Ontario farmers raise the alarm against ‘bad apples’ stealing produce from orchards

Some Ontario farmers say they're reconsidering their pick-your-own produce offerings after an uptick this fall in apple thefts.

The number of thefts has “been a real issue” this year, says Paul Gray, owner of Dixie Orchards, a pick-your-own farm in Caledon, Ont.

He says it’s hard to make profits in farming, with some “up” and “down” years, and it gets even harder when visitors don't pay for their produce.

“It's just a small percentage of people that like to take advantage of the situation, keep a couple apples in their pockets, keep more apples in their bags,” he said. Still, he said in 20 years of running the farm he's never seen the issue get so out of hand — and he wants to remind people who these thefts are hurting.

"It's a simple family farm trying to do a daily business and make