Local Food Initiatives Receive Funding: A Good Idea?

In early July, the Ontario Market Investment Fund announced funding for six new projects:
From The Grower website.

Grown in Windsor-Essex


Visitors to Essex County’s restaurants and casino will soon be more likely to find Ontario-grown foods on the menu. The Windsor-Essex Development Commission and the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association are working together to promote the wide variety of locally grown foods to the community, boosting the local economy and providing consumers with safe, quality products fresh from the field or greenhouse. The province is contributing $47,500 to this
project.


Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Map


If you’re looking for fresh produce in Chatham-Kent, you can locate it quickly with the Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map that will showcase local foods in the region. Events, sponsors and partners will be listed on the map. The province is contributing $9,275.


Sustainable Distribution Systems for Ottawa


Eastern Ontario’s organic farmers will be working to better market their products as the Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Organic Growers (COG) connects organic farmers with local retail and institutional markets. The COG will also expand its existing farm tours to raise awareness of sustainable agriculture. The province is contributing $25,000 to this project.


Finding Farm Fresh Products in Essex County


The Essex County Federation of Agriculture will develop, promote and distribute a “Buy Local” map to increase consumer awareness of the products available throughout the county. The province is contributing $21,000 to this project.


Ontario Berries


It will be easier to find fresh, Ontario-grown berries beyond the traditional growing season as the Ontario berry industry will be promoting their products to retailers through retail contests, media and trade events and advertising. In recent years Ontario farmers have extended the berry production season by adopting new technologies and introducing new varieties. The province is contributing $51,000 to this project.


Harvests of Haldimand


The Harvests of Haldimand Local Food Guide and Culinary event will develop a network between food producers, retailers, restaurateurs and tourism-based businesses, to increase awareness of the health and environmental benefits of local foods and its role in stimulating local economic
development for the county. The province is contributing $22,000 to this project.

With the announcement of these new projects, the four-year Ontario Market Investment Fund program has invested more than $2.7 million in 52 projects to date.