RAIN, the Rural Agri-Innovation Network, a division of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, is now ready to present its North-Central Food & Agriculture Market Study at three Farm to Table Forums in Algoma, Manitoulin and Sudbury.
In 2018, local partners and RAIN contracted Harry Cummings & Associates Inc. to get a snapshot of local food purchases from the perspectives of food service, retailers, processors, food programs and producers in Algoma, Manitoulin and Sudbury. The study asked:
- What interest do businesses and organizations have in locally grown food?
- What are the pros and cons of buying locally grown food?
- What food items are businesses and organizations buying?
- What are the challenges and opportunities for the producer?
The study is now ready to be presented to the community and the food & farm enterprises and organizations that participated.
Algoma Farm to Table Forum
Tuesday March 19th 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Bruce Mines Community Hall 9180 Hwy 17 E. Bruce Mines
RAIN and the Huron North Community Economic Alliance invite the Algoma community to hear the results of the study and network with other enterprises. It will be an opportunity to hear about successes in marketing Algoma food in the region. Algoma producers, processors, restaurants, lodges and food programs are encouraged to attend the Algoma Farm to Table Forum. The Forum will include a panel presentation on local food purchasing (from the retail perspective) and a presentation on an online platform for selling local food, vendors, opportunities for networking, and a complementary lunch. For more information and to RSVP, please contact David Thompson by March 14th for the Algoma event at: dthompson@ssmic.com705-942-7927 x3027. Registration for the Algoma Forum is available online on: Eventbrite. Event sponsored by Algoma Cattlemen’s, Algoma Federation of Agriculture, CDC of SSM, East Algoma CFDC, FedNor and OMAFRA.
Manitoulin Farm to Table Forum
Monday March 25th 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.)
NEMI Recreation Centre 9001 Ontario 6 Little Current, ON
The LaCloche Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation (LAMBAC) & the Wikwemikong Development Commission (WDC) invite you to an interactive forum on food marketing. The forum will include a presentation on the results of the Study as well as a panel discussion with food & farm enterprises having success marketing food from the region, including: Max Burt (Burt Farms), Rose Diebolt (Garden’s Gate Restaurant), Aline Taillefer (The Island Jar) and Linda Willson (Our Garden). This opportunity for networking includes refreshments and participants need to RSVP by Thursday March 21st. For more info contact David Thompson dthompson@ssmic.com 705-942-7927 x3027
Forum registration is available online at Eventbrite. Event sponsored by LAMBAC, FedNor, OMAFRA and Wikwemikong Development Commission.
Sudbury Farm to Table Forum
Wednesday March 27th 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (doors open 12:30 p.m.)
Steelworkers Union Hall & Conference Centre 66 Brady St. Sudbury
The
Rural Agri-Innovation Network, City of Greater Sudbury and Local Food
& Farm Co-ops invite you to an interactive forum on food marketing.
The forum will include a presentation on the results of the Study as
well as a panel discussion with food & farm enterprises having
success marketing food from the region. This opportunity for networking
includes refreshments and participants need to RSVP by Thursday March
21st. For more info contact David Thompson dthompson@ssmic.com
705-942-7927 x3027. Forum registration is available online at Eventbrite. Event sponsored by City of Greater Sudbury, FedNor, Local Food & Farm Co-ops and OMAFRA.
RAIN’s mandate is to build a strong farm and food sector in Northern Ontario through initiatives like the North-central Food and Agriculture Market Study with support from partners and farmers.
With RAIN, the following partners identified a need to undertake a study to better understand the regional market to increase regional food production, processing and purchasing: Bruce Mines Agricultural Society, City of Greater Sudbury, Community Development Corporation of SSM and Area, East Algoma CFDC, LAMBAC CFDC, Little Thessalon Farm, Local Food & Farm Co-ops, Mill Market, Mississauga First Nation, Northern Policy Institute, Thessalon First Nation, Wikwemikong Development Commission.