While year-round we work to cultivate connections across the Golden Horseshoe’s diverse agriculture sector, on February 29th, we were zeroed in on those connections at Queen’s Park.
Our annual visit downtown Toronto has Alliance members, food processors, farmers and more meet with our municipal leaders to talk food and farming.
This year our focus was on support for Ontario’ small and mid-sized food processors, our reaction to the Crombie report, and an invitation to the (mostly) urban MPP’s and their staff to an “Ag and Food 101” seminar during Agriculture week in October.
“Our time at Queen’s Park did exactly what we had hoped to do: show our diversity and collaborative ability around the alliance table, bring forward to the various parties the importance of recognizing food and farming within the Golden Horseshoe, and providing the first step towards an educational component that GHFFA wants to bring back to their hallowed halls during Agriculture Week,” shared Jamie Reaume, the Alliance Chair. “It’s very important for the MPPs to understand that food and farming transcends multiple ministries – not just one – and that our solutions are theirs as well.”
Forty farmers, processors and Alliance members and staff had 26 visits to MPP offices on February 29. Scheduling was hectic, but well worth it!
Janet Horner, the GHFFA Executive Director, extends a big thanks to all who attended: Steve Peters, Suzanne Van Bommell, the food and beverage suppliers from FoodStarter, Steamwhistle, King Cole Ducks, Trillium Lamb, Real Food for Real Kids, Vineland Research Station, Pilliteri Wine, Holland Marsh Growers and Spirit Tree Cider. As always, these groups supplied the delicious food and beverage at the well-attended evening reception.