Growing Ontario Hops Forward: Expanding Existing Models of Production, Meaford $42,500

Bighead Hops will expand the market opportunities for Ontario hops growers by providing Ontario craft brewers the hops processing and packing they need. With new equipment, they will gain the ability to pelletize hops, which will optimize the quality of the product.

Superior Seasons Packaging and Storage Facility, Slate River $85,000

Belluz Farms will fill the processing need to create market opportunities for small and medium-sized farms in the Thunder Bay area. The creation of a packing and storage facility will expand its capacity and increase processing opportunities. Belluz Farms will work with suppliers and customers to increase the supply and purchasing of local foods in Northern Ontario. In addition, a point-of-origin traceability system will be installed to allow food to be traced back to specific producers.

Strengthening the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Value Chain, Mississauga $120,000

Bamford Produce will provide large foodservice companies and retailers with local fruit and vegetables. The grant will allow them to market local food, and to implement software that measures local food purchases. Bamford will increase market access for 10 to 20 small and medium sized growers, and increase sales of Ontario produce by $1.5 million.

Promoting Ontario Maple Sugar, Beachville $195,000

Auvergne Farms Limited will produce granulated maple sugar in bulk quantities for processed products in Ontario, to replace imported maple sugar and to provide an alternative sweetener for cane/beet refined sugar. This project will increase market opportunities for Ontario maple syrup producers and Auvergne Farms estimates an increase in sales of Ontario maple sugar of $2 million by 2016.

Breaking Barriers in the Food Value Chain, Fergus $90,000

100 Mile Food Services Ltd. will develop a new sales model that expands its distribution area and focuses on creating a working relationship between farmers and their customers. In redesigning their sales strategy, 100 Mile Food Services Ltd. expects to increase market opportunities for 50 farmers by 2015

Local Frozen Food For All Seasons, Toronto $145,000

Zast Foods Corporation will create and market a line of individually quick frozen Ontario fruit and vegetables to ensure a year-round supply. Zast Foods will find new farm suppliers to secure the products they need to create a new line. The new frozen mixes will include products such as salsas, peach slices, and asparagus. The estimated impact of these new frozen foods is an increase in local food sales of $1 million by 2015.

Local Food Procurement Mentorship Program, Kitchener $105,000

My Sustainable Canada will partner with MEALsource to mentor four institutions to showcase the benefits of local food purchasing, and help them to implement buy-local programs. They will assist the four institutions to draw from, build upon, and share best practices and lessons learned, which will enable the broader public sector to better leverage its buying power.

SCOR Regional Food Hubs, Tillsonburg $125,000

South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation will develop food “hub” or aggregator sites throughout the region, which includes the County of Brant, Elgin County, Middlesex County, Norfolk County, and Oxford County. This project will provide small to mid-sized growers a place to aggregate their products in order to serve the foodservice and retail market.

Creating “WOW”: Ontario Local Food for Patients, Toronto $6,450

Marsan Foods Limited investigated the feasibility of creating local, ready-made entrees for healthcare. This included scoping out the cost and supply of local foods, and creating test recipes for products. Healthcare stakeholders were brought together to help Marsan Foods determine which value-added local foods are needed in healthcare.

Giving Rural Communities Access to Urban Markets and Urban Markets Access to Rural Communities, Toronto $225,00

100km Foods Inc. will significantly expand their operations and local food distribution with a daily pick-up and delivery system. The expansion includes sourcing food from farms in Grey and Wellington Counties and extending their delivery into new areas they currently cannot serve.