In the lead up to Thanksgiving, Ontario is celebrating Agriculture Week which runs from October 5-11.
The province is encouraging the people of Ontario to mark this important week by visiting a local farmers market, buying VQA wine, craft beer and cider, and planning a meal with seasonal ingredients.
Ontario's agri-food industry is a significant driver of the province's economy, contributing $34 billion annually, including $12.5 billion in exports, and employing more than 780,000 individuals. Those who work in the industry:
- Produce more than 200 agricultural commodities - from quinoa and beef to bok choy and milk
- Harvest the largest area of winter wheat, grapes, apples, peaches, sour cherries, pears, and plums in Canada
- Grow almost 99 percent of the country's ginseng, which is known as the highest quality in the world
- Collect maple syrup from 1.5 million taps
- Oversee more than half of Canada's greenhouses that produce foods such as peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers
Supporting the province's agri-food sector is part of the government's four-part plan to build Ontario up. The plan includes investing in people's talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan.
Source: OMAFRA