FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2016
ONTARIO AND GREENBELT FUND HELPING TO BRING LOCAL PRODUCE TO SUBWAY® RESTAURANTS
Local Food Investment Fund Supporting 20 Local Food Projects With $1.3 Million In Funding
The Greenbelt Fund, in partnership with the Ontario Government, is providing Burnac Produce with $90,000 in support through the Local Food Investment Fund (LFIF) towards their “Stop at Subway for Ontario Grown” project which will see Ontario grown tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and onions at SUBWAY® restaurants during the harvest season.
Burnac Produce, Canada’s largest wholesale produce distributor, is partnering with SUBWAY® restaurants, the world’s largest sandwich shop chain, to bring Ontario produce to its 1,300 Ontario locations. Additionally, a promotional campaign using Foodland Ontario point-of-sale materials will help to highlight the availability of local produce at SUBWAY® restaurants.
“Burnac and SUBWAY® Canada’s leadership to help increase Ontario food sales is just the type of change we look for at the Greenbelt Fund,” said Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Greenbelt Fund. “As the biggest restaurant chain in the world, SUBWAY® restaurants will be a leader in taking the local food movement to a whole new scale.”
“Through the Local Food Investment Fund, our government is helping expose people across this province to the great foods grown, harvested and made right here in Ontario while helping create new opportunities for our local agri-food producers,” said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeff Leal. “With investments across the province, this funding is leveraging private-sector funding to provide the people of Ontario with more access to local food options while building a strong agri-food sector and growing our economy.”
“Burnac and our customers are longstanding supporters of local produce and we are always looking for opportunities to bring more Ontario farmers to the table with our customers,” said David Capobianco, Director of Foodservice at Burnac Produce. “With SUBWAY® Canada on board and support from the Greenbelt Fund, Ontario is going to be seeing local peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and onions in SUBWAY® Sandwich Shops this harvest season.”
“Supporting our farmers and providing locally-grown fresh vegetables in our shops when they are in season is not only good for our farmers, but for our guests and the local community,” said Jonna Thomas, Food Scientist with SUBWAY® restaurants. “We are committed to providing our guests with the highest quality ingredients and offerings across the globe, and we are proud to serve seasonal, top quality Ontario-grown produce in our sandwich shops throughout the province.”
Through the LFIF, the Greenbelt is investing over $730,000 to support ten projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, bringing more Ontario grown and raised food to Ontarians. A total of $1.3 million in funding is being invested across the province.
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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.
About SUBWAY® Canada:
Customers in 111 countries have easy access to a fresh line-up of vegetables for their made-to-order sandwiches and salads at any of the more than 44,000 franchised locations. The company, founded 50 years-ago by then-17-year-old Fred DeLuca and family-friend Dr. Peter Buck, is still a family-owned business with thousands of dedicated franchisees/entrepreneurs in neighborhoods around the world, providing easy access to vegetables, detailed nutrition, dietary, and healthy lifestyle information. This has been a priority for the SUBWAY® chain for many years. To learn more information about us, visit www.SUBWAY.com, like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SUBWAYCanada and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SUBWAYCanada
SUBWAY® is a Registered Trademark of Subway IP Inc. ©2016 Subway IP Inc.
Contact:
Erica Woods
Communications Manager
Greenbelt Fund
Phone: (416) 960-0001 ext. 306