For Immediate Release
May 15, 2007

Buy Ontario' Foods This Summer

Campaign To Promote Good, Fresh, Homegrown Food

TORONTO - The 'Buy Ontario' message was on the menu of CITY-TV Breakfast Television today, where Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky prepared a number of Ontario fresh food dishes. Just in time for the first long weekend of the season, the Minister showed viewers how easy it is to create a great menu with Ontario food.

"If we all buy Ontario, everybody wins," said Minister Dombrowsky. "We're getting healthy fresh food from here at home and we're supporting our farmers, our rural economy and our environment."

The Ontario government will be putting the spotlight on the fresh, high-quality foods grown and produced in the province this summer with a new 'Buy Ontario' marketing strategy.

"Ontario's food producers grow, raise and make excellent food products, and we want people to know it," Dombrowsky added. "They also make a tremendous contribution to our economy and our rural communities."

The government is contributing $12.5 million to the strategy, which includes a consumer awareness campaign designed to increase interest and demand for local foods across the province, expands the Foodland Ontario program to more fresh food products, and boosts the Savour Ontario program in fine and vacation dining establishments. Of the total, $2.5 million has already been distributed to a number of agri-food industry associations to assist them in promoting the sale of Ontario products.

"We are especially pleased to bring forward this strategy on the 30th anniversary of the highly successful Foodland Ontario program," Dombrowsky said. "Everyone can participate in the 'Buy Ontario' campaign - from the agri-food industry, to retailers, restaurateurs and consumers - we all have a role to play."

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Contacts:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
(416) 326-6439

Brent Ross
Communications Branch
(416) 326-9342