Whittamores Farm

Whittamore's Farm - Pick Your Own Fruit - Do not go!, July 31, 2011

By Kathy

On July 13th, 2011, our group of young children (5 and under, mostly three and under), parents and staff visited this farm.
After contacting Natacha (Events Co-ordinator), we were able to work out a discount for both the Fun Yard & the Pick Your Own Fruit area.

Before we arrived by bus we had the no. of adults, no. of children three and older and, the no. of children two and older (for the Fun Yard) worked out. We also had the confirmation and the emails that had been going back and forth with the agreed upon rate.

Problems began right at the beginning, when the children began to walk out into the field, "Dylan (staff) freaked out at them", and started yelling. He was visibly stressed, talked really fast, and he was quite rude and demeaning. He demanded that we pay up front for the group at the higher rate of 4.50 (we had 96 people) that were being charged). When one of the staff tried to explain that we had a subsidized rate,(she was going to show him the confirmation & the emails that she had) he refused to listen, or to look at her. He said "I can't have your group taking over the field". At the end (much latter), someone came over (Taylor), and said that a mistake was made and that we were being charged 2.25 or we could pick at 2.00 a pound. Most of our group wanted to do this but then we were told "no, I can't let you all into the field. It was confusing, and some of our parents were so upset they went to wait in the bus. The trip turned out to be very unpleasant for the group and our staff. Staff was bullied into paying for the group up front before they picked. They took their time in opening up a second kiosk to weigh the berries, causing up to loose out some of our time in the Fun Yard.

This area was totally different, they welcomed the group, and they were very helpful and hospitable. We didn't get to spend much time though in this area.

I wrote to Natacha / Mike Whittamore / Dylan Sim / Taylor Whittamore, about the way we were treated. The farm staff basically denied what had happened.

There was no apology from them for the lack of communication on their behalf, re: the amount we were being charged, and their staff's behaviour. Instead I was told that our group lacked organization and control. They also wrote that they had been in the business for almost five years and they had developed the "tour process".

I wrote back, once more quoting verbatim what was said and what was done, and I was told by Taylor that she felt that she was fighting an uphill battle.

We will not be returning to this farm and would like everyone out there to know about how we were treated as a group with young children.

Kathy

A bunch of crooks, hiding rotten food in the middle of their packages., July 26, 2008

By Dan

These guys are a bunch of crooks. We went there today, and it unfortunately started pouring when we got there, so we went to their farmer's market. I wanted to buy a pie, which was priced at $4 (they had about 40 of them, all marked $4). At the register, the lady said, "It is a mistake, it should be $8, it was mispriced". Maybe it was, I don't know what they are supposed to cost, but every one had a $4 sticker on it. I also bought 2 pints of raspberries (that were labeled "just picked". On the tops of the packages, they looked beautiful. When I got home, I discovered that each package had a layer of "fresh rapberries" on top of a complete package of rotten, smelly moldy ones (that looked weeks old). A complete waste of money. I don't trust any food purchased from them. They are crooks.

Whit's was the best family farm ever..., February 1, 2008

I have gone to Whittamore's Farm and Fun Farm Yard for the past several years and have watched the place evolve before my eyes as I watched my children grow. At first we just went there for the Sand Toy Lot and a Wagon Ride, but now it is a full fledged fun land. My 4 boys love it there and there seems to be something for all of them, even my 12 year old loves to go. Their admission rates are so reasonable, we have become regulars in the Farm Yard, and have witnessed new activities popping up each year. This past season our favourite was Strawberry Mountain and the Turbo Slide. I could not tear my kids off, that is until we disciovered the 2 storey Tree Fort! One of the best family days we share on a regular basis!!! The staff is always friendly and amazing. Thanks Whit's!!

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