Farm and Food Care Ontario is getting over half-a-million dollars from the province to help fund outreach initiatives over the next three years.

The announcement came at the FFCO annual conference in Elora on Thursday.

Agriculture Minister Lisa Thompson was the organization’s kick-off speaker for FFCO’s first in-person conference in two years.

The new funding will be put towards supporting five of the organization’s activities, all designed to raise awareness and appreciation of Ontario farmers and food producers.

The funding will support:
FFCO’s Breakfast on/from the Farm events, a unique and personal experience for non-farming Ontarians to visit and explore agriculture with working farmers each year;
Farm tours for culinary students which allow them to learn about raising livestock and horticultural products they prepare in the kitchen;
Interviews, photography, and videography work showcasing the critical work that seasonal agricultural workers and temporary foreign workers do in Ontario for the More than a Migrant Worker initiative;
The Garden in a Box program that connects home gardeners with Ontario farmers;
Numerous digital consumer outreach activities including virtual field trips highlighting the diversity of farms and food processing facilities to consumers.

Bonnie den Haan is the FFCO’s chair and says the funding is a huge show of support from the provincial government for the work they do.