For Release: October 4, 2005
Agriculture Week Celebrates Farmers
Support Ontario Farmers, Buy Local
GUELPH - The Ontario government is encouraging everyone to support
our farmers and indulge in the freshness and variety of the province's
products during Ontario Agriculture Week, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said today.
"Ontario's agri-food industry is one of the most important contributors
to the province's economic prosperity," said Dombrowsky. "This
is an appropriate time to be grateful for the hard work of farmers who
put food on our table and to be thankful for the fresh, bountiful products
we enjoy every day. As a show of support for Ontario agriculture, I encourage
everyone to buy locally produced food products and be sure to thank a
farmer."
Farmers and food processors throughout Ontario contribute to a vibrant
industry that generates $30 billion a year for the economy, employs 650,000
people, and ships $8.6 billion in exports every year. Ontario's food industry
includes such sectors as cereal and flour, meat and poultry, beverages,
fruit and vegetables, dairy, feed, bakery, and other food products.
The week leading up to Thanksgiving is celebrated as Ontario Agriculture
Week. This year it takes place between October 3-9, 2005.
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Contact:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
(416) 326-6439
BACKGROUNDER
ONTARIO AGRI-FOOD FACTS…….did you know?
More than 200 commodities are produced in Ontario including fruits, vegetables,
livestock, dairy, poultry, grains and oilseeds.
There are approximately 56,000 farms in Ontario and each farmer produces
enough food to feed 120 people every year! These farms have more than
$8 billion in cash receipts - that's approximately one quarter of all
farm revenue in Canada.
More than half of Canada's prime agricultural land is in Ontario.
Ontario's agri-food industry contributes more than $30 billion to the
provincial economy annually, and employs more than 650,000 people.
Approximately 3,700 food and beverage processors are located in Ontario.
Ontario leads the country in agri-food exports. In 2004, we shipped $8.6
billion in agri-food products around the world. Exports to the U.S. totaled
$7.4 billion in 2004.
The province accounts for more than 40 per cent of Canadian food and
beverage industry shipments.
Agriculture is more than food to eat. Cloth and textiles begin in the
barnyard as wool and in the field with hemp. Hemp, an experimental crop,
is also used to make paper and a variety of industrial products.
Ontario's greenhouse sector represents half of the country's greenhouse
industry. In 2004 the value of greenhouse plant production was approximately
$1 billion.
Corn is processed into road de-icers, windshield washer fluid, ethanol
fuel, soap, toothpaste, paint, varnish and sparkplugs to name a few.
Ontario is a world leader in food technology research and development
with more than 75 per cent of agri-food exports being value-added.
Farmers in the province have reduced their pesticide use by more than
50 per cent in the last two decades.
More than 27,000 have participated in an Environment Farm Planning workshop.
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Contact:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
(416) 326-6439
