Province Puts Focus On Local Food

Ontario is boosting local food sales by supporting marketing projects across the province.

To promote the local foods that fuel the people, communities and economies of rural Ontario, the province is investing in 12 new projects through the Ontario Market Investment Fund, including:

• Promoting HoneyCrisp and Ambrosia, two new Ontario apple varieties
• Researching demand for ethnic foods in the Greater Toronto Area to help farmers grow them locally.

The four-year Ontario Market Investment Fund program has invested more than $2.1 million in 35 projects to date. The program 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 the McGuinty government's enhanced investment in 'buy local' initiatives. 

QUOTES

"We are helping boost the economy and protect the environment by supporting industry and community efforts to sell fresh foods that are grown and made right here in Ontario,"
- Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

QUICK FACTS

• The Foodland Ontario program has expanded to include meat, dairy and eggs in addition to fresh fruit and vegetables.
• 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