Foodservice

What is Homegrown Ontario?

In 2006 the Ontario Pork Producers’ Marketing Board (OPPMB), the Ontario Veal Association (OVA) and the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency (OSMA) came together to form Homegrown Ontario. In January 2008 and May 2008 respectively, Turkey Farmers of Ontario (TFO) and the Ontario Independent Meat Processors (OIMP) joined the Homegrown Ontario program. Collectively, they have a common goal: To brand and promote Ontario meat and poultry.

An Ipsos Reid* study shows that consumers are eager to support Ontario farmers and the local economy by choosing meat and poultry produced in Ontario. Homegrown Ontario promises to help make it easier for consumers to identify Ontario meat products at their local retailer and foodservice establishment with an eye-catching logo featuring a red barn with a trillium in the centre. This emblem is a testament to the quality meat and poultry produced by Ontario’s farmers and processors.

Where are Homegrown Ontario products offered?

Many foodservice establishments already offer Ontario produced meat and poultry. However, with the new Homegrown Ontario program the product will now be clearly identified with the Homegrown Ontario logo. A full list of Homegrown Ontario suppliers can be found here.

How is Homegrown Ontario funded?

Homegrown Ontario has been made possible by the Ontario farmers who produce pork, veal, lamb and turkey and are members of OPPMP, OVA, OSMA and TFO. The meat and poultry processors, packers and retail members of the OIMP have also contributed to the program. Funded in part byAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Adaptation Council’s CanAdvance Program and through the provincial government, the Homegrown Ontario initiative promises to get consumers excited about supporting Ontario farmers and processors.

How to contact Homegrown Ontario?

For more information about the program, please contact:

Cara Epp / Katarina Markovinovic
Homegrown Ontario c/o Faye Clack Communications, Inc.
170 Robert Speck Parkway, Mississauga, ON L4Z 3G1
T. 905-206-0577 ext. 230 / 222
Email: cepp@fayeclack.com / kmarkovinovic@fayeclack.com

Who is Homegrown™ Ontario?

As members of Homegrown Ontario, the Ontario Pork Producers' Marketing Board, the Ontario Veal Association, the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency and Turkey Farmers of Ontario represent their respective members - the farmers who produce Ontario pork, veal, lamb and turkey. Ontario Independent Meat Processors represents Ontario meat and poultry processors, retailers and wholesalers, suppliers to the industry.

Ontario Pork represents the 2,800 hog farmers in the province. The Ontario Veal Association is a producer organization that represents Ontario's 450+ grain fed and milk fed veal producers. The Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency (OSMA) is a producer-run organization representing 4,200 sheep producers in the province of Ontario. The Turkey Farmers of Ontario (TFO) is a producer-run organization that represents

189 turkey farmers in Ontario. The Ontario Independent Meat Processors (OIMP) is a non-profit organization representing the interests of 150 meat and poultry processors, packers and retailers across Ontario.