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kawarthaNOW.com's Keep It In The Kawarthas® is a choose local campaign that helps connect consumers with locally owned businesses in the greater Kawarthas area. kawarthaNOW.com is a locally owned independent media publisher. We choose and support locally owned businesses first.

Community Care Peterborough is working on a transit feasibility study that will encompass all eight townships in Peterborough County as well as Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations. The study is looking at public transportation service options for all residents, including commuters, students, retirees, families, and anyone else looking for new ways to get around the county. (Photo: The Kawarthas Tourism)

Know Your Locals: Help shape the future of public transit in Peterborough County

Community Care Peterborough encourages residents to attend a June 25 open house at Douro Community Centre and fill out a survey by July 10.
Just six months after opening LóLa Cakes and Coffee in downtown Peterborough, owner Nino Ante is already ready to expand. Bringing years of experience working for global hospitality groups and in private kitchens, the trained chef opened LóLa to offer a space where people can enjoy coffee and cake along with other desserts. The restaurant also offers a breakfast and lunch menu. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area)

After years working in high-intensity kitchens, Nino Ante finds his calling with LóLa Cakes and Coffee

Just six months after opening his downtown Peterborough coffee shop and bakery, the chef is already scoping out opportunities for a second location.
Located in Bridgenorth overlooking Chemong Lake in Selwyn Township, Chemong Lodge uses local ingredients wherever possible, including herbs and produce grown on site and products sourced through weekly regional farmers' markets. To make it easier to source local, Chemong Lodge is interested in participating in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program supported by Peterborough County, which connects local buyers with local food producers. (Photo: Bryan Reid, courtesy of Chemong Lodge)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Chemong Lodge shares tastes of The Kawarthas by sourcing local ingredients

Adam Brown, co-owner of the Bridgenorth restaurant and events venue, is interested in joining the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program/
In fall 2024 after a 25-year career in media, Darren Murphy purchased The Market, a gourmet food shop in Lakefield. Since stepping into the new role, the Young's Point resident has maintained the quality and variety of products that can be found at the store, while transitioning to work with more Canadian suppliers and producers, crafting more prepared meals, and growing a social media presence by becoming "Murph at The Market." (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

From decades in media to becoming ‘Murph at the Market’, Darren Murphy is relishing his new career as owner of The Market in Lakefield

The former Peterborough Examiner publisher looks back at a year and a half of owning the Queen Street gourmet food shop after leaving the media industry.
Peterborough entrepreneur, mentor, and coach Sheena Howard will be leading a three-hour interactive workshop on June 19, 2026 to help women business owners find and solve the bottlenecks preventing them from growing their business. Held at the Peterborough Public Library's Multipurpose Room, "Why Your Business Isn't Growing (And What to Do About It)" will guide participants through common growth problems and how best to focus their time, offer networking opportunities, and help entrepreneurs develop a 90-day plan for growing their business. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

Know Your Locals: Peterborough entrepreneur Sheena Howard to lead interactive workshop for women business owners

Acceptance Clinic and BizNurse Saavy founder will lead 'Why Your Business Isn't Growing (And What to Do About It)' at the Peterborough Public Library on June 19.
Now in its 29th season, Gardens Plus is a garden centre in the Township of Douro-Dummer that specializes in hostas, daylilies, and easy-care perennials grown on site or sourced from local growers. A big believer in the need to shop and support local, owner Dawn Golloher is a member of the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh economic development program supported by Peterborough County. (Photo courtesy of Gardens Plus)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Gardens Plus grows and locally sources easy-care perennials

Now in its 29th season, the Douro-Dummer garden centre is a longtime member of the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh program supported by Peterborough County.
During the Second Saturday Sidewalk Sales organized by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) on June 13, July 11, August 8, and September 12, 2026, a portion of George Street will be closed to motor vehicles from Hunter Street in the north to Simcoe Street in the south to create expanded pedestrian space for shopping, dining, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and more. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)

Pedestrian-friendly monthly sidewalk sales returning to downtown Peterborough on Saturdays this summer

One block of George Street will be closed to motor vehicles during the events on June 13, July 11, August 8, and September 12.
Peterborough-based charitable organization Farms at Work was formed in 2010 to support new farmers, keep farmland in production, and promote on-farm environmental stewardship in east Central Ontario. (Photo: Peterborough County Economic Development)

Know Your Locals: Farms at Work aims to keep farmland in production with resources for non-farming landowners

The Peterborough-based organization offers an online platform for farmland owners to advertise available land, the Making Good Farmland Agreements Guide, farm tours, and more.
Red Mill Maple Syrup co-owner Sebastien Poulin (left) leads a tour about maple syrup production at the Millbrook producer's sugar shack. He and his wife Julie Vallieres, who were both raised in a region of Quebec well-known for maple syrup, have been producing maple syrup at their 10-acre property since 2011 and launched the Red Mill Maple Syrup brand in 2017. The business is a member of Kawartha Choice FarmFresh to promote their products to consumers and is interested in participating in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program to reach more wholesale buyers. (Photo courtesy of Red Mill Maple Syrup)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Red Mill Maple Syrup brings Quebec’s love for maple syrup to The Kawarthas

Owners Sebastien Poulin and Julie Vallieres promote their Millbrook business through the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh program.
Matt Anderson is the founder of Chemong City Greens in Peterborough, an indoor vertical farm that grows nutritious and organic microgreens year round. To help expand his retail and wholesale customer base, Anderson is a member of Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and participates in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale Program. Both economic development initiatives are supported by Peterborough County. (Photo courtesy of Chemong City Greens)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Chemong City Greens reaching more local buyers through agricultural programs

Microgreens producer Matt Anderson says Kawartha Local Food Wholesale Program helps bridge the gap between producing and sales.

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