Supporting Local Producers in Simcoe County Ontario - Government Supports Agri-Food Industry, Invests in Local Food

Ontario is helping to encourage more families to buy locally-grown food in Simcoe County.

With the support of the Ontario Market Investment Fund, the Simcoe Farm Fresh Marketing Association will develop a Regional Culinary Tourism initiative, called 'Savour Simcoe'. This initiative will feature food tasting stations with offerings from Simcoe County, and Ontario wine, beer and cider, as well as farm tours for chefs and an online marketplace.

Supporting local food helps to build a strong agri-food industry and is part of the McGuinty government's plan to create jobs and opportunities that will grow the province's economy.

QUOTES

"With this initiative, we're strengthening ties between communities, local farmers and food. This summer I encourage everyone to visit their local farmers' market and bring more of the good things that grow in Ontario home to their table."
- Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
"When we buy Ontario, everyone wins. It is good for farmers and processors, good for families, good for the environment and good for our rural communities. With this fund, we are expanding local food networks and helping communities and industries showcase the abundance of food that is grown, produced, and processed in Ontario."
- Aileen Carroll, MPP for Barrie
"We are pleased for the support and to receive the funding from the Province in order to develop Regional Culinary Tourism in Simcoe County. Culinary Tourism offers the opportunity for people to experience our culture through food and folklore. It goes beyond the dining experience and includes a variety of cuisine and agri-tourism activities. It is about developing relationships between growers and processors, chefs and restaurateurs and distributors with the goal of establishing new culinary tourism experiences based on a sustainable local food system."
- Sandra Trainor, Simcoe County Farm Fresh Marketing Association

QUICK FACTS

• The Ontario Market Investment Fund has provided more than $9 million to more than 177 local marketing projects across the province since 2008.
• The agri-food industry contributes more than $33 billion to the Ontario economy and employs about 700,000 people.
• In June, Ontario had an increase of more than 40,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declined to 7.7 percent.

LEARN MORE

About the Ontario Market Investment Fund program, and the type of projects it supports.