The Greenbelt is having a birthday!

February 28th, 2015 marks 10 years since the Greenbelt Act established the largest greenbelt in the world. To celebrate, 14 Ontario famers' markets are holding birthday celebrations. 

The celebrations will include featured Greenbelt products, Greenbelt-themed goodies, and, if you drop by the Sorauren Farmers’ Market, even a Greenbelt Maple Syrup Festival.

 Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario’s Food System - 7.95 MB

Our newest study, produced in partnership with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the Metcalf Foundation, identifies ways Ontario can make changes to its food system to increase the supply of local food, create jobs, and support healthier lifestyles. 

Encompassing the first research of its kind in Canada, Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario's Food System looks at a number of scenarios. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2015

 OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN SOUTHERN ONTARIO’S FOOD SYSTEM
Report Highlights Ways to Bring More Local Food to Province’s Dinner Tables

A groundbreaking study identifies ways Ontario can make changes to its food system to increase the supply of local food, create jobs, and support healthier lifestyles.

Encompassing the first research of its kind in Canada, the report, Dollars and Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario’s Food System, produced in partnership by the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the Metcalf Foundation, and the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, looks at a number of scenarios. Key findings include:

• Reducing the top 10 fruit and vegetable imports by 10 per cent and expanding local production would help create 3,400 jobs and boost the province’s GDP by nearly a quarter billion dollars.

• Ontarians adopting a healthier diet leads to higher consumer demand for fruits, vegetables, and some grains. For example, if consumers moved to an ideal level of oat consumption in their diets, 241 jobs would be created and the province’s GDP would grow by more than $14.2 million.
• Transitioning 10 per cent of food consumption to organic would improve farm incomes and reduce the environmental impact of food production, but require imports of many products unless local organic production was increased.

 Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario’s Food System - 
7.95 MB (Download for screen reading)
Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario's Food System -
9 MB (Download to print your own copy)

This report, produced in partnership with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the Metcalf Foundation, looks at opportunities to grow Ontario's $63 billion food system. Encompassing the first research of its kind in Canada, it highlights the agri-food sector's significant contributions to the provincial economy. It also assesses how increasing regional food production and distribution affects the larger food system, including businesses that supply farmers, food processors, and distributors, as well as food retailers and food service operators. Key findings include:

• More than half of southern Ontario’s imported food products could be produced within the province.
• If local production expanded to replace 10% of the top 10 fruit and vegetable imports, the Ontario economy would gain close to a quarter of a billion dollars in GDP and 3,400 full-time jobs.
• When Ontarians adopt a healthier diet, there is higher consumer demand for fruits, vegetables, and some grains. For example, if consumers moved to an ideal level of oat consumption in their diets, 241 jobs would be created and the province’s GDP would grow by more than $14.2 million.

The report makes the case for investing in the development of regional food systems and providing the supportive regulatory environment, infrastructure, and distribution networks required for these systems to flourish. We hope that this research will inform and stimulate public discussion, inspire policy change, and increase investment in regional food systems in Ontario and beyond.

The Greenbelt turns 10 this year! We've got a lot planned!

This month's newsletter features:

• Our two new Regional Offices
• A Toronto Star series on Local Food Champions
• Plans for our 10-year Anniversary celebrations
• And more...

2015 is a big year. 

February 28th, 2015 marks 10 years since the Greenbelt Act established the largest greenbelt in the world. 

A lot has happened since, and at the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation we are fortunate to be a part of it. 

Through dedicated research, targeted grants, and active outreach we've worked--alongside many others--to build a Greenbelt that works to keep farmers successful, strengthens local economies, and protect and grows natural features.

So what do we have planned for the Greenbelt's 10-year anniversary? A lot!

It’s an exciting time at the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation: we’re opening two new regional offices! On the heels of our Niagara office opening in October, we’re now set to open two more - one in Durham and one in York. 

Like other Greenbelt Regions, Durham and York both have their own unique personalities. We want to get to know them better, so we're opening up shop and moving on in. 

For the Holiday Season we're sharing our tips to eating great food, drinking local wine, and getting out and enjoying the Greenbelt.

Seasons Greentings!

All of us at the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation want to wish you a very happy holiday and an exciting New Year. As a thank you for all of your support over the last year we're sharing two of our favourite holiday recipes. Give 'em a try -- they're easy, delicious, and can be made using in-season Ontario ingredients.

Looking forward to connecting with you again in 2015!

-The Friends of the Greenbelt Team

Iron and Wine to Perform at 2015 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic!!
Saturday August 29, 2015

Gates at 11AM. Show at 12PM
Christie Lake Conservation Area
1000 Highway #5 West
Dundas, Ontario

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!

Tickets available online at www.ticketbreak.com,
or by calling 1-866-943-8849
or at Picks and Sticks, 140 Locke Street South
or Dr. Disc, 20 Wilson Street in Hamilton, Ontario

HAMILTON (December 20, 2014): September Seventh Entertainment Limited announced today another exciting addition to the 2015 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. American song writer, Iron and Wine, joins the list of performers previously announced which includes song writing legend Gordon Lightfoot, Bahamas, Basia Bulat, Gregory Alan Isakov, Kathleen Edwards, Martha Wainwright and Hamilton’s Dinner Belles. The 2015 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic takes place on Saturday August 29th at Christie Lake Conservation Area in Dundas, Ontario. Gates open at 11AM and show starts at 12PM. The event serves to celebrate the importance of the Greenbelt, local farmers, art, the outdoors and the eat-local movement.

Missing your weekly visit to the farmers’ market now that there’s snow on the ground? Good news, you don’t have to!

While many markets do close for the season, a sizeable handful remain open throughout the winter. 

We’ve put together a list of the markets in the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network open for business all-year round.