The fall is a time for reaping the rewards of the harvest, but many farmers are finding their efforts marred by a rash of thefts. Pick-your-own farms and farm gate stands have been the target of thefts this fall as brazen thieves venture onto farms and leave with bushels of produce.
Why it matters: Farm thefts cost farmers between $1 million and $2 million annually according to the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association.
Royal Orchards co-owner and operations manager Paul Banjavcic even took to social media, posting a video on TikTok sharing the frustration being felt by the agriculture community, who are watching their profits drive away.
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“We are not strangers to this; it happens,” he said, reflecting on how theft has become a regular part of running a pick-your-own operation.
Banjavcic said he recently had to stop thieves as they loaded their SUV with apples and proceeded to drive away in broad daylight and in full view of staff. He said he retrieved the apples and notified police, adding that he understands that some people steal out of desperation.
In this case, however, he said, the thieves took part in the activities the farm had to offer before attempting to take the produce.
“People will come and enjoy all we have to offer and then purposely drive away without intention of paying,” he said, adding that many consumers do not understand the effect theft has on a farmer’s bottom line. He added that Royal Orchard takes a holistic approach to farming, hiring local kids that are paid above minimum wage.
“We don’t think the end game is to make a dollar. We are trying to make a community-based farm,” he said.
Like other farms, however, the recent drought conditions have deeply influenced yields, and for many farmers the margin of profit is small.
Banjavcic said he hopes his post on TikTok helps consumers better understand the consequences of theft and the importance of supporting local farmers. He said he started using social media as a way to reach visitors in an effort to raise awareness of the farmers’ fundraising efforts.
At the end of the season, Royal Orchards opens its doors to the public to help themselves to apples at “no cost.” Instead, the farm invites guests to make a donation. He said the event not only brings people to the farm but also helps organizations like food banks help meet their goals. Last year, the event raised more than $6,400 in cash and food donations.
Banjavcic added that he hopes that farms can help promote the ideology of “see something/say something” among staff and guests.
Agritourism leaders are working with farmers to help address the issue of theft and raise awareness about the importance of securing farms to mitigate the risk of theft.
“I can’t tell you why people are stealing, and it would be unfair to speculate. While I don’t have an exact number, I can say that dozens of our members have experienced theft. It’s probably not far off to say basically every farm that offers pick-your-own has experienced some level of theft,” said Kevin Vallier, CEO of Agritourism Ontario.
He noted that apples aren’t necessarily the target of thieves and that it appears to be more of a coincidence that there has been an increase in thefts during apple season.
“Theft happens during peach, strawberry, blueberry and pretty much every season where pick-your-own is offered,” he said.
Though the association doesn’t have specific anti-theft resources for members, he says security, signage and fencing are among the best ways to help keep theft in check.
“What we can do is provide awareness and education to the public to shed light on this issue and hopefully reduce the volume of theft taking place at Ontario farms,” he said.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is also stepping up to help farmers rein in theft. Andrea McCoy-Naperstkow is an OFA board member and farmer in eastern Ontario.
She says the organization has noticed an increase in thefts and has had communication from farmers about an increase in rural crime and farm theft across the province.
“These cases haven’t so much been house break-ins, but theft of ATVs, farm trucks, vehicle/tractor fuel, small movable equipment such as skid steers, farmgate stands and even livestock outside of the home,” she said. “In a recent OFA webinar featuring an OPP constable from Perth County, he cited rising drug addictions as a key driver behind these thefts involving trucks and SUVs.”
She said crime rates have been higher in rural areas on a per capita basis.
“Even though there is far more crime in urban areas, the number of people in cities makes the rate much smaller compared to the rural population,” she said, adding that while there is no specific rural region in Ontario that has a more noticeable number of farm incidents, northern Ontario appears to have higher rates and fluctuations, which she said is likely due to their population and how spread out they are across a large geographical area.
To help farmers stay ahead of theft, the OFA has provided several webinars, articles, and online resources over the past few years that can all be accessed on the organization website (ofa.on.ca/issues/rural-theft-and-crime-prevention).
“Our most recent webinar on preventing vehicle theft offers several suggestions to help secure your farm property, such as always locking your vehicle doors, never leaving the keys in the ignition, installing cameras or motion lights in your yard, and keeping keys and fobs stored away from doors and windows,” she said.
Overall, she believes theft will continue to be an ongoing challenge, and the OFA is committed to working with farmers to help find solutions.
“It feels like a continuing issue, as thefts that once felt like only a problem for those living in urban areas are now showing up more often in rural communities. That’s why it’s so important to adapt to how we do things and take the few extra minutes to lock up and be aware of your surroundings,” she said.
