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Buy Local Campaigns & Gleaning programs across Ontario
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Our Buy Local Campaign is in the planning stages. Our goal is to launch a media campaign promoting fruits and vegetables. Activities to include a kick off, press conference, radio announcements, information night, customized presentations for workplaces. This project is being financed through Health Action, with community member support.
Halton Region Health Department
The Heart Health Project, Choices 4 Health, has developed and implemented a Buy Local initiative. The purpose is to promote the produce of local farmers to the Halton Community. Last spring a brochure entitled “Simply Local” was released and widely distributed in the community.
Contact
Uma Sebastiampillai
Public Health Dietitian
Halton Region Health Department
Phone (905)825-6060 ext. 7891
sebastiu@region.halton.on.ca
Northwestern Health Unit
A Buy Local Campaign will launch in the region in May 2005. A corresponding Local Flavour campaign promoting local agriculture and food producers in the Rainy River District, will also launch in May 2005. Local Flavour will target farm gate and farmers’ markets while the regional Buy Local campaign will promote local agriculture and food producers.
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
This new project which began in the summer of 2000 has been a great success so far. Gleaning is the traditional practice of gathering crops that would otherwise be left in the fields to be ploughed under after the harvest. The Food Action Network in partnership with the Health Unit provides transportation to local farms for families who live on low-incomes where they can pick produce at no cost to them. It's a win-win situation for farmers and families by eliminating waste on the farm and providing fresh local produce for families. To date there have been 22 trips with 411 participants benefiting at least 287 children. In that time we have picked thousands of dollars worth of produce including: 2334 litres strawberries, 7805 pounds potatoes, 128 doz. corn, 128 doz. cucumbers and 82 litres beans.
For more information, visit www.tbdhu.com/food/security/Gardening.htm
Contact
Catherine Schwartz Mendez
Public Health Nutritionist
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
phone: 807-625-5956
catherine.schwartz@tbdhu.com
Region of Waterloo Public Health
See Buy Local Buy Fresh Map, developed and funded in part by Waterloo Region Public Health. This is the 3rd year and 3rd revision of the map, which aims to link consumers with local farmers.
http://www.foodlink-waterlooregion.ca/index.php?first=3ef30c7fdfa26
York Region Health Services Department
York Region Farm Fresh Guide: The York Region Farm Fresh Association releases an annual Farm Fresh Guide - a map and guide to fresh local produce. This publication lists many farms and farmers markets that offer locally grown produce and agricultural products available throughout York Region. The Guide also includes some nutrition information, a recipe, and healthy eating tips.
Gleaning Program - Fresh Food Partners: The gleaning program began in 2000 and has been a great success. The Fresh Food Partners task group, consisting of community agencies, community members and Nutrition Services, works with local farmers to help community members living on a limited income improve their access to fresh vegetables and fruits.
Gleaning is a way of gathering vegetables and fruits in the field that would otherwise be ploughed under after the harvest. Instead of having this good food go to waste, the gleaning program allows those in need of fresh produce to pick ("glean") the produce in the field for themselves and their family at no charge.
Since 2000, Nutrition Services, in partnership with the Fresh Food Partners and the York Region Food Network, has coordinated the trips and provides transportation to the farms. On each trip, the participants receive nutrition information, recipes and tips on how to use the produce they have just picked. Preservation workshops are also available to the participants.
Contact
Fae Chen
York Region Health Services, Nutrition Services
Tel: 1-800-735-6625 or or 905-895-4512 ext. 4339