NEWS RELEASE
JIM WILSON, MPP FOR SIMCOE-GREY
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Yesterday, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson recognized Samir Omari, Store Manager, and Darlene Ferguson, Produce Manager and the Sobeys Collingwood team on behalf of Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, for their outstanding commitment to Ontario’s local food industry by presenting them with a Platinum Award for their outstanding display and promotion of Ontario local food.
“As we celebrate Ontario Agriculture this week, I am thrilled to be recognizing Sobeys Collingwood with a 2018 Foodland Ontario Retailer Award,” said Wilson. “This acknowledgement is a tribute to the store’s strong relationship with local growers and offering fresh, home-grown foods to the many customers they serve. As MPP for Simcoe-Grey, I am proud to thank Sobeys Collingwood for their support of local growers, local jobs and our local agricultural community.”
The annual Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards are the produce industry’s premier competition for excellence in retail display and promotion in support of local Ontario foods. Retailers enter seasonal display contests which run from mid-April to November. In 2018, over 4,250 entries were submitted with almost 6,000 photos of compelling displays featuring fresh Ontario produce.
“Congratulations Sobeys Collingwood for creating award-winning displays that showcase Ontario’s fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables,” said Minister Hardeman. “Thank you for taking pride in building creative and innovative displays that encourage shoppers to take home the good things that grow in Ontario.”
Ontario is home to almost 46,900 farms that grow more than 200 agricultural commodities. Ontario’s agri-food sector supports more than 837,000 jobs in our province and contributes more than $47.5 billion each year to the province’s economy.
Quick Facts
- For a list of the 2018 Retailer Award winners, visit Foodland Ontario’s website.
- Ontario has one of the most diverse agri-food industries in Canada, producing more than 200 commodities, such as greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, asparagus, berries, tender fruit, and apples.
- For more than 40 years, Foodland Ontario has connected with families on how to recognize, prepare and enjoy locally grown foods.
- To know when all your local fruits and vegetables are in season, visit Foodland Ontario’s Availability Guide.
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