Thanksgiving dinner is one of those times when agriculture is impossible to miss.
The turkey, ham, beef or veal, potatoes and vegetables, bread and butter, apple pie, wine or cider — so much of what we gather around the table to enjoy starts on a farm.
And with Ontario Agriculture Week happening this week as we lead into Thanksgiving, it’s a good time to think not only about where our food comes from, but about what having a strong food and farming sector means for our province and our country.
The numbers alone tell an impressive story. Ontario’s agri-food sector contributes almost $53 billion annually to the provincial economy and supports approximately 854,000 jobs or about one in every eight jobs in Ontario.
Those jobs stretch well beyond the farm gate into food and beverage processing – which is Ontario’s biggest manufacturing sector – transportation, retail, hospitality, research and the many other businesses involved in getting Ontario food, fuel, fibre and flowers from the farm to consumers.
But the value of agriculture goes much deeper than dollars and jobs.
Agriculture is food. And our ability to produce as much of our own food and agricultural products as we reasonably can here at home is an important part of our national sovereignty and our ability to withstand challenges come our way.
We’ve seen in recent years how quickly trade disputes, global conflicts and supply chain disruptions can affect the products we buy and the prices we pay. A strong domestic food system gives us greater control over our food supply and makes us less dependent on what is happening elsewhere in the world.
One of the simplest ways all of us can help keep that system strong is by buying local – and that brings me back to Thanksgiving. It’s one of the biggest food celebrations of the year, and there are plenty of opportunities to put Ontario products on the table.
Look for Ontario meat and poultry, potatoes, carrots, squash, apples and other produce. Add locally made cheeses, breads or baked goods. Try an Ontario-made jam, jelly, condiment or sauce, and consider local wine, beer, cider or other beverages.
And while you’re thinking about what goes on the Thanksgiving table, don’t forget what can go in the centre of it – or what you can bring with you as host gift if you’re going to be a guest a someone’s holiday celebration.
Cut flowers and potted plants aren’t always top of mind when we talk about buying local, but Ontario has a significant flower and greenhouse plant sector. The province accounts for about half of Canada’s flower production, with the sector generating more than $1 billion in farmgate sales.
Supporting local flowers is particularly important this year. Cut flowers, orchids and some other plant products were among Canadian goods recently targeted by additional U.S. tariffs, so you can support flower growers by choosing Ontario-grown for your homes, celebrations and holiday tables.
Look for the pickOntario logo or check country-of-origin information when you shop. Ontario growers produce many familiar favourites, including ranunculus, dahlias, chrysanthemums, orchids, freesias, sunflowers and more and if you aren’t sure where something was grown, ask your florist, garden centre or retailer.
Every Ontario product you choose supports the farmers, processors and businesses behind it and helps keep more of our food production and economic activity here at home.
Ontario Agriculture Week is an opportunity to recognize the farmers and farm families who produce the food and farm products we rely on every day – and recognition is even more meaningful when we turn it into action.
This Thanksgiving, take a look at what you’re putting in your grocery cart, serving at your table or using to decorate your home. When you have the choice, look for local.
Source : OFA