The thought behind this article started with a recent drive down Southdown Road, as well as connecting to the coming summer season.

I knew that Herridge’s Farm Fresh Market in Clarkson had permanently closed as of December 24, 2022. But driving down Southdown Road a couple of weeks ago and seeing the “Closing Forever” sign had me reflecting on our history. Herridge’s was one of the last reminders of our City’s market garden roots. Roadside farm markets were once a common site throughout historic Mississauga – from the O’Neil’s and Pinchin’s apple stands along Mississauga Road, to Oughtred’s and Turple’s in Erindale, to Price’s and Pallet’s in Cooksville and Dixie, amongst countless others scattered across our landscape. The farmers’ markets of today are, in a way, descendants of these earlier markets – farmers today bring their goods to people. In our not-so-distant past, people travelled to the small markets scattered along our roadways.

Herridge’s was, to me, a throwback, and a survivor, to the era of the roadside farm markets in Mississauga. The Herridge market was established in 1950 by Viola and Lloyd Herridge, and passed to their children and grandchildren. Although the market location was moved slightly north of its original location, albeit on the same property, and a new building added in the 1970s, the market remained a family-run business for three generations. Viola remembered, when the business first began, the area was covered with strawberry fields – something that is hard to visualize today.

View of Clarkson Railway Crossing from Durie Store, c1920, showing farm wagons loaded with strawberries

The reference to strawberries and Clarkson is not a new one, of course. For a time, Clarkson was referred to as the “Strawberry Capital of Ontario” – although that reference may be a more modern take from looking back at Clarkson’s history. Strawberry growing in the Clarkson area connects, in part, to Edward Sutherland who started growing strawberries on his farm in 1855. The soil was good, and the climate was perfect for growing strawberries, and soon other farmers began to follow suit. And then some. In 1915 a sign was erected at the Clarkson railway station that proudly stated, “Through this station passes more strawberries than any other station in Ontario.”

Historically the strawberry industry provided work and income for local people, particularly in May and June during the harvest season. Many were migrant and Indigenous workers who found employment at harvest time. It has been said that an average farm could yield 300 quarts of strawberries a day and that is took 3 weeks to complete the harvest. The Strawberry Capital, indeed!

With strawberry season upon us now and summer right around the corner, perhaps we should all sit back and reconnect with our agricultural roots, give a nod of thanks to the Herridge family and others, and enjoy some strawberries … and also, this fun poem written in the 1920s:

Clarkson’s Strawberries - By Annie Hood Turner

(From the Clarkson-Barnet Scrapbook)

Nourished by dew and softly falling rain,
And ripened by the sun’s warm golden glow.
Like ruby gems cut by a master’s hand,
‘Neath verdant foliage strawberries grow.
No incense burnt the ancient gods to greet,
Ne’er lulled the doubting soul with scent so sweet.
The sweeping rustle as of silken gown,
Attuning with the snap of slender stem.
Rises to join in nature’s eternal song,
As eager fingers seek to gather them.
Yield of the earth that through the ages span,
The Great Creator’s richest gift to man.

For those looking for a taste of the season, we thought we would share a historic recipe. This recipe comes from a cookbook assembled by the women of Erindale United Church, and although the year is not stated, it likely dates to around 1960. This recipe for Glazed Strawberry Pie is from Marg Gardner.

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The Connected History of Strawberries, Farm Markets and Mississauga

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