Ontario’s local food industry is a major contributor to our province’s economy. Buying and supporting local food creates jobs and economic growth in communities across the province.
Christa Roettele is the Media Relations Strategist for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs. She says the government has continued to recognize this contribution and welcomes the promotion of Ontario food through the Foodland Ontario program.
Photo by Bailey Sherrah / Foodland Ontario product at Briwood Farm Market located in St. Thomas Ontario
“Foodland Ontario has over 1,700 agreements in place with growers, food processors, retailers and foodservice operators to use the logo on product packaging, menus or marketing materials, to help consumers choose Ontario foods first while shopping or dining out.”
Roettele mentions that Foodland Ontario works to have a strong social media presence to engage with consumers about local food and recipes.
Food Education
This helps Ontarians develop further food literacy to help them prepare dishes at home that include local ingredients. Their social media presence also allows consumers to know what produce is currently in season in their home province.
Photo by Foodland Ontario / Twitter
Food literacy includes (but is not limited to) having the knowledge and confidence to make healthy and sustainable food decisions. This can include knowing where your food comes from and being aware of the impact your food choices can make on your health as well as the environment.
Ontario grain and dairy farmer, Andrew Campbell says the Foodland Ontario logo really helps improve the food system.
Campbell outlines how the well known big green logo makes consumers more aware and in the end helps support more people impacted by the food system. Although complex, Campbell describes the food system how food gets from point A to point B.
“When local food is distributed across the province by the food terminal in Toronto, being able to have that green logo placed on the products being sold is really beneficial.”
Roettele says because of the Foodland partnerships the government has recently helped assist local farmers further with the province’s food terminal.
“The Ontario Food Terminal is another key economic driver and a critical part of our agri-food system,” she explained. “The Ontario government recently revised legislation to support the distribution of local food and other agricultural products by enabling the Ontario Food Terminal to increase the range of products it sells and better support the thousands of small businesses who rely on the Terminal.”
Local Farm Markets
Across Ontario, many people attend fresh farm markets to help support the little guys. ‘Farmers Market Ontario‘ is the official provincially recognized organization that helps promote these markets, not only to assist the farmers but the consumers as well.
Photo by Mark Stebnicki / Pexels
The organization represents 180 farmers’ markets across the province offering supports in a multitude of ways.
Campbell says markets provide a direct connection for farmers, “They take out some of the middle men between the farmer and the farm market,” he explains. “The consumer can either get a product that’s a little bit cheaper and the farmer can have the opportunity to make more because it’s a direct link to the farm.”
He explained that farm markets are continuous support for those who are local.
“Markets are just one other way to help support your own community. Less product has to go on a truck and be shipped four thousand miles away. More of it can hop on a truck and head to the terminal to be distributed within 24 to 48 hours of being picked.”
Photo by Bailey Sherrah / Ontario honey being sold by Briwood Farm Market in St. Thomas
Campbell adds that he does want to make it clear that in the case of supporting local, you do not have to stress about solely shopping at a local farm market or food stand. He says providers like Canadian grocer, Loblaws Supermarket has a similar impact by providing consumers with the Foodland Ontario signage, thus creating more accessible access to local food.
All in all, the importance of consuming local food not only helps support your own health when it comes to knowing where your food is coming from, but it also benefits all involved.
For those involved in growing, processing, and distributing, there are many people that are employed in the process before making their way to the consumer. Campbell says being aware of this structure is step number one to food security.
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