Go Local Every Day, Etobicoke $15,000

Aramark Canada will partner with Azoti to test out a proactive ordering system that commits a buyer (in this case, Aramark’s Carleton University account) to purchase a certain volume of produce one year in advance from area farmers to grow towards guaranteed demand. The project is expected to benefit five local farmers, generate sales of $60,000 and create two new part-time jobs.

We Grow the Wines You Love, St. Catharines $20,000

Grape Growers of Ontario will partner with Metro and Food Basics grocery stores to promote the availability of VQA wines at 10 retail locations. The promotion will distinguish VQA wines as 100% Ontario grape wines, profile local grape growers and directly engage with shoppers.

Feasibility Study for a Local Halal Distribution Hub, Scarborough $25,320

Riz Global Foods will conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan for a halal food hub in the GTA. The hub would provide retailers, food service providers, and food processors with access to halal-certified meats, sourced in Ontario.

Ontario Grown Black Seed (Nigella Sativa): An Innovative Project to Develop This World Crop Locally, Hillsburgh $20,000

As Canada’s only commercial producer of black seed honey, Fairhaven Farm will invest in equipment to increase capacity and production to meet growing demand for local black seed honey. This honey is currently imported primarily from Asia and the Middle East, and is of religious and cultural significance to the Muslim community, as well as popular in the holistic nutritional market. The investment is expected to increase production from 800kg to 3,000kg per acre per month.

Local Lime and Capacity Building, Toronto $30,000

Ripple Farms will establish a new growing facility on Seneca College’s Newnham campus to grow lime basil for its new “local lime syrup,” which will be processed at Food Starter’s commercial kitchen. Ripple Farms will also train four staff to become certified food handlers to process the lime basil into syrup. Additionally, Ripple Farms will investigate sustainable packaging and labeling of its new syrup. The project is expected to generate $120,000 of local food sales during the project duration and create two full-time and two part-time jobs.

Specialty Butter and Ghee, Harriston $20,000

Bell’s Edge Farm will purchase packaging equipment to optimize the production of local flavoured butter and ghee, while developing new products under their flavoured butter line. Bell’s Edge Farm is currently the only purveyor of ghee and flavoured butter sourced from Canadian ingredients. Bell’s Edge Farm forecasts an increase of $152,625 in local food sales during the project’s duration and will create two full-time and three part-time jobs.

Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre, Cobourg $32,400

The Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre supports the business development of local food products by providing equipment and facilities to test product ideas and markets. The OAFVC will purchase an automated liquid filling and bottling machine to meet growing demand from clients and food entrepreneurs to create natural fruit drinks, edible oils and other bottled products.

Co-operative Local Food Marketing Program, Warren $35,910

Local Food and Farm Co-ops will develop and provide marketing guidance, support and new materials to their 23 member Co-operatives to better market the benefits of local food directly at point of purchase. Leveraging existing practices from market leaders, the education materials will communicate the stories of Ontario farmers and the value of their products. 

Northern Ontario Mobile Growing Facility, Lively $52,283

Greenhouses Canada will purchase a mobile “grow truck” to serve as an indoor demonstration and training site, and allow for transportation of fresh produce to remote northern communities (including on seasonal ice roads). The project is expected to increase local food sales by $117,000.

Homegrown – Local Food Project, Kitchener $42,840

Flanagan Foodservice is Canada’s largest family-owned foodservice distributor and will increase sales of Ontario foods by increasing its local food offerings, improving traceability, and investing in a promotional campaign to improve awareness of Ontario food available to its customers. The project is expected to increase local food sales by $1 million in 2017.