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.

Local Foodservice Hub Initiative, Milton $250,000

Gordon Food Service will conduct market research to develop a strategic plan for three new foodservice hubs in Niagara, GTA/Central Ontario, and Eastern Ontario. The market research will involve identifying demand and market share of local products by individual product category.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ottawa Food Hub: Setting Up for Success, Ottawa $186,500

Natural Gourmet Fine Food Kitchen Inc. will partner with Just Food to bring regional and Ontario food to both retail and foodservice markets by launching the Ottawa Food Hub. This will be accomplished through the aggregation, processing, packaging, and distribution of foods from the Ottawa region, backed by Ontario product when local is unavailable.