Rooted in Community
Berrylicious Fruit Farm: A Community Story
On a summer morning near Woodstock, rows of blueberry bushes stretch across the landscape, their branches heavy with fruit. Families wander between the plants with baskets in hand, children pick berries still warm from the sun, and conversations drift through the fields.
It is a scene that feels effortless, but the story behind Berrylicious Fruit Farm is one built over decades of hard work, family commitment, and deep community connections.
Owners Wendy and Don Colcuc met while studying horticulture at the University of Guelph, both having been raised on farms in different parts of Ontario. Wendy grew up on a dairy farm near Orillia, while Don was raised among fruit trees and peach orchards in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
"We always wanted to have a small farm where we could raise our children the way Don and I were raised," Wendy says. "It's just a way of life that instills key life skills, such as respect for nature, work ethic, initiative and problem solving."
That shared vision brought the couple to Oxford County in 2002. They purchased an 85-acre farm near Burgessville, balancing full-time careers and a young family with the dream of building a life rooted in agriculture.
"We planted our first 3,000 blueberry bushes in 2004," Wendy recalls. "The first crop came in 2008, and that really set us on our path."
Over the years, the farm diversified. Pumpkins in 2002, elderberries followed in 2005, raspberries were added in 2016, and more recently an apple orchard was planted in 2022, producing its first harvest in 2025.
"This is our passion project and we love what we do," Wendy says.
When Wendy transitioned to farming full-time in 2012, the farm launched its pick-your-own blueberry experience. What started as a practical way to market fruit soon revealed something larger. Visitors weren't simply coming to buy berries. They were looking for experiences, connections, and opportunities to spend time outdoors.
"We didn't really realize the power of tourism and what it means to this local economy," Wendy admits.
Support from Oxford County Tourism and Ontario Southwest, helped the Colcucs recognize the growing potential of agritourism. Workshops introduced Wendy to the idea that a farm could offer more than fresh produce. One of those ideas became Picnic in the Patch, where guests enjoy locally sourced food among the blueberry bushes before picking their own berries.
This season, the experience has been reimagined with grazing boxes featuring products sourced within 100 kilometres of the farm, along with guided tastings that introduce visitors to the subtle differences between blueberry varieties before they head into the fields.
For Wendy, these experiences are about helping people slow down and reconnect with the land.
As tourism became a larger part of the operation, the Colcucs remained committed to preserving the natural environment around them.
Portions of the property remain in bush and scrub brush, providing habitat for pollinators and wildlife. During harvest season, protective netting is installed over the blueberry fields to deter birds, but only after pollination is complete to ensure bees can freely access the blossoms.
Additional walking and wellness experiences encourage guests to slow down, engage their senses, and experience the farm beyond the harvest itself.
Berry Days in July celebrate blueberries and customer appreciation day, there's a blueberry sunset social in September with live music, and in October, a harvest event encourages pick-your-own apples and pumpkins alongside family activities. And this is just part of the list of on-the-farm events.
It's an approach that reflects a growing interest in meaningful, place-based travel experiences that connect people to where their food comes from.
Accessibility has also remained a priority. Parking is located adjacent to the farm's retail area, and the blueberry fields are only a short distance away, allowing visitors using wheelchairs or walkers to comfortably access the picking areas.
The farm's commitment to community extends beyond its visitors.
Each summer, Berrylicious employs between 35 and 40 local teenagers and university students to hand-pick the fruit. For many, it is a first job and an opportunity to gain valuable workplace experience. The seasonal positions help support local youth while providing the labour required during the busiest months of the growing season.
"It's really nice to get to know those kids and to see them move through high school and then university, and see them launch into their own careers, with some of them entering the agriculture industry," Wendy says. "It's pretty cool."
Since 2008, Wendy estimates that Berrylicious has employed more than 500 local students.
"Many of our former staff return to visit us and bring their own families to do pick-your-own berries," she says. "It's like a full circle moment!"
Just as meaningful are the relationships they've built with the surrounding community.
When Wendy and Don arrived in Oxford County, they knew very few people. They threw themselves into local schools, sports and church groups, determined to put down roots.
"It means a whole lot to meet our neighbours and feel like we belong in our community," Wendy says of becoming part of the community.
Today, after more than two decades, those roots run deep.
"I hope that at some point people will remember us as the Berry People."
Judging by the generations of families who return each summer to pick berries, celebrate Berry Days or simply spend an afternoon in the fields, that legacy is already taking shape.