Ontario Recognizes Retailers Who Promote Locally Grown Food

TORONTO – The Government of Ontario is recognizing 60 grocery stores across the province with Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards for their creativity in promoting locally grown fruits and vegetables.

“Congratulations to all the winning stores across Ontario and thank you to everyone who works hard to create great displays promoting Ontario grown foods,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Your commitment to promoting fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables deserves recognition, as it helps to support everyone across the food supply chain and grow the provincial economy.”

For more than 35 years, the Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards have recognized grocery stores across the province for their unique and innovative displays that promote locally grown food.

Three Awards of Excellence were given to stores which received Platinum awards in two consecutive years for multiple eye-catching displays of Ontario fruits and vegetables throughout the seasons. The winning stores are:

• Foodland #3249 in Markdale
• Longo’s #34 in Stouffville
• Starsky Fine Foods in Hamilton

"Our team at Foodland Markdale strives to provide customers with the best quality produce, and that usually means Ontario’s very own local food,” said Tawnya Tersigni, Manager of the Foodland store in Markdale. “You could say that local food is the bread and butter of our business and that is why we are proud to work with Foodland Ontario and the provincial government to promote it.”

As part of this annual program, retailers enter photos of their in-store displays that promote locally grown and in-season fruits and vegetables. The annual Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards are the produce industry’s foremost competition for excellence in retail display and promotion in support of farmers and local Ontario foods.