April 16, 2009, Leamington, Ont. — The Ontario government is providing
$48,500 to help publish a recipe book highlighting Ontario greenhouse
vegetables.
April 16, 2009, Leamington, Ont. — The Ontario government is providing $48,500 to help publish a recipe book highlighting Ontario greenhouse vegetables.
“Ontario is boosting grassroots marketing efforts and strengthening the rural economy by encouraging more residents and businesses to buy locally grown food,” said Pat Hoy, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex.
“Ontario’s greenhouse vegetable producers are extremely proud of the superior quality of the peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes they grow, and these delicious recipes give Ontario consumers a wide range of new ways to enjoy them,” said Jim Veri, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers’ director and chair of the marketing committee.
Provincial funding is half of the total project cost of $97,000. The recipe book will be used as a consumer takeaway at events and in-store demonstrations for Ontario greenhouse-grown vegetables, to help increase sales through increased consumer awareness of the availability and use of these products.
“Good things grow in Ontario. Ontario grows, raises and produces high quality food products that are among the best in the world,” said Hoy. “Everyone has a role to play to support Ontario agriculture. If we buy Ontario, everyone wins, because we are supporting our farmers and processors, our rural economy, our environment and ourselves with good food from here at home. We are working with organizations across Ontario to make sure the ‘buy local, buy Ontario’ message hits home in every part of the province,” said Hoy.
The project is funded under the four-year, $12-million Ontario Market Investment Fund program, which helps develop economic opportunities through trade events, marketing campaigns and industry research initiatives that foster partnerships and collaboration to promote Ontario foods. It’s part of the McGuinty government’s enhanced investment in "Buy Local" initiatives.
“We are bringing together local food networks including producers, processors, retailers and individuals dedicated to selling the fresh foods that are grown and made right here in Ontario,” said Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky.
The Foodland Ontario program has expanded from the produce section to include meat, dairy and eggs.
The agri-food industry contributes more than $33 billion to the Ontario economy and employs about 700,000 people.
Print this page
