RURAL ONTARIO SETS TABLE FOR LOCAL FOOD

McGuinty Government Ramps Up Support For Local Food Marketing

Ontario is boosting grassroots marketing efforts for Ontario foods and strengthening rural economies by encouraging more residents and businesses to buy locally grown food.

Ontario is initially investing more than $850,000 in 15 projects, including:

• A media awareness campaign to raise the profile of Ontario apples.
• A "Nothing Tastes Like Home" mobile educational trailer to market and promote "buying local" through cooking demonstrations and tasting opportunities at industry, community and school events.
• A Grey/Bruce county project to encourage growers to participate in the local food market, and to demonstrate that using local food is a viable option for area institutions and restaurants.

The investments come from the four-year, $12-million Ontario Market Investment Fund program, which helps develop economic opportunities through trade events, marketing campaigns and industry research initiatives that foster partnerships and collaboration to promote Ontario foods. The program is part of Ontario's enhanced investment in 'buy local' initiatives.

QUOTE

"We are bringing together local food networks including producers, processors, retailers and individuals dedicated to selling the fresh foods that are grown and made right here in Ontario," said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky.

QUICK FACTS

• The Foodland Ontario program has expanded to include meat, dairy and eggs.
• The agri-food industry contributes more than $33 billion to the Ontario economy and employs about 700,000 people.
  

LEARN MORE

About the Ontario Market Investment Fund program, and the projects it helps finance.

About Pick Ontario Freshness.

For more information, contact:

Sherry Persaud, Minister's Office, 416-326-6439
Brent Ross, Communications Branch, 416-326-9342