Three Ontario groups praise Local Food Act

Mar 26, 2013

Groups say Local Food Act is a “step in the right direction”

Local food gets a boost from the Government of Ontario with the introduction of the Local Food Act.

Three Ontario groups released a joint statement on Monday - Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and Gordon Food Services (GFS) saying that the Local Food Act is welcomed.

“Ontario farmers are eager to meet consumer demand and preferences for local, fresh food,” says Mark Wales, OFA President. “This Act will help create more opportunities but to be truly effective Ontario also needs to focus on food literacy in our schools and improving access to nutritious food for all Ontarians. We look forward to working with the government to better develop these food priorities.”

Ontario has one of the most diverse agricultural systems in the country, with more than 200 commodities, including fruits, vegetables, and a variety of livestock and greenhouse products available.

The OFA is the largest general farm organization in the province representing farmers in the province. The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation oversees 1.8 million acres of farmland, forests, and wetlands and seeks to protect natural resources. Gordon Food Services is North America’s largest foodservice distributor.

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