It is early in January and I look out the window and gaze at the first snowfall of the year. I am at my farm and the view is towards the barn through a field of tall grasses bleached to a golden tangle by the sun and fierce November winds. Now the grasses are poking up comically through the snow. I reflect on the changing of the seasons in southern Ontario and how we like to celebrate the seasons through the soups we feature. Today I am thinking about butternut squash. But before I get into my thoughts on this delicious gourd, I would like to take a moment for a word of greeting to all of you. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year!

I am so happy to be joining the Canada’s Own team as we forge ahead. I am excited for what the future holds. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can over the coming months as I make my way through the stores that carry our wonderful soups. My mission is to improve our soups and develop new ideas for Canada’s Own. What better way to do that than to meet as many of our customers as possible and hear what you have to say!

Butternut Squash Soup is a great choice to serve this time of year. Squash in general does very well in our climate here in Southern Ontario. A plentiful crop is harvested in mid October and under the right storage conditions will last well into the winter. I have some stored in my basement right now! It loves to be kept in a cool dark place with a moderate amount of humidity. Not everyone has a cold cellar like me but many grocery stores carry local squash well into the winter. Canada’s Own Butternut Squash soup is so satisfying to eat with something as simple as hot buttered toast on a blustery winter day!