Canadian Food Business
From growing local foods to serving them at the dinner table, Ontario is making an effort to bring locally grown products to residents with the newly formed Ontario Food Fund.
The fund is part of a $30 million dollar investment to support innovative projects that will increase awareness, access, and demand for food that is grown and harvested in the province of Ontario. As part of a broader local food strategy, Ontario recently also introduced Bill C36, Local Food Act, which if passed, will help increase awareness, access to, and demand for local food in Ontario.
The food fund will support projects divided into four categories: regional and local food networks, enhanced technologies, research and best practices and education/marketing and outreach. After three years the government of Ontario is hoping to see an increase of the access and sales of locally grown foods as well as local food awareness.
“Eating local isn’t just good for Ontario families – it’s good for our economy. That’s why our government will continue to work with the agri-food sector, including retailers and food service operators, to bring more Ontario food to the table,” said Kathleen Wynne, Premier and Minister of Agriculture of Food.
