Message from the minister

Our government is committed to building a stronger economy and helping expand the availability of foods that reflect Ontario's diversity.

Ontario has the most culturally diverse population in Canada. Throughout history what we have cultivated, prepared and consumed reflects our diverse tastes. Right here in Ontario, our farmers grow and harvest more than 200 products to help meet the demand for fresh, high-quality local food - from bitter melon to bok choy, from cheddar to paneer, and from omega pork to goat meat.

Expanding Ontario's local food market helps grow our agri-food sector and creates jobs in every corner of the province. That is why our government has a Local Food Strategy to promote the good things that are grown, harvested and made in Ontario.

We know that local food has evolved to include a greater variety of products that speak to the diversity of Ontarians that call our province home. That is why as part of our Local Food Strategy, our government is putting a greater focus on helping expand consumer access and availability of locally-grown world foods to make it easier for everyday Ontarians to Bring Home the World.

I'm challenging all Ontarians to get involved and tell us how our government can help you Bring Home the World by reading our discussion paper and filling out a short online survey.

Your participation is key to helping expand opportunities for world foods in Ontario and I'd like to thank you for taking the time to participate in our consultation.

Together, we will continue to grow Ontario's agri-food sector and build Ontario up, creating more jobs and economic prosperity across the province.

The Honourable Jeff Leal
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Introduction

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is pleased to engage Ontarians and our agri-food sector partners, whose ideas and expertise will help find ways to improve access to world foods through our Local Food Strategy.

Improving access to world foods will help boost convenience and choice for Ontarians and support economic growth and job creation across the province.

This discussion paper will outline the changing demographics in Ontario, highlight some recent government initiatives in support of world foods, and identify new economic opportunities tied to world foods.

OMAFRA wants to hear your ideas for promoting local food and the diversity of locally-grown, harvested and processed world foods in Ontario.

World foods in Ontario

World foods are those which can be produced, harvested or processed in Ontario that reflect the diversity of the province's population.

Examples of Ontario world foods may include:

  • fruits and vegetables, such as fuzzy melon, bok choy and specialty eggplant
  • proteins, such as goat meat, shrimp and edamame
  • dairy, such as goat or sheep milk, lassi (yogurt-based drink) and labneh (cream cheese)
  • grains, such as quinoa

World foods can also be part of an internationally inspired recipe using locally-sourced ingredients, or part of a culturally important or religiously required diet, such as Halal processed foods.

Ontario farmers and food manufacturers are already growing and processing world foods:

  • There is already large production of specialty vegetables, such as bok choy, napa cabbage and Chinese broccoli. In 2015, there were 2,900 acres of these types of vegetables grown in Ontario with a value of $15.5 million.
  • Other world foods, such as okra or Asian eggplant, are being grown in varying amounts or are being researched to assess their ability to grow under Ontario conditions.
  • There is a greater interest in a wider variety of protein and dairy options, such as goat milk and meat.
  • Over the past several years, there has been an increase in demand for Halal processed foods and products.

Despite the growing diversity of production in Ontario's agri-food sector, grocery retailers often rely on imports to meet consumer demand. For example, most vegetables are imported from California, Mexico and South America. In 2015, Ontario imported over $10 million worth of okra and over $18 million worth of all varieties of eggplants.

Branching out production and processing in the province to meet the needs of Ontario's diversity provides Ontario's agri-food sector with a world of opportunity.

A better understanding of the demand for world foods by Ontarians could spark a quicker shift to a wider range of agri-food products that provide opportunities for the entire agri-food value chain, including consumers.

A world of opportunity

Growing numbers of new Canadians in Ontario are creating new market opportunities for locally grown and processed world foods:

  • People of South Asian, Chinese and Afro-Caribbean heritage typically consume more fresh vegetables and spend more of their household income on fresh produce - upwards of 40% - compared to the Canadian average. The top vegetables in demand include okra, eggplant, bitter melon, bok choy, Chinese broccoli and callaloo.
  • New Canadians consume 6 to 10 times the amount of goat, veal, lamb, and rabbit compared to the Canadian average.

The shifts in Ontario's population are resulting in a more diverse consumer palate, but are also contributing to changes in where Ontarians shop, as well as where they like to eat.

For example, more Canadians are likely to increase their demand for meat during cultural holidays and to purchase from a butcher shop versus a supermarket. In some cases, these meats are processed or prepared for religious or cultural purposes.

An expanding consumer base is increasing demand for more world foods options. For example, most Ontario shoppers have reported that they would cook internationally flavoured cuisine more often if the ingredients were readily available at their local grocery store.

Government actions and successes

Working with the Government of Ontario, agri-food businesses have acted to support the growth of Ontario world foods. This work has largely been carried out by OMAFRA.

Ontario's local food strategy

In 2013, the Ontario government launched the Local Food Strategy to increase the consumption of local food. Since then, the province has launched a tax credit for farmers donating their products to community organizations, developed goals for enhancing local food literacy and access. The Ontario government has invested over $190 million in initiatives and projects to promote and celebrate local food.

Foodland Ontario

OMAFRA's Foodland Ontario program promotes and markets local food, supports the Ontario government's Local Food Strategy and has helped Bring Home the World by promoting Ontario's world foods.

Foodland Ontario encourages consumers to use locally sourced ingredients through internationally inspired recipes provided online and in print, and works with grocery retailers by offering point-of-sale materials to help promote locally-grown world foods. In partnership with T&T Supermarkets, Foodland Ontario has created an Asian greens banner in both English and Chinese to promote vegetables grown in Ontario.

In 2017, Foodland Ontario is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Year-over-year, Foodland Ontario has helped increase consumer awareness and consumption of local food while promoting world foods to reach Ontario's diverse population. The 2017 Foodland Ontario calendar features globally-inspired recipes from twelve countries including India, Italy and Vietnam promoting the use of local ingredients.

Research and innovation

OMAFRA helps fund world foods research through organizations such as the University of Guelph and the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Much of the consumer trend information in this document is a result of this research.

Specialty Cropportunities

OMAFRA has technical experts that help develop information to support world crop production and market development. The government also provides tools to assist farmers who are transitioning to the production of new and specialty crops.

Premier's award for agri-food innovation

Every year, the government celebrates innovative Ontario agri-food businesses through the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation. Each year it's inspiring to find out about leading edge innovation that plays a key role in making Ontario's agri-food sector competitive and sustainable. Recently, we have seen an increase in response to consumer demands with innovators taking steps to grow the world foods market. Some of the award-winning innovations to date have included: growing edamame, callaloo, okra, and making tempeh.

Building capacity

The Ontario government continues to build capacity in the local food sector, which includes world foods. Programs such as the Greenbelt Fund's Local Food Investment Fund, Growing Forward 2, and grant requests through the Ontario Trillium Foundation are supporting world foods projects across the province.

Moving forward

We have a lot to be proud of here in Ontario. Ontario's agri-food sector generates $36.4 billion in GDP and employs nearly 800,000 Ontarians in communities across the province. The agri-food sector is crucial to our long-term growth and economic prosperity. As the sector bridges rural and urban communities and provides high-quality food at home, it is no surprise that everyone involved is eager to see the agri-food sector continue to grow and thrive.

We want to hear from you! To provide feedback or complete the world foods survey, please visit our website or email us.

We will collect all the feedback received and use it to help improve access and availability to world foods so everyday Ontarians can Bring Home the World.

Appendix 1: World foods engagement with consumers

We are asking Ontarians to share their views on world foods and to encourage their ideas about growing locally-grown, harvested and made world foods.

For this section, consider "world foods" regardless of country of origin as imported foods.

  1. What kinds of world foods do you purchase?
    1. fresh fruit and/or vegetables
    2. meat/fish/eggs
    3. dairy (e.g. feta, yogurt)
    4. ready to eat food (e.g. frozen entrees)
    5. I do not purchase world foods
  2. When shopping for groceries, where do you buy world foods? List all that apply.
    1. conventional grocery chains, such as Loblaws, Sobeys, and Metro
    2. discount grocery chains, such as FreshCo, No Frills, and Food Basics
    3. larger cultural grocery chains, such as T&T Supermarkets
    4. independent, speciality cultural grocery stores or neighbourhood grocers
    5. farmers' markets
    6. on-farm market
    7. other (e.g. backyard garden, community garden)

OMAFRA currently defines locally-grown "world foods" as:

  • world foods are those which can be produced, harvested or processed in Ontario that reflect the diversity of the province's population

Based on the current OMAFRA definition of locally-grown world foods:

  1. What does locally grown "world foods" mean to you?
  2. Do you buy locally-grown world foods?
    1. Yes. I purchase locally-grown world foods weekly.
    2. Yes. I purchase locally-grown Worlds Foods occasionally. (i.e. once a month)
    3. I rarely purchase locally-grown world foods.
    4. No. I never purchase locally-grown world foods.
  3. When shopping for groceries, where do you buy locally-grown world foods? List all that apply.
    1. conventional grocery chains, such as Loblaws, Sobeys, and Metro
    2. discount grocery chains, such as FreshCo, No Frills, and Food Basics
    3. larger cultural grocery chains, such as T&T Supermarkets
    4. independent, speciality cultural grocery stores or neighbourhood grocers
    5. farmers' markets
    6. on-farm market
    7. other (e.g. backyard garden, community garden)
    8. I never purchase world foods
  4. What factors would help you consider purchasing more locally-grown world foods? Check all that apply.
    1. price
    2. variety
    3. availability
    4. freshness
    5. convenience
    6. brand
    7. labelling
    8. I have no interest in purchasing world foods
    9. other (please explain)
  5. Do you find it easy to identify locally-grown world foods when shopping for groceries?
    1. Yes. I can easily identify locally-grown world foods where I shop for groceries.
    2. No. But I know to ask my grocer to identify locally-grown world foods for me.
    3. No. I rarely consider locally-grown world foods when shopping for groceries.
    4. No. I have no interest in purchasing locally-grown world foods.
  6. Do you currently grow, harvest, or process locally-grown world foods?
    1. Yes. I produce locally-grown world foods at home (e.g. backyard garden).
    2. Yes. I own a business where I produce (e.g. farm) or process locally-grown world foods
    3. No. I would be interested to learn more about producing locally-grown world foods.
    4. No. I have no interest in producing locally-grown world foods.
  7. What benefits do you think would come from improving access to world foods? Check all that apply
    1. more consumer choice and convenience
    2. creating more jobs in Ontario
    3. freshness and quality of products
    4. tracing the origin of products
    5. none
    6. other (Please explain)

Appendix 2: World foods engagement with industry

We are asking Ontarians to share their views on world foods and to encourage their ideas about growing locally-grown, harvested and made world foods.

OMAFRA currently defines "world foods" as:

  • World foods are those which can be produced, harvested or processed in Ontario that reflect the diversity of the province's population.

Based on the current OMAFRA definition of world foods:

  1. What does locally-grown world foods mean to you?
  2. Do you currently produce, process, or sell locally-grown world foods?
    1. Yes. I produce, process, or sell only locally-grown world foods.
    2. Yes. I produce, process, or sell some locally-grown world foods.
    3. No. I only import world foods from other countries/provinces to process or sell.
    4. No. I do not produce, process, or sell world foods at all.
  3. Do you think there is a need for increased promotion and marketing of locally-grown world foods? Please provide details.
  4. What opportunities do you see in locally-grown world foods for the province's agri-food sector? Please provide details.
  5. For producers and processors, are there challenges to producing and then supplying locally-grown world foods for the domestic market? If so, please provide details.
  6. For retailers, distributors, and foodservice organizations, are there challenges in procuring and supplying locally-grown world foods? If so, please provide details.
  7. Are you interested in expanding your production/processing/supply of locally-grown world foods for Ontario consumers?
    1. Yes. I would like to produce or process more locally-grown world foods for Ontario consumers
    2. Yes. I would like to increase my supply of world foods for my wholesale/retail/food service organization
    3. No. I already produce/process/supply world foods and have no intention of expanding that segment of my operation
    4. No. I do not produce/process/supply world foods and have no intention of expanding into that segment for my operation
    5. Other (please explain)
  8. Are you aware of Ontario government programs that can support your business to improve access to locally-grown world foods to Ontario consumers? If so, please provide details.