Piled squash with labels, just a peek at the food bounty at the Royal.

Today is the first day of the Royal Winter Fair, showing off Canada’s agricultural excellence. It’s more than just a horse competition, (although the horses are fantastic) this year the focus is on food, For the Love of Food, especially of the local variety, with lots of activities for kids and adults alike. It’s a perfect family destination for its 10 day run. For kids, there is the petting zoo, a playground (and rest area for parents) called Ag-tivity Central, and a really cool looking interactive exhibit called the aMAZEing Food Journey, showing how food travels from farm to table, with gigantic hanging vegetables at the entrance.

For hungry people and hard-core foodies, there are three restaurants, from pub-style gourmet, a tea room, and an elegant dining room under black chandeliers, all serving tasty local food. The cooking competition is a highlight in the demonstration kitchen. Congregation spots offer lots of comfortable seating and resting spaces, which is very welcome when you walk so much at a large venue.

The aMAZEing Food Journey Interactive Exhibit.

Nature Fresh Farms, a large, local independent greenhouse grower, has a demonstration greenhouse and displays of all their produce. Farm, garden, food, vegetable displays and competitions, food scientists, chefs and artists (butter sculptures!) all meet at the Royal Winter Fair. Don’t miss it. It’s on till November 10th.