Friday, June 5, 2015

Wine proves popular at farm markets

The Bible says a little bit of wine is good for the stomach, but it seems it’s also good for business at Ontario’s farmers’ markets.

More than $1 million of local wine has been purchased at farmers' markets in Ontario since the province started allowing those sales last year, says a report on the local food movement from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

It’s next focus will be on consumer education.

OMAFRA wants to increase the number of Ontarians who cook local foods at home, who know what local foods are available, and where and how to get them.

According to a Foodland Ontario survey, two-thirds of grocery shoppers can identify half or more of the produce grown seasonally in the province, but only about 40 per cent can name at least one product grown throughout the year in Ontario.


More than 80 per cent of shoppers could identify Ontario-grown fruits and vegetables, whereas 55 per cent could identify Ontario-produced meat.