FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2016
ONTARIO AND GREENBELT FUND HELPING LAUNCH TEMISKAMING LOCAL FOOD HUB
Local Food Investment Fund Helping Bring More Local Food to Northern Ontario
The Greenbelt Fund, in partnership with the Ontario Government, is providing Northern Harvest with $25,000 in funding through the Local Food Investment Fund (LFIF) to support the launch of a new local food hub in Temiskaming. The investment will bring local producers together and facilitate local food sales in the region, including the launch of a Good Food Box distribution system.
Northern Harvest is the local food champion for Temiskaming Shores, and will partner with Muskoka North Food Co-op and Eat Local Sudbury to increase the reach of local food in the north. Northern Harvest will expand services to remote communities including Larder Lake and launch a local food hub.
“The investment in Northern Harvest will help grow their operations and bring more farmers to the market,” said Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Greenbelt Fund. “We understand the importance of having access to fresh, affordable local foods across Ontario and support the work of local food champions like Northern Harvest.”
“Through the Local Food Investment Fund, and the creation of the new Temiskaming local food hub, more Northern Ontario residents will have access to the great things grown, harvested and made in our province,” said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeff Leal. “With investments across the province, local food hubs and smaller scale farmers can access additional opportunities to share fresh, locally-grown and made products while building a strong agri-food sector and growing our economy.”
“With this investment we’re growing our reach and getting fresh, local produce into the homes of more families,” said Shelly Rahme of Northern Harvest. “Our farmers are all local to Temiskaming, which is growing wealth for our local economy and supporting ecological and sustainable farming.”
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About the Local Food Investment Fund:
In 2015, the Ontario government provided the Greenbelt Fund with $6 million over three years to support initiatives that will help support the province’s local food strategy by enhancing consumer awareness and access to local food and generating demand and supply of Ontario foods and beverages. The investment supports initiatives such as the Local Food Investment Fund, which is a grant program for farmers, businesses and not-for-profits working to increase the amount of Ontario-grown and made food purchased and enjoyed across the province. The Local Food Investment Fund's three grant streams focus on enhancing local food literacy, increasing market access for small and mid-size Ontario farmers and processors and increasing purchases of local food in the broader public sector, such as hospitals and universities.
About the Greenbelt Fund:
The Greenbelt Fund changes the way we eat food in Ontario. Our innovative investments get more local food onto the plates of Ontarians. We work with businesses, institutions and NGOs to make Ontario’s farmers the first choice for consumers. The Fund’s work has generated a 13-fold return on our investments, permanently changed the food value chain, and improved local food awareness and education around the province. As a not-for-profit, the Greenbelt Fund is supported by public and private sources.
Contact:
Erica Woods
Communications Manager
Greenbelt Fund
Phone: (416) 960-0001 ext. 306