TINCAP - It's the little berry patch that grew, and grew some more, to become the farm favourite landmark it is today - the Tincap Berry Farm.

Now in the year of its 34th harvest, this true family business is open from May to October featuring exceptional seasonal produce, preserves and pick your own - from strawberries to sweet corn and pumpkins - in its signature showcase white-trimmed red barn on County Road 29.

"It was a bit of a dream," says Robert Dentz, looking back to 1986 when he bought the property and founded the business. He began with "just strawberries" but had an eye for much more.

Robert had grown up on a farm near Iroquois and wanted to establish a retail outlet farm business in a high-traffic location for passing motorists.

"It's all about location - and quality," says Robert. He and Iris married four years after the land purchase. They started a family and gradually expanded their crops.

"We wanted to develop and extend our season," says Iris, who grew up on a Saskatchewan grain farm and later became a teacher. The rapid growth of the farm soon drew her away from teaching.

"We all work together as a team," says daughter Terri, who along with her brother Jesse grew up on the land and now help operate the farm. They consider it a very special place. Terri went to school for business and marketing. Jesse is a manufacturing engineer who can fix anything. The siblings have both worked elsewhere but were drawn back to Tincap. The plan now is for them to take over the farm when Robert and Iris retire.

"We're not Mom and Dad 2.0 but we will be a partnership which wants to keep farming in this way, offering a destination for our customers," says Terri, who likes how people identify with their unique red barn and keep coming back for the amazing produce they grow and sell well into the fall.

"We want people to enjoy coming here," says Terri.

"It's nice working in a place where everyone is pulling in the same direction," says Jesse. "It's definitely a way of life and it's a lot of fun."

The family is grateful for having great staff over the decades. They also appreciate all the help they receive from foreign workers, who become like family. Altogether Tincap Berry Farm employs about 20 full-time and five part-time workers in the peak seasons.

Tincap Berry Farm is very supportive of the surrounding community and donates food to local charities.

Learn more about the Tincap Berry Farm by visiting their website and their Instagram page. They are located at 4035 County Road 29 and are open Monday to Saturday. Give them a call at 613-345-3096 or send an email. You can also find them at the Brockville Farmers' Market on Saturdays and at the Prescott and Brockville Giant Tiger locations. They are at the Giant Tiger locations from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the strawberry season.