Focus on the Canadian vineyard

The Canadian Vineyard is an idyllic rural getaway, with breathtaking views and luxurious accommodations.

For the first time in the last 50 years, Canadian wineries are open to the public. Just a short drive from the Greater Toronto Area and the Ottawa Valley, it's not hard to see why our country is attracting international attention as a tourist destination.

In the fall, thousands of people head to Canadian vineyards to pick mushrooms and chase the colorful leaves. North America has over 65 species of wild mushrooms and over 10,000 different types in total. Although only a handful of them are dangerous due to their toxicity, looking at a mushroom the wrong way can make you sick.

Since the identification of wild mushrooms can be confusing, it is always best to consult someone who knows what they are doing before consuming wild mushrooms for food. The most commonly eaten mushroom in this region is the bolete or cep, whose dark brown cap and white peduncle emerge from their brownish-grey pores. Besides the boletus, the most common mushroom you will find in the forests of Canada is the chanterelle. There is also a wide variety of morels growing here.

In many parts of the world, morels are highly valued for their distinctive flavor and aroma and for their nutritional content. Oyster mushroom is very similar to fly agaric, but its flavor and texture are milder. The Canadian vineyard also grows a wide variety of other fruits, including plums, peaches, nectarines, and pears, which are used for a variety of reasons. Plums are sometimes grown for their seeds which can be used for making hard candy and iced tea. At the end of autumn, ripe pears are collected from the orchard for storage at home.

During the summer months, many people enjoy picking wild berries and raspberries which are abundant across Canada. Raspberries grow in a variety of colors ranging from deep red to magenta, black, yellow-green and white. Wild strawberries are one of the most common wild berries that grow freely in North America.

The wild blueberries are very common in Canada, but are particularly abundant in southern Quebec where they form a large part of the local diet. Blueberries are also high in vitamin C and fiber, as well as a number of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that protect the body from free radical attack. Blueberries have many other health benefits, including their effectiveness in treating cancer and heart disease.

In areas where there is a lot of rain during the summer months, sweet corn can be grown for human consumption and seed production. All varieties of corn (eg, sweet corn, field corn, kernel corn, popcorn) are very high in protein. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Canada's diverse vineyard operations produce a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. During the summer months, farmers grow beans such as tomato, eggplant, lettuce and cabbage leaves which can be pickled or eaten fresh.

In the spring, many people travel to Canadian vineyards to see the grounds transform into a beautiful display of flowers. Residential areas are located throughout the Canadian vineyard; this maintains the aesthetics of the Canadian vineyard. The most popular thing tourists come here to do is visit the local farmers markets. That's why many local restaurants offer fresh meals and baked goods that use locally grown ingredients whenever possible.

The Canadian vineyard also has a large amount of commercial agriculture, which provides a large part of its income. Corn, wheat and soybeans are commonly grown there, as well as some commercial trees. In Canada's early colonial days, settlers grew many of their own fruits and vegetables. They source their produce from local orchards and farms. Fruit trees were grown for their bark, timber, wood products, and other uses, in addition to providing fruit for food. In many parts of Canada, pear, apple and cherry trees are planted around homes to protect them from the harsh winter weather.

The Canadian vineyard is one of the largest apple producers in the world. The main varieties grown here are Granny Smith, Kingston Black, Macintosh and McIntosh; this variety has a high acid content, which is why it is used as a rule for making cider. Ontario produces about 80 % of Canada's apple harvest, making Canada the leading apple producer in North America.

The Canadian vineyard is well known for growing grapes that are used to produce wine, brandy and raisins. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), there were 482 wineries nationwide in 2012 with 315 registered grape growers. The most common grape variety grown here is Vitis vinifera, although other types of grapes also grow here, such as Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, and Vitis rotundifolia. The grapes are grown for their seeds, which will be used in winemaking. This is why grapeseeds are a popular snack in Canada. Grapes have been cultivated since ancient times and were first mentioned by the Romans who believed they were a source of immortality.

Apples, grapes and other fruit trees grown in the canadian vineyard are known as ornamental plants and are not considered crops, but rather hobbies. Ornamental trees are planted for the purpose of providing shade during the dry part of summer as well as for their flowers or fruit which can be used for cooking or eating. Some people plant ornamental trees both to beautify their homes and to provide shelter during harsh winters when natural tree cover is limited or non-existent.