Ontario promotes local food and beverages

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario government has re-introduced the Local Food Act into the provincial legislature.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the act, if passed, would help make local foods more accessible in markets, schools, grocery stores and restaurants.

The enhanced act, originally introduced late last year, is designed to:

• Boost awareness and sales of local foods by setting food targets and goals in consultation with stakeholders;
• Allow government to work with public sector organizations toward these goals and share information on their progress and results;
• Establish a “Celebrate Ontario Local Food Week” that would begin the Monday before Thanksgiving; and
• Require the government to produce a local food report on its activities to support local food.

The Local Food Act is part of a wider strategy to encourage the growth of markets for locally produced food in Ontario.