On Tuesday, November 4, members of the Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance gathered at Queen’s Park to meet with Ontario MPPs and Ministers to advance the conversation on food and farming, and in particular our Action Plan for the Golden Horseshoe.
Our 10-year Action Plan provides a road map for a more integrated and coordinated approach to food and farming viability in the area, to ensure that the Golden Horseshoe retains, enhances and expands its role as a leading food and farming cluster.
The Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Cluster is the second largest food and farming cluster in North America (second only to Chicago). One of the most productive parts of Canada, stretching from Niagara to Durham Region, the Golden Horseshoe has one million acres of Prime Agricultural farmland, grows over 200 different crops in climate and soils that are not found anywhere else in the province, holds over 50% of Ontario’s food processing manufacturers, provides 100,000 direct jobs in food and farming, and most of the area is covered by Ontario’s Greenbelt.
It’s unmistakably clear why the area is one of vital concern, and needs our integrated support and focus.
Our morning at Queen’s Park began with MPP meetings and a press conference, featuring our Chair, Jamie Reaume; Steve Peters, Executive Director of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors; and Allan Thompson, Mayor-Elect of Caledon.
The day was a tremendous success, full of rich conversation, meaningful connections, and important learning. Appropriately, lunch featured food and drink from every region and city 
across the Horseshoe. Beverage offerings came from Niagara’s Southbrook Vineyards, Toronto’s Steamwhistle Brewery, and Peel’s Spirit Tree Cidery. Savoury food was provided by Durham College’s Centre for Food, York Region’s King Cole Ducks, Holland Marsh Growers, Hamilton’s Landmark Group, and Latitude in Halton’s Georgetown.
Over 100 people attended the locally-produced lunch at Queen’s Park, served alongside an abundance of mixing and mingling, with an evident real interest present in what we’ve done in the Golden Horseshoe to keep food and farming on the radar.
A strong partnership among farmers, food manufacturers, educational and research institutions, local economic development offices, government, and various industry stakeholders, is essential for a productive agriculture sector. We are thrilled to move this dialogue forward.
Let’s keep the conversation going.