Watson Farm

In 1954 Harold Watson, Paul's grandfather, moved to Bowmanville from Mississauga where the family had been in the fruit business for several generations. He purchased an existing orchard on the west side of 57 hwy were the Rickard Centre and the Fire Hall now stand. Here he grew, packed and delivered apples to the stores until 1971 when the farm was expropriated to widen and straighten #2 highway. At this time he retired but remained active by helping my father Ted.Ted started planting strawberries in 1969 on the present home farm with a first harvest in 1970. Apples and raspberries were planted in 1972. The emphasis was placed on ‘Pick Your Own' with some wholesale and retail. The business expanded and in 1991 Paul expanded the market putting greater emphasis on retail sales and adding sweet corn as a major crop. In 1999 Paul purchased his farm on the corner of #2 highway and Solina Road allowing a much expanded acreage that can be irrigated. In addition satellite farm markets were started in Oshawa the same year. In 2000 another new crop was added ‘day neutral strawberries'. This gives us strawberries from June to October.Paul married Tami in March 2007 and she is a real asset by looking after much of the management of the market and satellites.Pictured here are William, Grace and Alana, the next generation.