With a farm stand, online store, butcher shop, and agri-tourism experiences to manage on top of their regular farming operations, Harley Farms in the Township of Otonabee South Monaghan has a lot on their plate. To help the family farm save time and streamline connections with local buyers, they participate in agricultural programming delivered in part by Peterborough County.
The Harley family originally farmed over 4,500 acres in England before they moved to Canada in 2000, purchasing their property north of Keene in 2002. Through regenerative agriculture processes including rotational grazing, Harley Farms produces humanely and sustainably raised beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and eggs.
In 2023, Harley Farms opened the Harley Farms Butcher Shop at 95 Hunter Street East in Peterborough’s East City. Between the butcher shop, an online store that delivers across Ontario, a farm shop open seven days per week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and retail partners across The Kawarthas and beyond, there are many ways for buyers to get their hands on products from Harley Farms.
To reach even more customers and to share information about their business, Harley Farms is a member of the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh economic development program. The initiative provides a brand identity for local producers, a network for members to share and access resources, and an online database for consumers to find local producers in Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
On top of farming and selling, Harley Farms is beginning to relaunch the agri-tourism experiences they offered prior to the pandemic. In addition to having a playground on-site behind the farm stand that can be used for drop-in activities, Harley Farms host tours that invite visitors to explore and learn about the farm, and they have just opened a new event space that can be rented out for special occasions.
“People can walk around and view the animals and play on the lawns and playgrounds,” says James Harley. “We always like to have people out and, especially in the summertime, when we have the big playground, we love to see the kids playing while their parents are shopping.”
With so many components to the business, it can be difficult for the family to find the time to connect with buyers and increase wholesale capacity. James says making these connections is a “full-time job” on top of all the other farm operations.
That’s why Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and the City of Peterborough have partnered to deliver the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale Program, an initiative designed to strengthen the region’s capacity for local food distribution.
The final stage of the initiative is the Green Circle Food Hub, developed with Graze & Gather to connect food producers like Harley Farms with local wholesale buyers including restaurants, resorts, and golf courses.
The hub is a win-win, as food producers can expand local distribution while food buyers have access to fresh local products that don’t have to travel as far.
“Any savings you have on transport is always beneficial because fuel is so expensive,” James says. “If you’re shipping things over from the U.S., that price is tacked on there somewhere. The closer to home you can buy, the better.”
Harley Farms is located at 1630 Heritage Line in Keene. To learn more or shop online, visit harleyfarms.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.
