Pick HomeGrown Ontario — even in cold winter months

GUELPH, ON – It is typically right about now when those New Year’s resolutions about living a healthier lifestyle start to fall by the wayside.  

But that makes this the ideal time to buckle down and re-commit to a thoughtful and smarter menu plan — one that includes food grown and raised in Ontario, despite it being the middle of winter. In grocery stores, at farmers’ markets and even at the farmgate, Ontario-grown and raised food is relatively easy to find, in the winter and all year long. 

“Fresh, local food is a fundamental part of a healthy diet and as farmers, we are proud to grow and raise more than 200 different commodities that provide food for Ontarians,” says Drew Spoelstra, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “By eating local, you are supporting farms, jobs and rural communities across our province, as well as lowering the carbon footprint of our food and helping to preserve our valuable farmland.”  

HomeGrown is a public awareness initiative of the OFA and advocates for the importance of preserving Ontario’s farmland as well as recognizing the key role of Ontario farms as a source of food, fuel, fibre and flowers.  

Even during the cold winter months when most Ontario farms are dormant for the season, there are local food options in your neighbourhood grocery store or independent retailer (local foods are typically found in the outside aisles of the store) or local farmers’ market.  

Keep an eye out for the following:  

• Field- and orchard-grown fruit and vegetables — It may be winter, but some Ontario crops grown and harvested in summer and fall are available at this time of year as well.  Be on the lookout for Ontario apples, carrots, cabbage, potatoes and root vegetables at your local grocer.  
• Meat and poultry— Ontario meat and poultry is always in season. Head to a local butcher shop or the meat section of your grocery store for fresh Ontario-raised meat and poultry, and check the labels on processed meats for an Ontario designation to make a local choice. 
• Indoor-grown produce — Canadian winters can be horribly miserable, but Ontario has a strong greenhouse industry and a growing controlled-climate vertical farming sector. Fresh and delicious tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and strawberries are Ontario’s leading greenhouse crops, and vertical farms are producing Ontario-grown leafy greens, microgreens and baby greens that are on store shelves right now. 
• Dairy — Milk, cheese, cream, butter, yogurt, ice cream are all made with milk from Ontario farms and are available year-round.  
• Frozen foods — Many Ontario vegetables harvested in season are flash frozen, preserving their nutrients and keeping them available over the winter. Check the packaging for the product’s origin and choose Ontario.  
• Beer, cider, wine and spirits — Ontario craft producers of adult beverages use local ingredients. Craft brewers source local hops and cideries frequent Ontario orchards. The Ontario VQA medallion is an assurance that the wine in the bottle is made entirely from Ontario-grown grapes. The grains in craft spirits come from Ontario farms; in fact, for any Canadian whisky to be considered a Canadian whisky, the grains used must come from a Canadian farm.  

The OFA’s Home Grown campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of preserving Ontario farmland to produce food, fuel, flowers and fibre. Learn more and sign up for regular updates on products grown and raised in Ontario