March 2020
Food & Farming across the Golden Horseshoe
Sobeys Ontario held two Local Supplier Partner Roadshows in February, one in Ajax and one in Hamilton, to help their suppliers grow their businesses. Over 372 people from Ontario agri-food businesses attended each event.

You can read more about the events here , including the 2019 winners of Sobeys Ontario Supplier Awards.
We Grow Food , an Oshawa-based grassroots non-profit, was established in 2013 by Carol VanderSanden and Michelle Perry, with the aim to inspire community members to learn where their food comes from and how they can grow their own in an environmental and sustainable way. This year, they've launched a Mobile Greenhouse Classroom with educational and interactive modules and food garden installations to bring directly to schools.

"As the value of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food economy continues to grow (agriculture and agri-food contributed more than $49 billion to GDP in 2019), the stakes and potential gains get higher for all participants in the sector. A recent report from RBC Royal Bank indicates that with proper support, the ag sector could contribute an additional $11 billion to Canada’s GDP by 2030 , making it more productive than auto manufacturing and aerospace combined."

Read more from this Nourish article on how trade will have a significant impact on the health of the Canadian ag economy.
Empire Company and its family of brands have recently announced a partnership with District Ventures to help early-stage companies in the food and beverage and health Consumer Package Good industries bring their products to store shelves in Canada.

Read more from Food in Canada here .
A reminder that the Ontario Farmland Trust 2020 Forum is coming up on Thursday, March 26th in Guelph, which will explore The Shifting Landscapes of Farmland Protection . Visit their website here for information on speakers and presentations, and to register online.
Join the Durham Food Policy Council on Friday, April 24th in Whitby for a conversation on developing a Food System Report Card that would track key indicators of the health of Durham's food system. A keynote address will be delivered by Phil Mount. Learn more .
We're refreshing our Action Plan , and want you to join the conversation!

Please join us on Wednesday, April 1st in Milton, and help us shape a bright and dynamic future for agriculture and agri-food within the Golden Horseshoe.

We're looking for perspectives that span across the value chain -- food processors, distributors, producers, and local and regional governments. 

Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe to our monthly newsletters here !
Watch for a confirmation email after you subscribe.