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New bill should help local food businesses

'Goal is to foster successful and resilient local food economies and systems throughout Ontario'
20150606 farmers market rhubarb 2015
North Bay Farmers' Market

The Ontario government says it is removing red tape barriers and opening the door for local food in the broader public sector, to make it easier for organizations like colleges, universities, hospitals, and municipalities to serve local food.

MPP Vic Fedeli said today “The government is committed to expanding opportunities for local food providers so they can thrive," referring to a recent announcement to help local food businesses across the province flourish through establishing a new goal under the Local Food Act, 2013.

The purposes of the Act is::

  • To foster successful and resilient local food economies and systems throughout Ontario.
  • To increase awareness of local food in Ontario, including the diversity of local food.
  • To encourage the development of new markets for local food.

“For consumers, local food is at the heart of our agri-food industry. Opening the door to the broader public sector for local food procurement is part of our government’s plan to strengthen Ontario’s local food economy,” said Minister of Agriculture Ernie Hardeman,

Hardeman announced a number of tools that can help farmers, food distributors and public sector organizations put more Ontario food on our plates. 

  • Ongoing consultation with farmers, distributors and the broader public sector on red tape barriers in the local food economy
  • Creating a new, interactive, local food hubs map that connects local food businesses to potential new markets
  • Providing easy-to-use tracking tools to measure procurement so organizations can set their own goals to increase their use of local food and track their success
  • Awarding public sector institutions that achieve their local food targets with certificates of recognition
  • Making it easier to use the Foodland Ontario logo to promote local food
  • Offering government-led how-to webinars for agri-businesses wanting to become a local food vendor

"An important part of the Local Food Act, 2013 is increasing awareness for Ontario food and beverages," says the release. "This includes celebrating public sector organizations that are increasingly using local food to serve their employees, students and patients. The government will recognize and celebrate public sector organizations that set and achieve their own local food targets."