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Please don't forget to register for the April 23rd Terroir 2012 hospitality industry symposium.
An Agri-Food Strategy for the Golden Horseshoe
The Golden Horseshoe is not only the fastest growing region of Canada; it is also one of North America’s largest food and farming clusters. The region’s (remaining) million acres of productive soils, moderate climate and abundant water, produce over 200 types of agricultural products worth over $1.5 billion. These supply the majority of Ontario’s food processing operations and the diverse and sophisticated urban population to directly add $12.3 billion in economic activity and employment. After adding in the multiplier effect, the region’s food activities contribute over $35 billion to Canada’s economy. (This is more than the auto industry!)
In 2009, the cities of Hamilton and Toronto along with the adjoining Regions of Durham, Halton, Niagara, Peel, and York determined they should work together to reduce impediments and build opportunities. On March 2, 2012 the Greater Toronto Area Agriculture Action Committee (GTAAAC) announced a 10-year strategy to make our Golden Horseshoe the leading food and farming cluster in the world!
This Action Plan will build on the existing assets of:
- soil, water and climate managed by knowledgeable farmers
- established food and beverage manufacturers
- a concentration of food retail and food service businesses
- access to abundant skilled labour, and
- availability of multi-modal transportation systems
- growing the cluster with world renowned healthy and safe products
- linking local food, farming and health by educating consumers
- fostering innovation and enhancing competitiveness and sustainability
- enabling the food and farming businesses with appropriate policies, and
- cultivating new approaches to support food and farming
The Ontario Market Investment Fund (OMIF) has been providing matching grants for urban enterprises to inform the public how they promote local agriculture. Unfortunately this is now fully subscribed; and the rumour is that it will not be renewed in the upcoming budget. If you would like to develop your own promotion idea, please take a look at my new David Cohlmeyer Consulting website or call me at 705-458-1710 to learn ways I can help you make this happen.
Anita Stewart appointed to the Order of Canada
On being a Guest Curator in Calgary
Last fall I was invited to be a Guest Curator for the Calgary Glenbow Museum current exhibit of Edward Burtynsky's remarkable giant photographs. It was quite an honour to be selected as one of 30 Canadians who each reflected on one of his glorious images. I chose the Carrara Marble Quarries in Tuscany because of their relationship with food that goes all the way back to Roman times.
Other guest curators included photographer Robert Bourdeau, actress Barbara Budd, former National Chief Phil Fontaine, ballet administrator Jeff Melanson, musician Danny Michel, Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury, astronaut Robert Thirsk, CBC host George Stromboulopoulos, and Dragons’ Den’s Brett Wilson.
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