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Fruit is the focus of farming in the Niagara Peninsula, farming with a long history. During the American Revolution of 1776-1783, United Empire Loyalists fleeing the Thirteen Colonies settled in Upper Canada and began to work the land. Given the unique location, climate and soil of the Niagara region, along with the arrival of the railway in the 1850s, farmers were able to grow many varieties of tender fruit such as grapes, peaches, pears, plums, apples, berries, cherries and tomatoes.
The Niagara Peninsula, Grimsby in particular, also has a long history of highly developed industries related to the growing, processing and shipping of tender fruits. Local industries manufactured tools and baskets and supplied nursery stock for the farms. The need for fruit storage and shipping in Grimsby gave rise to experimental cold storage facilities as well as many marketing and shipping organizations. Local canneries, preserving factories, wineries and distilleries preserved large quantities of tender fruit. The railway, the Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway, steamships and transport trucks transported fruit locally, across the country and overseas. Farmerettes were employed to help on the local farms while men were fighting in both world wars. Farmers showcased their produce at local and international fairs including the 1901 Pan American Exposition, winning many awards.
The Town of Grimsby and its citizens have made many contributions throughout the years to the development of the fruit industry in both the Niagara Peninsula and Canada. Each spring residents and tourists continue to enjoy the abundance of blossoms, a prelude to the summer fruit season.
This Community Stories exhibit will examine the early history of fruit farms in Grimsby, and how everyday life on these farms changed as generations passed.
