Ontario’s farmers need you: choose local and support our communities

GUELPH, ON  – In this tumultuous and uncertain environment, Ontarians can take action to make a real difference through their shopping choices.

The start of a new growing season is only weeks away, but while we wait for spring, there is still an abundance of homegrown food and farm products that make it easy to choose local – and support a strong, vibrant Ontario at the same time.

“From farm to table, when you buy local, you’re making a choice that extends far beyond the immediate satisfaction of a quality, homegrown product – you’re choosing to support Ontario, our communities and our economy,” Ethan Wallace, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “Buying local food, flowers, fibre and fuel also supports the preservation of our farmland – our most precious natural resource and one of the strongest tools we have to bolster Ontario against the threat of international political unrest.”

Many local agricultural products are available all year long. Ontario-raised pork and beef, for example, can be found at markets, restaurants, stores and even online delivery services province-wide – whether fresh, frozen, processed, cured or prepared into ready-made meals.

Other products that are always in season? Think most root vegetables, meat and poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wines and craft beverages, greens, honey, and greenhouse vegetables.

Greenhouses are also the year-round source of fresh Ontario potted plants and flowers, tulips, freesias, gerberas and more. More than 70% of Ontario’s flower production is exported to the United States, with almost 40% of those sales taking place between March and May. This year, support the more than 200 Ontario flower greenhouses and their 9,000 workers and make your flower choice a local one.

March is typically when the sap start flowing in maple trees, and that means Ontario sugarbushes and farm-made maple syrup. A cold, snowy winter raises expectations of a good year for Ontario’s maple syrup producers. Find one near you at ontariomaple.com.

The OFA’s Home Grown campaign raises awareness of the importance of preserving Ontario farmland for the production of food, fuel, flowers and fibre. Regular updates on products grown and raised in Ontario and when this year’s harvest will start to be available can be found at homegrownofa.ca.

“As we celebrate the arrival of spring, let’s take this opportunity to renew our commitment to Ontario food and farming,” adds Wallace. “Our choices matter, and by making a conscious effort to buy local, we are supporting our province, our communities and businesses, and our economy at a time when it’s needed most.”