aims to increase the capacity for local food distribution by connecting farmers with buyers in Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes. Now in its final stage, the program helps buyers source local products through the establishment of the Green Circle Food Hub.
“Everything lasts quite a bit longer when it comes from a local farm and not a distribution centre,” says Henry Elmhirst, managing director and the fifth generation of the family to run the resort. “Our guests respond really well to it. It gives them a sense of really knowing where the food is coming from. We also showcase and talk about these brands in the dining room when we can.”
Elmhirst’s Resort also participates in the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh initiative, a program delivered by Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes that provides a brand identity for local products, a network for members to share and access resources, and an online database for buyers to find local producers.
The resort’s support of local agriculture is part of its cornerstone commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, which has led to Elmhirst’s Resort achieving platinum certification under the Greenstep Sustainable Tourism program.
Programs like Kawartha Local Food Wholesale foster this vision, Henry says, because buying local not only provides fresher ingredients and supports local farmers, but also reduces the environmental impact of transporting food products over long distances.
“It’s an incredible program and I think this is the direction that we really need agriculture to go,” says Henry. “It’s the correct direction and it’s hard to ask for a better interface for it. Being supported by your local government is a big thing.”
Elmhirst’s Resort is located at 1045 Settlers Line just east of Keene. For more information and to book a stay, visit elmhirst.ca.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series celebrating the farmers, food producers, food retailers, and agri-tourism businesses that make The Kawarthas thrive, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
Agriculture is a key economic driver and a point of pride for Peterborough County, with local farms producing a wide variety of high-quality goods, from traditional crops and livestock to organic and specialty products, reflecting the strength and diversity of this vital sector. With a growing focus on sustainability, local food systems, agri-innovation, and agri-tourism, agriculture offers strong potential for growth and diversification.
The Local Advantage with Peterborough County series spotlights the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and Kawartha Local Food Wholesale initiatives, which aim to strengthen connections from farm to table across our region.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
