Our Migration to Windsor

The building of a wooden covered bridge across the Avon River in 1836, under the supervision of T.C. Haliburton connected Halifax by road to the Annapolis Valley. Thus Windsor became known as the “Gateway to the Valley”.

Although the bridge has since been rebuilt, like thousands before us … the Gateway to the Valley brought Cocoa Pesto Inc. to Windsor. The Mi’kmaq people, the original settlers to this area lived from the land and sea and have taught us about valuable practices in their treatment of this environment.

Of great interest to us as caterers, in regards to this remarkable region is the tremendous contribution of the Acadians’ reclamation: the conversion of the salt water marshes into land suitable for cultivation for producing crops and the construction of the dykes to control irrigation of such crops.

Their unique and historically established approach to producing fertile land has influenced not only the history of Windsor, but the way in which land has been managed throughout the world. Evidence of these eroded dykes is a tourist attraction as seen along the edge of the Saint Croix River on Highway 101 as you enter Windsor from Halifax.

The agricultural abundance that exists here is overwhelming and Cocoa Pesto wanted to be closer to the source. The proximity to Halifax, the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables, organic meats, grain-fed-poultry and other fowl, hand-crafted cheese and family operated wineries were all influential in our decision to relocate to Windsor.