VG Blog

Love is in the air! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and on Monday, it’s Family Day in Ontario. We’re big on celebrating love in all its forms, whether it’s the love you share with your partner or the love you feel for your kids, parents, grandparents and friends. With these dates coming up fast, what better reason do you need to cook up some delicious, high quality local food to enjoy with your loved ones? Here are a few ideas to get you started—thanks and have a wonderful long weekend!

VG Meats is a family-owned and operated business that includes farmers, butchers and retailers who specialize in local food. We don’t typically discuss geopolitics on the blog, but in light of recent and ongoing events, we felt it was important to reiterate a message that’s always been critical to us: the importance of buying local.

January can feel like a long month, but we’ve reached the final stretch. Spring is less than 8 weeks away, February is almost here and there’s plenty to look forward to in the weeks ahead. If you’re looking for a good reason to gather with family and friends (or enjoy a romantic evening with your significant other), be sure to put these dates on your calendar. VG Meats has all of the delicious, high quality, local food you need to celebrate these occasions and more—we hope to see you in Simcoe or Stoney Creek soon!

Whether you live with your partner, a large family or own your own, we bet food is a significant part of your monthly budget. There are ways to spend less money at the grocery store, but that often results in lower quality products in your fridge and freezer.

Farming requires being in touch with the land, and understanding the impact our actions have on the world around us. At VG Meats, this is something we think about every single day—not just our actions, but the ripple effect those actions will have for generations to come, and what kind of legacy we’re creating for our business and family. We’re not just food producers or retailers—we’re stewards of the land with a significant responsibility. We don’t take that lightly!

January has been characteristically chilly, so we’ve been turning to cozy recipes that don’t just fill you up—they warm you up, too! Whether you’re using a slow cooker, a roasting pan or your favourite skillet, a delicious recipe can brighten any winter’s day. A classic pork tenderloin, chicken stew or beef chili is great, but there are countless options to choose from.

Christmastime is here and we’re ready to enjoy the holiday magic. Quality time with family, children excitedly opening their stockings at the break of dawn, delicious meals shared with loved ones, and maybe even a tiny bit of snow (one can hope). To all of our customers, staff and neighbours: Merry Christmas. We hope your holidays are filled with peace, joy and love.

With Christmas just weeks away, you’ve probably ordered your fresh local turkey, holiday ham, delectable prime rib and other festive favourites. (If you haven’t, please visit our holiday site now to get started!) Next on your list? Completing the rest of your holiday menu, from mashed potatoes and gravy to fresh dinner rolls and incredible sides.

A classic roast turkey is always a good idea during the holiday season, but it takes some time and effort to prepare—and if you want to use your oven for fresh rolls or side dishes, there’s always a bit of a balancing act. That’s why we’re so excited about our Ready-Set-Roast turkeys—they allow customers to create a delectable, homestyle holiday meal with less prep work and space needed.

Gift baskets are back and they’re better than ever! In case you haven’t bought or received one from us before, here’s the deal: VG Meats offers a selection of gourmet holiday gift baskets featuring some of our most-loved local products. There’s breakfast food, delectable steaks, charcuterie and more—the perfect gift for someone special (or a treat for yourself).

We’ve been talking about the holiday season a lot lately, and with good reason—Christmas will be here before you know it! There will be family gatherings, parties with friends, holiday breakfast with the kids and plenty of other festive meals to plan. But in the meantime, we know you’ve got to make dinner every night. And as the weather continues to grow colder, what’s better than a hot bowl of homemade soup?

The holiday season is just around the corner, and the VG Meats team is already good and busy behind the scenes. Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve—it’s all on the calendar and it’s not far away!