Guides to Greenbelt 'Food From Home'

Because everyone deserves access to fresh “food from home”, TEA has launched a campaign to help Torontonians from diverse cultural communities to access fresh, cultural “food from home” grown by farmers near the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in the Greenbelt.

The “Greenbelt Food from Home” guides that are being developed by TEA highlight farmers and Toronto retailers selling Greenbelt-grown produce that is meeting the needs of an increasing variety of cultures. The first two guides have identified points of sale of where local produce for Chinese and South Asian residents, two of Toronto’s largest cultural groups, can be found. The second series of guides will highlight the points of sale of Greenbelt grown food that meets the needs of the African and Caribbean communities.

The guides will be distributed widely and provide a great marketing opportunity for retailers wanting to attract culturally diverse customers by offering fresh, local, environmentally-friendly produce.

Why eat Greenbelt-grown "Food From Home"?

      It’s fresh and flavourful and tastes like how you remember it tasted back home. The Greenbelt supplies an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruit. Because it doesn’t need to be shipped long distances, produce can be harvested when it’s fully ripe and it tastes the way it should taste.

      It protects our beautiful countryside and supports our farming neighbours. Many new Canadians moved to Toronto to enjoy the healthy, green countryside surrounding us. Buying Greenbelt-grown foods directly supports local farmers and keeps our countryside healthy.

      It creates local jobs for our communities. Buying Greenbelt food from home creates local jobs in agriculture and food processing. And who better to grow food from home than those who grew it back home?

      It protects the environment. When you buy food from half way around the world, it creates pollution getting here. Transportation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada! More Greenbelt-grown food in local markets means no airplane trips and less truck trips to deliver fresh, tasty food to our dinner plates.

If you know of anyone who sells locally-grown “food from home” or have suggestions for the food guides please contact Asumani Serugendo at: (416) 596-0660 or asumani@torontoenvironment.org

Links:

Greenbelt Food From Home Guides in the media

Find local 'food from home' resources