This article originally appeared on HaltonHillsToday August 27.
It's almost the end of an era for an Eighth Line landmark, and the start of something new for a local family of agricultural entrepreneurs.
After close to 60 years of being an attraction along the western edge of Georgetown, Allison's Farm Market is moving to a new location in Halton Hills.
The Allison family will be closing their market doors on Eighth Line in November, after this year’s pumpkin season comes to an end.
They purchased a 90-acre property at the corner of 15 Sideroad and Fifth Line seven years ago. It will be the site of the market in 2025 and is currently serving as a second location as they transition the popular local business.
The land affords them many new opportunities, but the shift has left at least two of the Allisons with bittersweet emotions. They worked, played, learned, loved and came of age on Eighth Line, creating a strong bond with their field.
“My kids grew up there. It’s sad to see it go, but we carry on,” said Bob, patriarch of the Allison family.
“Honestly, it hasn’t hit me yet. It’ll be weird when it happens,” daughter Christine said. “It’s a new chapter now. We’re not closing. We’re glad to be moving on and we’re glad to have this [new] place.”
Everything that made local residents and visitors to the Georgetown area fall in love with the family-owned and operated farm will be present at the new location. Various foods grown on-site like sweet corn – the Allison specialty – pumpkins and many more fresh seasonal items will continue to delight.
Their collaborations with farms across southern Ontario will carry on as well. Goods from Simcoe County, Niagara, Woodstock and others will be transplanted to the new spot.
Decades in the same location perhaps makes the clan the most knowledgeable historians of their little corner of Halton Hills. Both Bob and Christine remember Eighth Line being, at one point, a dirt road surrounded by other farms. The farm market as Georgetown has come to recognize was first erected in 1997. It, however, did not look much like the large green structure that it is now.
“Some of the older customers who come in remember when we were just a little tent on the side of the road in Georgetown,” Christine said.
The town’s growth also expanded the farm’s customer base, greatly filling the coffers of the humble establishment. It wasn’t long after that the family had to expand to meet demand.
“Georgetown – compared to Mississauga, Brampton or Milton – has grown slowly. But if you look back 50 years ago, it was quite different than now,” Bob told HaltonHillsToday. “We grew with Georgetown.”
The family sold the Eighth Line property to developers years ago. Part of the reason why it hasn’t sunk in for Christine has to do with the flexibility the buyers gave them for vacating the property.
“We lucked out with delaying construction because we’ve had two years now to transition and let people know that we have this new location coming instead of just disappearing,” Christine said.
Follow the Allison's Farm Market website to stay up-to-date on all its happenings.
