Oct. 28, 2015, Toronto – The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is at Queen’s Park today to promote the importance of increased fruit and vegetable consumption and the Half Your Plate Program with Ontario parliamentarians.
“There are significant health benefits to increasing the number of servings of fruits and vegetables, as well as economic benefits to Ontario growers. Our members are looking to partner with all governments to ensure that the number of servings of healthy fruits and vegetables that Ontarians enjoy is increased,” said CPMA president Ron Lemaire.
“We need to get families back in the kitchen preparing fresh and healthy meals, and our Half Your Plate Ambassador Chef Michael Smith’s message is intended to inspire change.”
Ontario’s farmers grow some of the best fruit and vegetables and Ontarians must take advantage of these high quality, nutritious foods available to them locally, noted Jeff Leal, minister of agriculture and rural affairs.
“Buying local when available within Ontario helps to stimulate the provincial economy and also provides consumers with a connection to where their food comes from and the people who produce it. CPMA’s industry-led Half Your Plate initiative is a simple message, endorsed by Foodland Ontario, to support that increased consumption can be integrated into existing healthy eating campaigns and programs.”
To end the day, Chef Michael Smith will be doing a cooking demonstration at Queen’s Park to promote the Half Your Plate message. Host of Chef Michaels Kitchen, Chef Abroad and Chef at Home on Food Network Canada, Chef Smith has devoted his life to helping Canadians create a healthy food lifestyle that includes lots of daily fruits and vegetables.
The Half Your Plate program was launched in January 2015 by the CPMA and health partners the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Public Health Association, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The campaign emphasizes how fun, practical and easy it is to prepare a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for meals and snacks at home, at school, at work, eating out or on the go.
More information is available at the Half Your Plate website.
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