Growing Ontario agriculture and food exports

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing over $7 million in approved projects through the Grow Ontario Market Initiative.

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The initiative helps Ontario agriculture and food businesses to increase their sales in domestic and foreign markets.

The five-year, $12 million initiative was launched last year through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) and is still open and accepting applications.

The Grow Ontario Market Initiative supports primary producers, food processors and industry organizations with cost-share funding to help them undertake market analysis and planning, new product development and marketing.

Some examples of projects approved for funding in the initiative’s first year include:

• Superior Bakes Inc. of Thunder Bay which will use the funding to conduct a shelf-life study and market their line of products to domestic markets.
• The Ontario Sheep Farmers will develop marketing research services to promote meat products to Ontario consumers.
• Advantage Health Matters Inc. of Toronto is marketing their existing products and increasing their exports to a new market in the United Kingdom.

Applicants can receive up to 50 per cent cost share for eligible costs, to a maximum of $60,000 per business for producers and food and beverage processors, and up to $125,000 for sector organizations.