Tips for
gifting local this holiday season
Take the Ontario Table Holiday Challenge
and support your local food producer
gifting local this holiday season
Take the Ontario Table Holiday Challenge
and support your local food producer
With only a few shopping days left to cross everyone off
your holiday gift-giving list, Farmers Feed
Cities challenges Canadians to think local when purchasing last minute
gifts. Named the 2012 Ontario Local Food Ambassador, Lynn
Ogryzlo, author of The
Ontario Table local cookbook created the Holiday Challenge:
your holiday gift-giving list, Farmers Feed
Cities challenges Canadians to think local when purchasing last minute
gifts. Named the 2012 Ontario Local Food Ambassador, Lynn
Ogryzlo, author of The
Ontario Table local cookbook created the Holiday Challenge:
“The average Ontario shopper intends to spend almost $700 on holiday
gifting this year. If just $70 or 10 per cent of this was spent on edible gifts
crafted from Ontario artisan producers, the economic impact would equate to
$500 million extra dollars in our Ontario food system, supporting up to 10,000
food sector jobs.”
gifting this year. If just $70 or 10 per cent of this was spent on edible gifts
crafted from Ontario artisan producers, the economic impact would equate to
$500 million extra dollars in our Ontario food system, supporting up to 10,000
food sector jobs.”
Lynn Ogryzlo has partnered with Farmers Feed Cities to share her top
five farm produced gift ideas and three steps to take to make the shopping
local process seamless.
five farm produced gift ideas and three steps to take to make the shopping
local process seamless.
Top five local gift ideas
1) Canned goodies –Share the season’s
harvest throughout the winter and give the gift of sweet and savoury preserves.
Ontario has a variety of artisanal treats like habanero jelly, spicy pickled
cauliflowers, candied garlic and more to match any hard to buy for taste buds! Check out The Bumper Crop in Toronto for an
abundant selection of sweet jams, preserves, sauces and compots.
harvest throughout the winter and give the gift of sweet and savoury preserves.
Ontario has a variety of artisanal treats like habanero jelly, spicy pickled
cauliflowers, candied garlic and more to match any hard to buy for taste buds! Check out The Bumper Crop in Toronto for an
abundant selection of sweet jams, preserves, sauces and compots.
2) Cheesy delights – Ontario has a
fantastic selection of cheeses hand-crafted from local ingredients. If you have
a cheese connoisseur on
your list, this is the perfect gift for them! Pick up creamy goat chevre
produced near Peterborough at Crosswind
Farm’s goat dairy and fromagerie. Better yet, give the gift of a farm tour
to discover how cheese is made and even milk a goat!
fantastic selection of cheeses hand-crafted from local ingredients. If you have
a cheese connoisseur on
your list, this is the perfect gift for them! Pick up creamy goat chevre
produced near Peterborough at Crosswind
Farm’s goat dairy and fromagerie. Better yet, give the gift of a farm tour
to discover how cheese is made and even milk a goat!
3) Wines divine –Niagara is home to world
class wines from stunning vineyards offering both divine local gifts and group
experiences. For the one on your
gift buying list that loves to entertain, they can wow the crowd with icewine
as dessert, or as a starter with pate. For the health conscious wine lover, gift an organic bottle
from Southbrook Vineyards along
with a container of Bioflavia, the grape skin powder with incredible health
properties.
class wines from stunning vineyards offering both divine local gifts and group
experiences. For the one on your
gift buying list that loves to entertain, they can wow the crowd with icewine
as dessert, or as a starter with pate. For the health conscious wine lover, gift an organic bottle
from Southbrook Vineyards along
with a container of Bioflavia, the grape skin powder with incredible health
properties.
4) Soy gourmet—Perfect for the chef on
your list, give the gift of gourmet soybean, sunflower and canola oils and soy
sauce while celebrating the 28,000 Ontario grain farmers. Visit Pristine Gourmet in Norfolk County
for delicious products like Extra Virgin Soy Oil, Soy Sauce, flavoured
vinegars, sparkling cider and edamame beans produced right from his fields.
your list, give the gift of gourmet soybean, sunflower and canola oils and soy
sauce while celebrating the 28,000 Ontario grain farmers. Visit Pristine Gourmet in Norfolk County
for delicious products like Extra Virgin Soy Oil, Soy Sauce, flavoured
vinegars, sparkling cider and edamame beans produced right from his fields.
5) Agriculture experiences—Ontario farmers
open the field gates and barn doors to those looking to understand more about
the food on their plate. Give the
gift of time and discovery together and visit Spring Ridge Farm for family
activities in Milton, wander the Savour Stratford Bacon & Ale
Trail with friends in Perth County or enjoy a romantic afternoon at the Savour Muskoka field
to fork event on August 12, 2013.
open the field gates and barn doors to those looking to understand more about
the food on their plate. Give the
gift of time and discovery together and visit Spring Ridge Farm for family
activities in Milton, wander the Savour Stratford Bacon & Ale
Trail with friends in Perth County or enjoy a romantic afternoon at the Savour Muskoka field
to fork event on August 12, 2013.
3 steps to buying local:
1) Research – Visit ontariofarmfresh.com for a listing of
all on-farm markets in Ontario. Make a day out of it, bundle the kids up and
let them experience life on the farm!
all on-farm markets in Ontario. Make a day out of it, bundle the kids up and
let them experience life on the farm!
2) Read labels – Look for the Foodland
Ontario logo when making your purchases, if buying wine look for VQA to
guarantee products are from our province.
Ontario logo when making your purchases, if buying wine look for VQA to
guarantee products are from our province.
3) Practice patience – Stay committed,
sometimes these options are hard to find but the majority of the food we eat
has a locally sourced option.
sometimes these options are hard to find but the majority of the food we eat
has a locally sourced option.
