Local Food Literacy Grant Stream

Improving Consumer Understanding

A number of factors are required for a viable and resilient agriculture and agri-food system, not least of which is knowledge of local food and agriculture.

Significant work on local food literacy is already taking place. Public education campaigns at the point of sale, such as work done by Foodland Ontario and Feast ON, have had a significant impact. Organizations such as Farmers’ Market Ontario and the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network support farmers’ markets as key places where consumers interact with growers, learn more about where food comes from, and can access a range of local food products. Information sharing among stakeholders in the agricultural system is supported by, among other organizations, Farm and Food Care. Many more organizations are holding awareness and educational events, preparing resource materials and engaging stakeholders.

Goals of the Local Food Literacy Grant Stream

1. To increase awareness and knowledge of local food, its availability, and local food skills to maximize local food usage among consumers, retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators, associations and governments.
2. To increase farmers’ and commodity organizations’ ability to communicate the value of their products to retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators and consumers.

Areas of Focus

This grant stream has four areas of focus, as outlined below:

1. Consumer Awareness – increase consumers’ awareness and understanding of local food products, when they are available, where to find them and how to prepare them.
2. Value Chain Relationships – encourage and strengthen value chain relationships among local food industry stakeholders to deepen understanding of the local products, how to use them and how to promote them.
3. Local / Regional Agriculture System – increase the awareness of what is required for a viable local agricultural system among municipal governments and other public agencies, and not-for-profit organizations.
4. Communication and Marketing – improve farmers’ and commodity organizations’ ability to communicate the value of their products through educating retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators’ staff and consumers.

Note that projects that exclusively address the following issues are not the main focus of this grant stream (although they can be aspects of eligible projects):

• Health and nutrition
• Community development
• Gardening skills development
• Festivals, events, fairs, concerts and building, creating and/or expanding farmers’ markets, etc.

Grant Stream Inquiries

If you have questions about our grant program, please feel free to contact us using our online form and our grant officer will respond to your inquiry.

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