Frontenac is part of Ontario's Artisan Food and Beverage Region (FAB). FAB is a unique partnership led in Frontenac by the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, with the goal of helping entrepreneurs 'live their dream' of operating an artisanal food and beverage business.
Local Food
Frontenac is a great place for unique food experiences provided by adventurous entrepreneurs. Our businesses enjoy strong local support and compete successfully in the larger markets of Kingston, Ottawa, and Toronto.
Ranging from milk-less-travelled, to year round gardens, artisanal sausage and cheese, and superior chocolate, you will find high-end, hand crafted quality in Frontenac. Behind this incredible food is a growing network of well-connected and skilled food producers who have spent their lives honing the craft.
Here are a few of our celebrated local food businesses:
- Limestone Organic Creamery
- Food Less Travelled
- Back Forty Artisan Cheese
- Seed to Sausage
- Fine Chocolate by Ludwig
Artisan Cheese
The artisan cheese market in Ontario is a three hundred million dollar industry, and it is growing every year. Frontenac has a strong local dairy industry to assist in the supply and development of artisan cheese, and easy access to restaurants and distributors to help put new products on the market. The FAB Region has put together a handy guide to help interested food entrepreneurs invest in cheese.
Wine and Beer
There is nothing that complements local food like local beverages. A craft beer movement is emerging in and around Frontenac County. In 2017, Frontenac's first brewery, Wolfe Island Craft Brewery will open its doors. With a handful of other craft brewers in the area, Frontenac is ideally located to take advantage of the exploding craft beer market in Eastern Ontario. Check out the FAB Region's app and handbook about starting a brewery in Eastern Ontario: iCraft Brew.
Frontenac is also home to nutrient rich soils with unique micro climates that can host a variety of grapes for truly local wines. Also on Wolfe Island, Sugar Woods Experimental Vineyards has made fascinating strides in hearty grape production in recent years. Great potential exists in Frontenac for growing vines and establishing vineyards.
Farmer's Markets
At the heart of our local food system are two markets: the Frontenac Farmer's Market and the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market. With great support from tourists and cottagers, these markets are both wonderful venues for buying local and learning -- about the products, the process, and the people.
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