Greenbelt Fund Photo: Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Jeff Leal & Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation CEO, Burkhard Mausberg
The Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance was one of 23 grant recipients last week to receive funding from the Greenbelt Fund’s Local Food Investment Fund.
The GHFFA, alongside the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, have received $100,000 to increase municipal local food procurement across 3 Golden Horseshoe Municipalities.
Specifically, the project will work with municipal partners to increase the procurement of locally-sourced food in long-term care facilities.
The GHFFA has hired Soni Craik as project manager to work with chefs, long term care staff, food service operators, producers and distributors to uncover creative new ways to maximize local food purchases in these municipally-operated facilities and cafeterias. Hamilton’s Public Health Division is spearheading the project.
It is expected for local food procurement to increase by 5% in the participating municipalities over two years, resulting in a permanent increase of $270,000 annually in local food purchases.
The GHFFA is thrilled to receive significant support for such an impactful project, working collectively toward building support for our Golden Horseshoe farmers by using the purchasing power of public institutions to support local food.
Be sure to stay tuned for updates on this exciting project!
The Local Food Investment Fund is a grant program from the Greenbelt Fund, with support from the Government of Ontario, which offers support to farmers, businesses, and not-for-profits working to increase the amount of Ontario food purchased and enjoyed across the province.