News
Fresh from the Farm fundraiser for schools

Sept. 12, 2014, Toronto — Students from over 900 schools in 19 Ontario
school boards are going door-to-door this month selling bundles of fresh
Ontario root vegetables and fruit to raise money for their schools.

Sept. 12, 2014, Toronto — Students from over 900 schools in 19 Ontario school boards are going door-to-door this month selling bundles of fresh Ontario root vegetables and fruit to raise money for their schools.

The sales kick-off marks year two of the Fresh From the Farm pilot program.
Last year, elementary and secondary schools raised over $53,000 and delivered more than 120,000 pounds of produce during the program’s inaugural year.
 
“It’s a win-win for students, schools and farmers, as 40 per cent of the revenue goes back to schools and our farmers receive market price for top quality produce,” says Alison Robertson, program manager with the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.

“Fresh from the Farm is a great way to build the domestic market for Ontario grown produce while helping to instill healthy eating habits in the next generation of consumers.”
 
Students will raise funds by selling bundles of fresh Ontario root vegetables, which include potatoes, carrots, onions and beets, and gift-boxes of fresh Ontario apples.

PROMOTING HEALTHY EATING

The innovative school fundraising campaign serves to promote healthy eating to families while supporting Ontario farmers through the sale of Ontario produce.
 
“Fresh from the Farm not only puts healthy foods into the hands of families, it provides opportunities for introducing the related topics of agriculture, food and healthy eating into the classroom,” says Cathy O’Connor, project coordinator with Dietitians of Canada, one of the program’s partners.

“The program raises the awareness of the importance of good nutrition in the development and well-being of our children.”
                           
The 2014 fundraising season is now officially underway, and will culminate with the delivery of fresh Ontario fruits and vegetables to participating schools in November. One of the program’s main goals is to develop a sustainable model for the program through gradual expansion across the province over the next several years.
 
ABOUT FRESH FROM THE FARM

Fresh from the Farm is a collaborative initiative between Dietitians of Canada, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, the Ontario Ministry of Education, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.