In an increasingly uncertain world, with uncertain trade tensions, climate disasters and transportation challenges, one thing needs to remain steadfast – our access to safe, affordable food.
Luckily, the Rainy River District is poised to weather the storms, and feed the future, with an ever-increasing supply of local, farm-fresh meat and produce, and growing exports of grains and other agri-food crops.
A new project being funded by the provincial government is supporting the province’s agri-food sector by helping farmers seize local selling opportunities, through a partnership with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness is providing an investment into the Cultivating Local: Seizing Opportunities to Grow Ontario’s Local Agri-Products Sector project.
With the funding, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and partner organizations are hosting a series of nine free online workshops featuring key experts and resources for producers and prospective producers to learn more about the opportunities to sell in-demand products directly to Ontario consumers.
The workshop topics include selling value-added agriculture products, marketing and selling your product online, selling at farmers’ markets, restaurants, and institutions, selling in rural and remote Ontario, getting into agritourism, and more.
The two-hour online workshops are held Thursday mornings into February 2025. For those who aren’t able to participate in the live events, all workshop recordings will also be posted on OFA’s website. Many agricultural and commodity organizations are partnering on the project alongside OFA, including Agritourism Ontario and Farmers’ Markets Ontario.
To view the videos, or register for upcoming ones, visit ofa.on.ca/cultivating-local. The videos are free and open to all Ontarians, whether they are already in food production, or are researching for a possible future endeavour.
“Increasing the production and consumption of local Ontario food will strengthen long-term food supply chain resilience and agri-food economic competitiveness,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “The OFA is a perfect partner to collaborate with us in supporting Ontario farmers to sell more of their world-class products to Ontario families and local consumers.”
“We are thrilled to have the provincial government’s support for this initiative that encourages farm diversification, improves market channel opportunities for farmers, and also provides more fresh, local produce to Ontarians,” says OFA President Drew Spoelstra. “We know there are many passionate farmers and future farmers who want to explore new products and new markets, and these workshops will help ensure they have the expert advice and resources to take that next step.”
The Rainy River district has a growing supply of locally produced and available products. Many sell directly from their farm, like KB Ranch, or through grocery stores, like Gerber’s. Others can be found at farmers markets, the Gerber Mini-Market, craft fairs and through Facebook markets, like “Rainy River District Buy Fresh Buy Local.” Many local restaurants and Hallett Brewing have been quick to jump to using local ingredients to enhance their menu options.
Even home cooks can get creative with local food. Ontario Foodland has made a slate of recipes, which feature the foods produced in Ontario. Visit www.ontario.ca/foodland/recipes. Search by ingredient, or meal, or look at what’s in season.
The Ontario government is investing in the security of the Ontario food system, from farm to table, by transforming the landscape into high quality, farmable land, through tile drainage. This process installs a corrugated pipe and concrete tile under the ground, to give stability to ground water levels. The result in increased yields on existing farmland, and previously unproductive land transformed into arable field.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Foundation Corporation has invested more than $17.3 million in 21 tile drainage projects across Northern Ontario since June 2018, according to a release by the RRDFC. This funding has leveraged an additional $16.1 million in economic activity, resulting in total agricultural improvements on more than 30,000 acres.
And the program is set to keep growing – a news release issued by the province after the Rural Ontario Municipal Association, stated than an additional $18 million over three years will be contributed to the Agriculture Drainage Infrastructure Program, province-wide.
