FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2016
ONTARIO AND GREENBELT FUND BRINGING MORE LOCAL FOOD TO ONTARIO SCHOOLS
Local Food Investment Fund Supporting 23 Local Food Projects With $1.5 Million In Funding
The Greenbelt Fund, in partnership with the Ontario Government, is providing Stemmler Meats & Cheese with $115,000 in funding through the Local Food Investment Fund (LFIF) to help provide students with more locally sourced protein in schools. The investment will increase local food sales by $1.6 million over two years.
Stemmler Meats & Cheese is partnering with Ontario Student Nutrition Services to increase the sale of locally produced turkey pepperettes at schools, offering students with a healthier and more nutritious snack. Stemmler will also offer their products to long-term care facilities and hospitals.
“This partnership between Stemmler and Ontario Student Nutrition Services is bringing more locally sourced, healthy snacks to students,” said Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Greenbelt Fund. “These relationships are a big part of the Greenbelt Fund’s success in permanently changing the way we eat in Ontario.”
“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 connecting schools with local farmers to provide students with more opportunities to learn about and access local food options while building a strong agri-food sector and growing our economy.”
“This is a great partnership for us at Stemmler’s Meats & Cheese,” said Kevin Stemmler. “Student nutrition programs should offer the very best healthy and sustainable choices, and our locally-made turkey pepperettes are a perfect fit.”
Through the LFIF, the Greenbelt is investing nearly $425,000 to support eight local food projects in Southwestern Ontario. Along with these projects, a total of $1.5 million in funding is being invested across the province through the Local Food Investment Fund.
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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