Daytripping Summer 2022

CHATHAM, KENT BRIDGE, BOTHWELL, THAMESVILLE & PALMYRA
PARKS
Blueberry Farm · Café · Bakery · Country Store
The easy drive through Southwestern
Ontario’s farm country to get to Parks
Blueberries is nearly as pleasant as the
sweet smell of warm turnovers greeting
visitors when they arrive.
I say nearly because there is nothing
quite as wonderful as the aroma of
delicious treats coming out of the oven
under the careful supervision of head
baker and general manager Tina Alderdice.
Tina has worked at the U-Pick blueberry
farm for 27 years and perfected Parks’
recipes for everything from blueberry pie
and turnovers to blueberry cream cheese
squares, blueberry white chocolate
scones and more.
They are all available in Parks’ store
for customers to take home or to enjoy in
the spacious café that also serves up deli
sandwiches, soups, salads, and quiche.
The Parks’ family started their
blueberry farm 43 years ago along
Highway 2 between Bothwell and
Thamesville in Chatham-Kent’s
northeast end.
It’s grown into more than 45 acres of
blueberry bushes carefully maintained
under netting and some of the oldest
bushes in Ontario. The blossoms are
pollinated every spring with hundreds
of beehives brought in to help the
naturally-occurring bee population get
the job done.
In 2013, Bruce and Hope Parks took
over the operation from his parents, Bill
and Diane, and together they operate
a busy U-Pick, wholesale blueberry
business, café and country store.
It’s a popular destination visited by
more than 10,000 customers every
summer who can easily spend a couple
of hours or an entire day, says Hope.
“The heart of it all is the blueberries
Story and photo by
Cathy Dobson, Sarnia
and people tell us all the time what a
great day trip it is,” she said. Parks offers
free wagon rides into the blueberry
fields and 10 different varieties of fresh
berries. The most popular tend to be
Blue Crops, Dukes and Northlands.
“Our customers love putting in the
effort to get their own berries,” Hope
said. “If you are a kid, it teaches you
the richness of nature and something
about farming. I think it’s a very good
experience for children no matter how
old they are.”
Pickers who are eight years and older
pay $5 per person to pick their own
berries. It’s not meant as an entrance
fee but to encourage picking, explained
Hope. The $5 charge is deducted from
the cost of what you pick.
During the busy summer months,
the café and country store are also
busy. Nearly 60 employees are hired to
keep all aspects of the business running
smoothly.
“We’re really proud of our home
baking and I love talking to the customers
who come in to have something to
eat,” said Hope. She also selects the
housewares, clothing, jewellery, toys
and novelty items available in the
country store.
Blueberry season generally spans July
and August. Visitors are encouraged to
check out Parks’ website to see varieties
that are ready for picking. The Parks’
freezers are also packed with boxes
of frozen blueberries for sale. New in
recent years are greenhouses growing
strawberries in the shoulder seasons.
Throughout the summer, Parks
Blueberries is open seven days a week
(8 a.m. – 6 p.m) including holidays. Find
out more at www.parksblueberries.com.
New Summer Play Zone!
14933 Longwoods Rd., Bothwell • 519-697-4691
(Hwy #2, between Bothwell & Thamesville)
R.B. F
abrics
• Fabrics for... Fashion,
Upholstery, Draperies, Outdoors,
Quilting - extra wide backing
• Quilting & Sewing Notions
• Breakfast & Lunch: Take Out,
Dine In or Picnic Tables
• Artisan & Home Style Baking
New: Take & Bake Pies
• Cheese & Deli Counter
• Shaw's Ice Cream
• Acvies include: peddle cars, train rides,
ziplines, goats, bunnies, campfires, & more!
• Great for Birthday Pares & Reunions
Opening July 1st: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 10am-5pm
Yes!
1 sloansvillage.ca
745 St. Clair • CHATHAM • N7L 0E9 www.rbfabrics.com
Mon-Fri 9:30-5
Saturday 9:30-4
(HWY 40, NORTH EDGE OF CITY) 519-351-7693
11652 LONGWOODS ROAD, KENT BRIDGE • 519-352-5226
Order Online: kentbridgecountrymarket.com
RETIREMENT SALE
is now ON
After 40 years we are retiring.
Thank you for your support -
enjoy the storewide savings.
PARKS
Blueberry e
Farm
· Caf · · Country Store
www.parksblueberries.com
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(Mid July through September) embe
Details on website.
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MON-FRI 8-6
SATURDAY 8-5
Frozen r
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Store
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rom
Our
Customers
I just wanted to let you know that this entire past week we had an
influx of new people to our area! At least 8 different couples mentioned
to us that they found us through your Day Tripping publication and 3
people had mentioned how they were saddened with Covid there
wasn't a NEW edition - but I made their day and set them straight -
giving them their own copies!! Two couples mentioned how traveling
to these stores would be what they do for fun with the remainder of
August! YAY!!! So what I am trying to say is, THANK YOU!! And Yes, YOU
are making a difference!! We certainly appreciate the help! Please fwd
this email along to the rest of your team!! 5 Golden Stars, folks!! :)
Amie Rankin ~ Troyer’s Spices in St. Marys
OUR CAFÉ
• Fresh Creative Recipes
• Blueberry Accents
OUR BAKERY
FAMOUS for Pies,Muffins, Scones
• Gluten Smart Scratch-Baked ch B
ak d
Goods
• ‘No Sugar Added’ Selections
Summer
Fashions
Blueberries
are our focus:
Preserves & Sauces
Single jars or
Gift boxes
Perfect
Accents
Cookware
from Emile Henry...
Located 7 km East of Thamesville on Hwy. #2
OUR
STORE
• Kitchen Gadgets,
Tools, Accessories
& Cookbooks
• Women’s ns Apparel
pa
& Accessories
sori
• Lang Calendars
• Gift Baskets &
Certificates
i
t
es
• One-of-a-Kind -a-K
-Kin
Accents
ce • Children’s Toys • Prints
• Homemade ma
Preserves
rves
• Wall Art • Cards
• Wedding i Favours
• Christmas Corner
Open Daily 8 to 6 • 519-692-5373 • 1-866-901-5373
Summer 2022 “May irritate eyes” (label on a can of self-defense pepper spray)
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