FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2015
SYMPOSIUM TAKES AIM AT INCREASING LOCAL FOOD SALES
Niagara Region Hosting Local Food Innovators for Two-Day Symposium
More than 150 local food leaders—with a passion for food, farming, and a drive for change—are converging in the Niagara Region for the Greenbelt Fund’s 2015 Local Food Symposium, February 3and 4.
The agenda for the two-day symposium includes tours of local food innovators in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, thought provoking plenary and breakout sessions, and a keynote address by author and farmer, Joel Salatin. By bringing together farmers, food distributors, foodservice companies, and other partners, the Fund is providing a forum to increase collaboration, and share best practices and cutting-edge innovations to boost production and consumption of local food in Ontario.
“Our Local Food Symposium is bringing some of North America’s preeminent minds from across the food supply chain under one roof,” says Kathy Macpherson, Acting CEO, Greenbelt Fund. “Ontario has witnessed a number of groundbreaking local food innovations, stemming from Greenbelt Fund and Ontario government support. The Symposium is one more way we’re working together with our partners to bring more local food from farm to fork.”
Since its launch in 2010, the Greenbelt Fund has supported dozens of projects, increasing the amount of local food purchased across the province. Ontario’s investments in the Greenbelt Fund are connecting more farmers to new markets and putting more Ontario food in hospitals, schools, daycares, universities, and restaurants. To date, for every dollar the Fund has invested, seven more dollars in Ontario food has been purchased.
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About the Greenbelt Fund:
The Greenbelt Fund supports and enhances the viability, integrity, and sustainability of agriculture in the Greenbelt and Ontario.
As a non-profit, the Fund delivers support to farmers and local food leaders to ensure more of the good things that grow in Ontario are being served and distributed through our public institutions, retail, and foodservice markets. The Fund’s goal is to create systemic change to permanently increase the amount of local food consumed in the province through strategic investments, effective education, innovative policy, and valuable networking initiatives. The Fund is supported by public and private sources. For more information about programs, investments, and local food, visit greenbeltfund.ca.
Contact:
James Berry
Communications Manager
Greenbelt Fund
Phone: (416) 960-0001, ext. 306
[email protected]