Ontario Garlic: The Story from Farm to Festival

I don't know much about garlic. When I think of garlic, I think about the food my mom makes (the vegetable stir fry that is loaded with minced garlic), the bad breath afterwards and my ability to ward off vampires with it. A bit silly, huh?

Well, garlic has actually been used throughout history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

According to WebMD and the University of Maryland Medical Center, garlic is used to prevent or treat a wide range of diseases and conditions, including heart disease and common colds. It is also rich in antioxidants that help strengthen the immune system.

Garlic is native to central Asia. 68% of Canada’s garlic are imported from China. Here in Ontario, 2,500 acres of garlic are grown. If you want to grow your own, the best time is to plant them in the fall and harvest them the next summer.

To learn more about garlic, join author and Toronto Garlic Festival founder, Peter McClusky as he talks about the history of garlic and how it became one of the most popular spices in Ontario. He will also discuss the chemistry of garlic, tips for growing and cooking garlic, cultural stereotypes and much more.

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What: Ontario Garlic: The Story from Farm to Festival

When: Wednesday, October 7 at 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Where: North York Central Library, in Room 1

Registration: Call (416) 395-5649

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In the meantime, to learn more about garlic check out these books: