The Bible says a
little bit of wine is good for the stomach, but it seems it’s also good for
business at Ontario’s farmers’ markets.
More than $1 million of local wine has
been purchased at farmers' markets in Ontario since the province started
allowing those sales last year, says a report on the local food movement from
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
It’s next focus will be on consumer
education.
OMAFRA wants to increase the number of
Ontarians who cook local foods at home, who know what local foods are
available, and where and how to get them.
According to a Foodland Ontario survey,
two-thirds of grocery shoppers can identify half or more of the produce grown
seasonally in the province, but only about 40 per cent can name at least one
product grown throughout the year in Ontario.
More than 80 per cent of shoppers could
identify Ontario-grown fruits and vegetables, whereas 55 per cent could
identify Ontario-produced meat.
