(Billy Denault/Facebook)
When you choose to buy local food, you support jobs, farms and food security, says Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP Billy Denault.
Local Food Week runs June 2-8 and Denault raised the issue during Question Period at Queen’s Park last week. The initiative offers an opportunity to celebrate the abundance of fresh, healthy food grown, produced, and processed right here in Ontario.
Denault noted the issue is an important one in the local riding.
Denault posed a question directed at Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agri-business Trevor Jones, asking him to explain how the government is protecting the province’s farmers and food producers.
Minister Jones said the government, informed by food producers, is designing programs to protect and invest in agriculture. He noted that 54 per cent of the food we eat is locally grown and the Grow Ontario strategy aims to get that number 30 per cent higher by 2032.
Denault agreed, saying backing farmers goes beyond what’s grown in the fields. Also key are growing markets, building demand and getting more local products into local hands.
Recent support for the craft cider industry and tender fruit growers are evidence of the government’s support, he said.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)