Hi! I’m Farmer Joe

Great Lakes Farm History

My wife's family has been growing apples for a very long time. Her Opa came from Holland and purchased a farm just down the road from Great Lakes Farms in the 1950s. He took what he learned in Holland and started planting dwarf apple trees in Canada. He was one of the first in the area to do so. Opa sold his apples through the wholesale market.

His son and my favourite father-in-law took over the farming operations and purchased Great Lakes Farms in 2000 to expand the existing farm. My wife MaryAnne and her sisters and brother helped with many different farm jobs, from thinning apples to selling apple pie.   

In 2005 I came into the picture, marrying the oldest daughter. I grew up on a dairy farm, so I had much to learn about apples. Our passion for agriculture has allowed us to work hard with our children running Great Lakes Farms. We love what we do and hope you enjoy the farm!

Farmer Joe