Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers are celebrating a major milestone achieved by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association’s (OFVGA) Fresh from the Farm school fundraising program. Since the program was launched in 2013, participating schools have sold more than five million pounds of fresh, Ontario-grown root vegetables and apples, raising $2.6 million to support local school initiatives.
This achievement was recognized today at Malvern Collegiate Institute in Toronto, where both the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Minister of Education attended. Their presence underscored the importance of the fundraising program in strengthening local food systems, supporting Ontario farmers, contributing to the province’s economy and encouraging healthy eating habits among students.
“Fresh from the Farm brings students closer to the people who grow their food. It puts fresh, nutritious, Ontario-grown produce on family tables and encourages everyone to choose local," said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Thank you to the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association for leading Fresh from the Farm, and congratulations to the 395 schools across Ontario who raised more than $515,000!”