World Crops: An Exciting Year in Review

Early last week the Globe and Mail featured an article on the growing popularity of world crops in Canada. Recognizing Canada’s rapidly changing demographics and the $800 million market, farmers and food retailers are beginning to seize this unique business opportunity by growing and selling world crops.

Youth from three Toronto-based farm/gardening organizations joined the World Crops Project team on a trip to Albion Hills Community Farm Photo credit: Nicholas Potovszky

Greenbelt Foundation grantees are the real trailblazers of this trend. You’ve likely already heard of them, whether it was on CBC’s Here and Now, in the Toronto Star, Macleans, or at your local farmers market. They are the organizations and people behind the Foundation’s World Crops Project, including:

• The Stop Community Food Center
• Vineland Research and Innovation Centre
• Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
• and the University of Guelph’s Centre for Land and Water Stewardship

Many of these organizations are veterans on the world crops scene, and as a result have brought tremendous experience and expertise to the current project.

The World Crops Project has helped to begin to realize the potential of world crops in both rural and urban communities, as well as their ability to forge meaningful connections between the two.

Gillian Limebeer of Vineland holds a bunch of Indian red carrots Photo credit: Emily Van Halem

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has been at the center of testing world crops for their suitability on Greenbelt farms. Multiple varieties of okra, yard-long beans, Asian eggplant, round eggplant, daikon radish, Indian red carrot, tomatillo, bottle gourd, and maca have been tested. Some of these varieties were even tested on Greenbelt farms, which produced fantastic results. The results were so great that 20,280 lbs of world crops were sold through various markets, including grocery stores, good food boxes and farmers markets.

Tomatillos flourish here in Southern Ontario. They hail from Mexico and are similar to a ground cherry or small green tomato Photo credit: Emily Van Halem

Growing world crops didn’t just occur in the Greenbelt. The GTA was host to fourteen learning gardens that acted as a crucial bridge between Greenbelt-grown crops and the urban communities. Participants in these gardens reflected Toronto’s cultural diversity and were an incredible source of knowledge to the overall project. Crops that had been previously tested by Vineland – including yard long beans, okra, red and green callaloo – were chosen to be grown and tested in the urban and peri-urban learning gardens. Some of the crops were even brought to market. South Horizons Farm, located in Brampton, sold some of the world crops the produced at the Wychwood Farmers’ Market. By bringing the world crops grown in the learning gardens to a local farmers market they discovered that consumer interest in world crops was much higher than originally expected.

The World Crops team is working with The Stop on the Eat Local, Taste Global media project to create a series of short online cooking videos and a guide book on how to grow and cook with world crops. Stay tuned! Photo credit: Emily Van Halem

Another outstanding feature of the World Crops Project was the effort around community exchange and engagement. For instance, Vineland hosted three ‘Twilight Growers’ Sessions’ where farmers were invited to learn about growing world crops. The Stop hosted a dinner and discussion, where farmers had the opportunity to exchange their experiences with growing world crops. Youth were engaged through field trips to Albion Hills Community Farm where they had the opportunity explore world crops being grown in the Greenbelt. Greenbelt grown world crops were also featured in Arvinda's Indian cooking classes, and were open to the public. These events, along with many others have been extremely valuable in exposing different groups to world crops but also gaining a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges of growing, marketing and selling world crops.

If you’d like to learn more about the World Crops Project, visit the World Crops Facebook Page and World Crops blog. Alternatively, check out what you’ve missed in the news by clicking on the links below:

Macleans "Exotic Indian Reds, all the way from Ontario"

St. Catharines Standard "Vineland centre looks to crops with Carribbean, eastern flavor"

Ontario’s Own (blog) “New Things Grow in Ontario"

Hypenotic (blog) “World Crops Come to Toronto”

Ryersonian TV “Rye’s first ‘HomeGrown’ spices up Gould Street”

Toronto Star “Eat to the Beat Recipe: Pav Bhajal”

CBC Radio: Here and Now “Sarah Elton on the Harvest”

Torontoist “Wordly Veggies Take Root in Scarborough”

 

- Bronwyn Whyte, Program Officer

Student-run fine dining at Durham College's 'Bistro Max'

Last month, I was invited to experience one of Durham College’s most exciting accomplishments to date: an innovative teaching restaurant known as Bistro Max. Jointly run by the Hospitality Management and Culinary Skills Programme, this fine dining restaurant gives students hands-on experience in creating a luxurious environment in an unconventional setting. It’s currently run out of a local high school, Maxwell Heights Secondary, but you wouldn’t know it. A classroom with an adjacent kitchen has been remarkably transformed with impeccably set tables, silverware, polite servers, tantalizing scents from the kitchen and warm mood lighting. It’s easy to entirely forget the daytime function of the room.

The food, likewise, is a long way from what is traditionally served and eaten in high schools: Bistro Max serves a prix fixe menu, providing a choice between three carefully plated and freshly prepared appetizers, entrees, and desserts. I was gratified to see local, seasonal foods take centre stage on the tasteful menu. I enjoyed a warm, Asian-inspired spinach salad, a colourful local beet risotto, and a decadent crepe with fried bananas and cream (ok, the bananas weren’t local). The only reminder of the unusual location is the lack of a liquor license!

While already an impressive program in its own right, Bistro Max is only an appetizer for what is to come. A new 30,000 square-foot building, currently under construction, will be home to Bistro Max in the future. This building represents the third and final stage of Durham College’s Whitby Campus Development Project. The new space will feature a full teaching restaurant and lounge, environmentally-friendly design, and a greenhouse to teach would-be restaurateurs from seed to plate. David Chambers, President of the Durham College Foundation, shared that the College is keenly interested in working with local producers in the Durham Region and introducing students to the ever-growing world of fresh, local food.

It’s awesome to see programs like Bistro Max take off, as they support local food and farmers in their own unique way. And it’s not the only one – hospitals, daycares and your favourite restaurant are all sourcing close to home. What’s even more uplifting is that with Ontario’s Greenbelt protecting 1,100,000 acres of farmland, this local food fad is not going away.

 

- Katie Sandwell, Program Assistant for Ontariofresh.ca, a new online marketplace for growers, distributors and buyers of fresh, local food.

 

Photos and Mockup generously provided by Durham College

A Series: Dark Skies in Ontario’s Greenbelt

Part #1 Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

Tips from the Bruce Peninsula

 

Photo: Northern Lights by Ethan Meleg

Have no fear – the darkness is actually good for you. Darkness plays a vital role in our ecosystem, wildlife lifecycles and even our spirit. There is something truly inspirational about seeing the Northern Lights for the first time, or catching a glimpse of the Milky Way sparkling in the expanse above. 

Growing up in the Greenbelt, I developed a fascination for the night sky – from staring up at the stars to wanting to be one. However, now I live in Toronto and when I look up into the sky I don’t see the twinkling sky that I grew up with.

Which is why I was excited to speak with Elizabeth Thorn, Chair of the Bruce Peninsula’s Dark Sky Committee last week, and discuss the exciting Dark Sky Project they have been running over the past year in Ontario’s Greenbelt.

Carla: As the Chair of the Dark Sky Committee, it is obvious this is something you strongly believe in, why did you want to be involved?

Elizabeth: Well, my family moved to the Northern Bruce Peninsula from downtown Ottawa, and I have always been interested in environmental initiatives. One of the things that intrigued me right away was to learn that the municipality of the Northern Bruce Peninsula is a dark sky municipality. I didn’t really know exactly what that meant, but I was then introduced to the concept of the Biosphere Reserve through a presentation at the Bruce Peninsula National Park. The person that presented was the Chair of the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Reserve Association and they invited me to a meeting, given that I had experience in the environmental field when I was in Ottawa. So I went to their board meeting and they invited me to become a board member. We had spent a great deal of time understanding the scientific complexities, and the commitment it would take in the monitoring process. During planning sessions we examined what we wanted to be top of mind when people thought of sustainable living. We called together leaders in conservation and economic development and decided on a demonstration project. We wanted something organic, a sunrise concept that displayed the functions of the biosphere. We came up with many different topics but decided that preserving natural night sky – or dark sky - would be the right demonstration for the Northern Bruce Peninsula community.

Carla: The rest, as they say, is history—but what isn’t history are the continued benefits of having a dark sky. How would you explain the measurement to someone outside of the field? Say, a family member?

Elizabeth: Well I’m not a scientist, but simply put there are instruments that measure light, over time we compare the data and measure the light “pollution” and compare the data to our starting measurements.  What we found was that the Peninsula was actually already pretty dark. Click here to watch a video on measuring light

Carla: What made your committee decide to use youth in this project? I think it’s a great idea, how did you get participants?

Elizabeth: The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association has an extensive history of involving youth in our community. In fact, we are the first UNESCO School in Ontario and there are four pillars to be a UNESCO school, the environment is one of them. So, we have a long-standing history working with youth and also have two teachers on the board that helped to get youth involved. Furthermore, we have youth ecology group that has already engaged youth. We involved the youth from the very beginning, having them take baseline measurements of our sky at night using sky quality meters that measure light. An integral part of the process: we needed those original measurements to track progress – and the students were a part of every step. To find more learning groups in the area, click here. 

Carla: That’s quite inspiring - how many youth were involved?

Elizabeth: We have two to three youth working together tracking measurements at a time, however throughout the project, we have been able to involve about 15 youth in total at different times.  We hope to be able to continue this project with the construction of a dark sky viewing deck.

Photo: Milky Way by Doug Cunningham

Carla: I read that you introduced an incentive program to help people make changes in their homes that support a dark sky. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Elizabeth:  Sure, we understood that although people care about the dark sky, in these fiscally sensitive times, not everyone could afford to go out and get new light fixtures. So we created a rebate program for those that participated.

Carla: What has been your experience with community reaction so far?

Elizabeth: It has been quite positive. We started with an in-home educational program that let people in the community know why dark skies are so important to our ecosystem and provided a resource to find dark-sky friendly lighting fixtures that was put together by our committee, specifically, Rod Steinacher.

Carla: Is there anything else that you would like to share?

Elizabeth: Yes, I want to thank the people that provided the means to start the project. Without funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ridgewood Capital Asset Management, and Scotia Private Equity Group, none of this would have been possible.

So for all those that fear the darkness, not to worry, you can still sleep with your nightlight and be eco-friendly by using products that face down and therefore reduce light pollution. It’s also a great way to light the floor and keep monsters hiding under the bed where they belong.

If you’re reading this and want to start a Dark Sky Project in your community but don’t know where to start, contact the Northern Bruce Peninsula Dark Sky Committee, they are ready and willing to share best practices and tested methodologies with those that want to learn.

Look for Part II of our Dark Sky Blog series in the new year, where we will hear more from the Northen Bruce Peninsula’s Dark Sky Committee and dig deeper into the experiences they had with this Greenbelt project. Click here to learn more reasons why dark skies are so important. 

--Carla Balabanowicz, Communications Coordinator

 

 

 

If a Christmas tree falls in the forest - the Hortons will hear it and plant two more

White Pine, the Christmas tree I have always coveted. Soft, willowy, delicate - it's finally stuffed in my trunk to haul home for the holidays.

Hortons Tree Farms, located in and around Stouffville, has great tree choices – the bold and beautiful Scotch Pine is perfect for large homes, my smaller White Pine great for inner-city dwellers. The hardy northlander White Spruce is a familiar sight to Ontario campers hiking the Canadian Shield, the Balsam Fir portrays the dark green forests of New Brunswick and the Douglas Fir is as imposing as the province of British Columbia from which it most famously hails. Don’t worry, all these trees are native to Ontario too. 

 Brian Horton, like his father, is a Forester. He tells me the family's tree farms are one of the first cut-your-own operations in Ontario and that these lands have been farmed since before Confederation - that’s 1867. I can believe it as his Magic Hill Tree Farm I visited is a down-to-earth operation, rustic, friendly, with hot cider and a fire pit. And yes, mum did knit that hat that Brian is sporting. While we were there it even snowed, which my 3-year old thought was fantastic until it went down the back of his neck.

Brian Horton, one of three brothers continuing the tree farm family business

Tree farms have always mystified me. Open for a month or two each year families leave with trees that owners like the Hortons have invested 7-20 years in. But with lots of acres to rotate plantings and cuttings (30,000 trees on 300 acres for the Hortons) its works. And beyond providing local jobs to students during summer pruning, Brian and three generations of his family have turned their lands into conservation areas providing ecological goods and services to their community such as erosion control and habitat for wildlife. When I visited we signed petitions to increase protection of the Oak Ridges Moraine, an important geological water resource which helps ensures millions in this region have a clean water source.

Earthroots team Nikos Kapetaneas, John Wilson and Tanzil Islam, collecting signatures to increase protection for the Oak Ridges Moraine. And drinking a cup of cider or two.

Because my White Pine is probably at least 10 years old, I will make sure to extend its life this year by leaning it against the house in the backyard for birds to nest and maybe stop that draft in my kitchen from poor inslutation. I also hear that conservation groups use ex-Christmas trees in lakes to provide hiding spots for young fish to increase their survival rates. And of course, your town or city will pick up your tree to chip’em and spread them around parks and boulevards improving the soils and health of local trees and plants.

If you missed a visit to Hortons this Christmas season, they will be there next year. Better yet, the Hortons maple syrup operations open March 10, 2012! Pancakes included.

 

- Shelley Petrie, Program Director

It Takes All Kinds - A Daytrip into the Ganny

As someone who grew up on the banks of the Ganaraska River, these coat hooks invoke a surprising amount of nostalgia for me. See the grating on the concrete floor? Many a winter, I stood crammed in with my fellow classmates, peeling off 200 layers of snow gear, trying (and failing) to avoid getting my socks thoroughly soaked. We would proceed to cover ourselves in hot glue as we made pinecone Christmas trees and wreaths. We would walk steadily around a long table, dipping strings into a vat of melted beeswax to make tapered candles.

Fellow Port Hopians know exactly what I am writing about. The Ganaraska Forest stands tall in our childhoods. So I wasn’t sure what to expect when my co-worker Katie Sandwell and I travelled down last weekend to check it out. Would it stand up to the test of time, or would the trip shatter my illusions?

I can honestly say that I was blown away. Located on the Oak Ridges Moraine and in Ontario's Greenbelt, the Ganaraska Forest is HUGE at 11,000 acres. And there is so much going on. In fact, it is the largest multi-use forest in all of Southern Ontario. What does multi-use mean? Well…

Do you love hiking? Hunting? Horseback riding? ATVing?

Mushroom foraging, cross-country skiing, dirt biking, snowmobiling, tree-top climbing? Perhaps you need a picturesque wedding locale, weekend retreat or conference centre?

There is literally something for everyone. And the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority wants to keep it that way.

There is a real community around the Ganaraska Forest. It seems their whole operation is built on partnerships. The snowmobile club maintains their trails. The horseback riders built their own paddock. Treetop Trekking has leased a few acres to run their courses. As the Forest Centre is primarily an educational facility, school groups get first dibs on day trips and weekend sleepovers at discounted rates.

A gorgeous still of a milkweed pod adorns the teachers lounge/wedding suite.

Hand hewn bunks from Ganaraska Forest pine for the youngsters

This forest is also a working forest. Pine plantations make up 50% of the 11,000 acres. The first European settlers cleared the old growth to eek out a farm-living. Unfortunately for them, the soil proved too sandy for any sort of farming, and so they proceeded to plant pine trees which are well-suited to the sandy, gravelly soils of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

These trees became masts for tall ships, and to this day the forest is one of the largest sources of utility poles for Ontario. While maintaining a high-functioning forestry sector, the plantations are being converted back to natural forests through the process of selective thinning and harvesting. There is no replanting, as the GRCA allows new tree growth to occur naturally.

As an avid hunter, Shayne doesn’t have to go far to find his community.

Of course, when you have so many different people utilizing the forest in a hundred different ways, there is bound to be conflict (think a biker coming up a bit too fast on a horse.) But Shayne Pilgrim, our intrepid tour guide and Forest Centre Technician, said that this is what he loves most. He meets and works with people from so many backgrounds and perspectives, that there is never a boring day. These users have a stake in the forest – ATVer’s, hikers and hunters alike would do anything to keep it pristine.

The GRCA is proving that the Greenbelt is meant to be experienced, not just looked at, and it can be done in a sustainable way. You can have forestry, a very active mountain biking group (Paul’s Dirty Enduro is one of the biggest events of the year with proceeds going to CMHA), as well as white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and an aquifer that supports salmon and native brook trout.

Check out this slideshow of some of the GFC's stuffed animals used for children's education programs. They have one of almost every type of waterfowl in Ontario.

Do you recognize this plant? I remember walking along this same creek with those same classmates. Our guide, who seemed ten feet tall, leaned over, picked a few bright leaves of watercress and gave them to me. ‘Spicy,’ I thought. It was the first time I had eaten anything off the ground that wasn’t candy.

Katie likes it, too!

These memories are all very tactile, very sensory. The smells of pine and beeswax, the sound of crunching snow and stamping boots on grates, the taste of weird and wonderful things, the joy and challenge of doing something new. This is part of the magic they have created. If the Ganaraska Forest is so vivid in my imagination, how must it be for thousands of other kids?

As cliché as it may sound, I can't wait to get back to the Ganny to create new memories for myself and my family. I suggest you do, too.

 

- Emma "Moe" Berrigan, Communications Assistant

 

The Great ENGO Holiday Bake-Off – so good my stomach still hurts!

 

Last week I had the opportunity to be a judge at the first, and hopefully annual “Great ENGO (Environmental Non-Governmental Organization) Holiday Bake-Off”. Let me begin by saying that these groups – including Environmental Defence, David Suzuki Foundation, and Ecojustice – approach baking with the same determination, integrity, and enthusiasm as they do towards their respective causes. These groups were going face-to-face with the title of “Bake-Off Champ” at stake, it was intense. You can imagine the pressure of judging the work – in this case the baked goods – of these organizations. Thankfully I didn’t have to go it alone, as Pheonix Plessas and Meredith Hayes were my co-judges.

Pheonix Plessas, also know Penelope is probably Ontario’s youngest (8 years old), most influential politician. Pheonix (Penelope) was at the centre of Environmental Defence’s provincial-election publicity campaign this past year, ensuring Ontarians knew about environmental issues leading up to the 2011 election. 

Meredith Hayes works at FoodShare. She’s also a bit of a celebrity around these parts, especially in her work to include food literacy as an essential piece in Ontario’s curriculum. You probably recognize her from Eat-In Ontario, the Great Big Crunch or other fantastic initiatives led by FoodShare. With a team of judges like this I knew we were up to the challenge, and was confident we could make the right choice. But geeeeze it sure wasn’t easy.

We were faced with eleven holiday goodies with all the usual suspects present, including cheesecakes, brownies, cupcakes, whoopie pies, cakes and tarts. To be honest I tend to be biased towards cookies and squares, but there were certainly a few items on the table that made me questions my ‘standard’ desert choices. We slowly made our way down the table, critically reviewing each bake good based on its appearance, festiveness, creativity and yumminess. Once we tested each item at least once – we came back to a few of them for seconds, perhaps not the best idea – we deliberated to the board room to decide our top three. 

To make sure our selection process was transparent and fair, we enlisted the help of our advisory committee Owain and Zachary Smith. As you can see from their faces, they are both experienced champion desert eaters. They helped us narrow down our top 4 choices, the Lindser Torte (a timeless classic), the Red Velvet Whoopie Pies (messy yet amazing), the chocolate Ganache Cake (blue icing with snowflakes – so beautiful), and the cream cheese filled cupcakes with orange cream cheese icing topped with oil-soaked Peter Kent gingerbread man (a true masterpiece of creativity and deliciousness.) The decision was excruciating, but in the end only one came out with a perfect score. 

Employees of all three organizations gathered around as we were about to announce the winner. Teeth were grinding, nails had been bitten down to their cuticles, and the tension in the room was palpable. We announced 3^rd and 2^ndplace, the Lindser Torte and the Red Velvet Whoopie Pies. We left Pheonix to announce the winner of the bake-off (this was somewhat strategic – you can’t get mad at a sweet, 8-year old). Pheonix could not leave the crowd in suspense any longer and announced that the winner of the first Great ENGO Holiday Bake-Off was the Peter Kent Cupcake created by Aviva Friedman of Environmental Defence. Not only did Aviva and Environmental Defence walk away with the one-of-a-kind, gold-studded apron, but they gained some sweet bragging rights for at least another year.

 1 of 2

 

 

It was a great evening to be a part of. Despite being a group of fierce competitors there was lots of festive cheer in the air, including a DIY eggnog booth. Thanks to Shiloh Bouvette of Environmental Defence for asking me to help judge the competition. I certainly had enough sugar in me to bike home in record time. 

 

Surviving Progress in the Greenbelt

Last week I went to see the film adaptation of Ronald Wright’s book and Massey Lecture series, A Short History of Progress. It is titled Surviving Progress, and is a Canadian-funded movie with a few familiar faces. The timing is somewhat ideal for this film to open with the recent successes and stumbling blocks of the Occupy movement and the climate change talks in Durban.

Since A Short History of Progress is on my reading list, I can't make any direct comparisons between book and film, but overall I would say the film elicits a powerful message. It’s a message most are familiar with, that we need to reevaluate our measures of success.

Success is not defined by money and power.

Surviving Progress looks at several factors that are contributing to our ‘progress trap.’ One is nature and our natural capital. Nature has been consistently undervalued throughout history and considered a means to make money (think deforestation), as opposed to providing things clean air, water and healthy ecosystems.

Right here in the Greenbelt we have 1.8 million acres of natural capital. In dollars and cents, it saves Ontarians 2.6 billion in taxes because the Greenbelt cleans our water and air, protects wildlife habitat, controls the climate and provides food. We have learned from global mistakes in nature, but we certainly aren’t doing enough to protect what nature provides.

Our natural resources are the key mechanisms for our survival. We must continue to protect and grow the healthy green spaces that we are fortunate to have.

So this holiday season when you are thinking about presents for loved ones, consider investing in the future of our green spaces:

Contribute to Your Local Conservation Authority

 Central Lake Ontario Conservation
www.cloca.com

Conservation Halton
www.conservationhalton.on.ca

Credit Valley Conservation Authority
www.creditvalleycons.com

Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
www.grca.on.ca

Grand River Conservation Authority
www.grandriver.ca

Grey Sauble Conservation Authority
www.greysauble.on.ca

Hamilton Conservation Authority
www.conservationhamilton.ca

Kawartha Conservation
www.kawarthaconservation.com

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
www.lsrca.on.ca

Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
www.conservation-niagara.on.ca

Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
www.nvca.on.ca

Otonabee Conservation
www.otonabee.com

Toronto and Region Conservation
www.trca.on.ca

 

 

- Julienne Spence, Acting Communications Director

 

Oliver’s Garden Project

Q&A with Oliver Allen-Cillis

Piper & Oliver at the Ottawa St. Farmers' Market 

Oliver Allen-Cillis loves his garden-- and vegetables for that matter. When asked, he had a hard time naming a vegetable that he didn’t like. A refreshingly unusual predicament for a seven year old.

Located in downtown Hamilton Ontario, the project started a year ago and has become a sort of passion project for the compassionate grade-schooler. Deciding to donate 100% of proceeds made from sales at the Ottawa Street Farmers’ Market, Oliver along with his 5-year-old sister Piper, spent their weekends selling a variety of tomatoes and peppers for a good cause. With the news of a grant available for urban gardening projects by Nature’s Path Organics, the Allen-Cillis’ saw an opportunity to grow the garden that the whole family had grown to love.

With a goal of helping youth charities, Oliver’s Garden was awarded the top prize of $20,000.00. The Allen-Cillis’ plan to continue helping youth with the new funds. I had the chance to sit down and speak with Mr. Oliver Allen-Cillis one evening last week

Oliver in his garden

 

Toronto's Gourmet Food and Wine Expo 2011

The most exciting thing for me about the annual Food and Wine Expo is the FOOD. The problem is, I recently started a no-dairy diet. That’s right. I have cut out all of things that go best with wine. No cheese. No chocolate. I had a few Charlie Brown moments, but I was determined to go anyway and try not to cheat (maybe just one bite of cheese wouldn’t be so bad!)

Fortunately, there was so much to eat that I didn’t have to break my diet. With kobe beef burgers, sushi, pulled pork and mashed potato parfaits, and oysters, the choices were endless. With my belly full of delicious food, I was ready to taste all the different wines.

There were wineries from all over the world, but one of the busiest exhibits was Wine Country Ontario. They exclusively featured wines made from 100% Ontario-grown grapes. I was happy to taste some of my favourite Greenbelt wineries such as 20 Bees, Henry of Pelham, Stoney Ridge, Coyote’s Run and Lailey Vineyard.

 

That’s what I love about the Food and Wine Expo. You get the chance to taste and try it all without needing a shopping cart to bring it all home (and waking up with a brutal hangover after such a ridiculous idea.) Ontario has a lot to choose from, given that we have 80% of all the vineyards in Canada. The Greenbelt itself is home to 90% of them, and many are winning awards and devout followers.

Beyond deliciousness, a litre of wine produced with Ontario Greenbelt grapes contributes almost $4 to the provincial economy. A litre of imported wine, on the other hand, only gives us 46 cents. This is why I believe supporting local whenever and wherever possible. You get tasty, quality wine and support your local economy all at the same time.

If you are not much of a wine drinker, there were also many Ontario breweries to check out – Mill Street Organic, Amsterdam Beer, Beau’s All Natural, Creemore Springs, among others. I find it hard to pick my favourite. What is yours?

With almost 200 exhibitors, celebrity guests on the Food Network stage, and tutored tasting sessions, there was no shortage of things to see, taste and do, despite my dietary restrictions. I can’t wait until next year.

 

-- Amy Chan, Project Coordinator

 

More Holiday Gift Ideas from the Greenbelt

Check out some more highlights from our Greenbelt Holiday Gift Guide (click the link for the full list and more photos.)

Ontario Leathers from Hide In Hand

Stay toasty and stylish from hand to toe this winter with leather goods from Ontario. Hides in Hands handstitches gloves, moccasins, hobo bags and fur hats with leather procured from hunters across the Greenbelt and Ontario. Visit www.hidesinhand.com for more beautiful products.

Intimate Cooking Demo in the Greenbelt’s Wine Country 

In the true spirit of farm-to-table, the Good Earth Food and Wine Co. uses the freshest local produce from in and around the Greenbelt. Learn from some of Ontario’s best chefs, enjoy the convivial atmosphere and come away with a complimentary bottle of wine. $135.00 for the entire experience. www.goodearthfoodandwine.com

c/o Quizative

Upper Canada Cheese Company

Did you know that Comfort Cream, Niagara Gold and Guersney Girl are all local cheeses? And they are right at your fingertips from Niagara creamery, Upper Canada Cheese. Find out where to purchase a selection of local cheeses to share at your holiday party by visiting www.uppercanadacheesecompany.com  or calling (905) 562-9730.

Dutchman’s Gold Greenbelt Wildflower Honey 

Give something sweet with this full-bodied bouquet of Golden Rod, Aster and late summer wildflowers, all grown in the Greenbelt. Buy online, at your local Longos, Sobeys or health food store for $10.79 for a 1kg jar, or take a trip to their 30 year-old apiaries in Carlisle, near the city of Burlington. www.dutchmansgold.com