Cranberry harvest kicks off in Bala ahead of annual festival

At Cranberry Farms in Bala, the harvest is in full swing.

Murray Johnston from Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery says the season is going well.

"We've had a great season. We've missed some of the big rainstorms, so we'd like perfect weather for growing the cranberries," Johnston shared. "They blossom in July, and now the berries are ready to pick. We started about a week ago in September, and we need to get done by the end of October."

Johnston's family has been growing cranberries on this farm since the 1950s. According to him, the conditions in Bala are just right for cranberries.

"Cranberries are an acid-loving plant native to bogs across North America, and they need peat bogs, which are acidic," he explained. "This area is perfect for them."

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Eco-tourism plays a significant role at the farm, drawing visitors from all over who want to experience the cranberry harvest firsthand. It's a unique opportunity to walk through the flooded fields just before the berries are harvested.

"It's pretty cool, once in a lifetime," said Martha Voskamp, a visitor to the farm. When asked if she had ever done something like this before, she responded, "No. It's easy for an 80-year-old."

The annual Bala Cranberry Festival returns the weekend after Thanksgiving. Every year, tens of thousands of people flock to the region to celebrate everything cranberry.

David Skoric, from the festival, says it's a big boost for the local economy.

"Our main focus is introducing people to the area; giving people the opportunity to come to Bala and see what we have to offer," Skoric said. "Our main focus is to extend the tourist season, which gives all of our local businesses the opportunity to do a little bit extra with everybody before the winter comes. For some businesses, the cranberry festival equates to an extra month of the season condensed into one weekend ."

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the festival, running from October 18 to 20.