Farm to Table: Meet Moore’s Farms & Rodrigues Farms

By Carolina Saenz

This coming spring and summer are the perfect times to venture out to local farms and explore what they have to offer Two popular options include Moore’s Farms and Rodrigues Farm, both located just a short drive from Paris. Nancy Moore and Sarah Rodrigues share a bit about their history and what we can look forward to this 2023 season.

Moore’s Farms is a Century Farm that has been operating since 1916. Located at 497 Pinehurst Road in Ayr, they are family run and have contributed to our local community for more than 100 years. With a wide array of produce and locally-sourced products, their farm store operates year-round Nancy Moore and her team work hard to keep the store running with fresh products and prepared meals made with recipes from the farmhouse kitchen. Weekly bundles for breakfast, dinner, and vegetables and fruits offer wonderful options for busy families to pre-order via Facebook and pick-up at a great deal. It’s like a meal plan that supports local, and at an affordable price, making it very popular for many busy families in the area. One of their most popular items, however, are their delicious strawberries. “We are excited for Strawberry Season! As well as continuing to expand the variety of products we sell,” shares Moore. Hoping that strawberry season will begin the second week of June, this will all be weather-dependent “From the blossom to strawberry it takes 30 days... So, we will be watching for blossoms!” explains Moore. One of this year’s new additions at the farm store include Kawartha ice cream, available now. Drop by Moore’s Farm any time to pick-up some fresh produce, and come summer give their popular strawberries and sweet corn a try. Don’t forget to check out other unique offerings such as the Red River cereal from Arva Flour Mill, or their longhorn beef. Raised on the farm, longhorn beef is lean and low in cholesterol, as well as extremely flavourful and delicious.

Starting in early May, Moore’s Farm will be open 7 days a week: Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, making it a great, convenient choice.

Not too far away, also located a short drive from Paris, you can find the Rodrigues Farm at 993 Drumbo Road in Ayr. In 2017, Yvan and Sarah Rodrigues moved to their farm looking for the space and peace of a country home but with no particular interest in being farmers. What started out with the initial plans to have a few chickens and a couple of goats has now grown into about a hundred chickens, nine breeding goats (plus seven babies born this year!), pigs, geese, ducks, and even honeybees. And while the farm has taken over all their free time, they wouldn’t change a thing.

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"It's really nice after long days staring at a computer screen to get outside and work in nature. I find being around the animals very calming, even when they're being agents of chaos,” shares Sarah Yvan works as a robotics engineer, and Sarah works for a marketing agency, both full-time positions but working from home they have some flexibility around farm chores and animal care.

Rodrigues Farm has free-range eggs available daily in the fridge on the front porch through a self-serve service Seasonally, they also sell honey, and for the first time this year (later in the fall) they will have pasture-raised pork available.

“In 2022 we also had a booth at the Ayr Farmer's Market selling baked goods, and we're thrilled to be returning again this year with even more goodies,” writes Sarah.

As for the farm's most popular product, it would have to be the famous Chick-Lets Hatchling Rental program, which offers families the chance to raise baby chicks in their homes

“We have one more offering of this program this year in May,” shares Sarah.

So those interested can reach out via Facebook or through their website https://store.rodrigues.farm/en/ While they don’t operate a store-front, their website is always up-to-date with what they have available And if you’re looking for something fun to watch, Sarah’s TikTok series called “Will it Goat?” showcases her giving the goats treats they’ve never had before and seeing if they like them. This year has already brought new additions to the Rodrigues Farm and more is yet to come. “It's been a crazy year already We've had 7 baby goats born so far. We got pigs in December, and it's been fun learning about them and watching them grow We're excited to return to the farmer's market (though less excited to stay up all night baking for it), especially with our new offerings,” writes Sarah. A busy farm for sure, but one filled with love for what they do. "Farming is more of a learning opportunity and a labour of love for us. Our jobs pay the bills, but the animals and work we do and connections we've built are what bring us joy Wouldn't trade it for the world!" Sarah concludes.

The Rodrigues Farm is popular for its Chick-Lets Hatchling Rental program, but they also like to have a little fun with Sarah’s TikTok series called “Will it Goat?” (Sarah and Yvan pictured to the left, with Santa and a goat of course!)

We want to feature your farm! If you are in the agri-food industry, we want to show people in the community where their food comes from and why it’s important to support local! EMAIL stories@theparisindependent.com