BURLINGTON, ON – During Local Food Week, Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) is thanking farmer-members who are working tirelessly in continuing to raise ‘Chicken as Usual’ for Ontarians amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Local Food Week is an annual recognition and celebration of the bounty of fresh and healthy food grown and processed in Ontario.
In a release from the Ontario government, the province is celebrating local agri-food heroes who have stepped up to ensure the province's food supply chain remains strong during the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Ontario's agri-food supply chain is one of the strongest in the world and COVID-19 has just reinforced that fact," said Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "The commitment shown by our farmers, food processors, grocery store workers, truck drivers, restaurateurs, and everyone across the agri-food sector during the COVID-19 outbreak is inspiring."
The Ontario government also released the 2020 Local Food Report: Ontario Spirit - A Celebration of Local Food Collaboration, which highlights CFO’s ongoing support for Feed Ontario and local food banks.
In addition to ongoing donations of fresh chicken to local food banks through the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program, CFO has also donated $25,000 to Feed Ontario, to help aid in their Emergency Response program.
"Chicken farmers are stepping up and giving what we can to help our neighbours through the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting local food banks is one way we can give back," said Murray Opsteen 1st Vice-Chair of Chicken Farmers of Ontario and Chair of the CFO Cares Working Group.
Chicken is the #1 protein choice for Canadian consumers and, while Ontarians have adjusted where and what they eat and how they shop amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario chicken farmers want consumers to know it's 'Chicken as Usual' in terms of the commitment to producing safe, healthy, high quality, Ontario-grown chicken.
“While many common, routines have changed recently – and things are definitely not business as usual – Ontario's chicken farmers are on the job and committed to raising safe, healthy, high quality, locally-grown chicken for families and for food banks,” said Ed Benjamins, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Ontario.
CFO’s top priority is the health and safety of the Ontario chicken value chain. At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, CFO and the entire chicken value chain worked together to develop and implement joint health and safety measures to enhance protection for farmers, staff, processors, and workers in the Ontario chicken industry.
“We're committed to monitoring and proactively responding to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. CFO continues to work closely with our industry stakeholders, along with all levels of government, to ensure we continue to be aligned with public policy,” said Rob Dougans, President & CEO of Chicken Farmers of Ontario.
Source : CFO