It’s no secret that food waste is a growing area of focus at all levels of the food value chain. Factors such as economic and human behaviour, transport, lack of resources, and technological limitations all contribute to the many ways we waste food that could otherwise be utilized in effective, innovative and profitable ways.

Ontario has long been known for its strong farming community and world-renowned restaurants and businesses, but marrying the two communities together has been a struggle. That’s where 100km Foods Inc. owners Paul Sawtell and Grace Mandarano come in. 

In any industry, ‘longevity’ and ‘family owned’ are two terms that are increasingly going the way of the dinosaurs. With local abattoirs closing down each year, the Canadian farming industry is no exception, making Newmarket Meat Packers an anomaly.

The winter months used to mean going without your favourite Ontario-grown fruits and vegetables, but thanks to a partnership between the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers and the Greenbelt Fund, garnishing a dish with fresh Ontario-grown cucumbers in January is now a possibility.

Located in the heart of farmland, the Peterborough city and county schools are in a prime position to increase their consumption of local food and they’re doing so in ways that involve the whole community.