The story of Empire Valley Farm Market epitomizes how agricultural businesses in Elgin County have grown and diversified -- exporting food from the County and importing visitors.

Founded as a small farm 25 years ago, the family-owned business on Highway 3 west of Wallacetown in the Municipality of Dutton/Dunwich has grown into a creative business that not only supplies fresh produce to the region but is part of the County’s fast-growing agri-tourism industry.

“We’re bringing the town to the country,” says Joy Westelaken, who with her husband Dave welcomed hundreds of people to their quarter-century celebration event on the weekend of June 19-20.

Visitors toured the country greenhouse, where many varieties of vegetables and flowers are grown in soil.  Natural predators, not pesticides, are used to control bugs.  Tomatoes and seedless cucumbers grow to a height of seven feet or more beneath the glass roof of the greenhouse, which lifts up to let air circulate without the need for fans.

When the Westelakans began farming together in 1985, not long after graduating from Ridgetown College and getting married, they had only eight acres of tomatoes on the site of a former brickyard.  But the black sandy loam produced bountiful crops and today Empire Valley’s vegetable market sells vegetables and fruits produced on 60 acres of land the Westelakans own, plus another 160 acres of rented land and the greenhouse.  During harvest season they employ up to 40 people.

With the help of their two sons, now teenagers, Dave and Joy built their market in 1993 and the greenhouse in 2003.  About three years ago they expanded into two more locations -- Covent Market in London and the Horton Street Market in St. Thomas, both open Saturdays from spring to fall.

Along the way, the Westelakens developed unique products for Empire Valley Farm Market, such as the Empire Valley Gourmet Grape Tomato, birdhouse gourds and one-of-a-kind hanging baskets designed by Joy and her two assistants.

Empire Valley benefits from the growing network of agri-business and other organizations active in Elgin County.  The Westelakens are members of Elgin - St. Thomas Tourism, the Dutton/Dunwich Chamber of Commerce, the Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario and the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association.  They look forward to being part of a Elgin County’s culinary trail – Savour Elgin.

“I think Elgin County is moving forward,” Joy says.  “It is turning into an attractive destination where people can see where their food products come from.”