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Local Food First!

2012 taste•real Partnership Documents :

• Download the 2012 Partnership Application Form here.

• For more information on taste•real Partnership, click here.

• For more information about taste•real Events, click here.

• New Partners only: 2012 Local Food Map Listing Form, click here.

• Advertise on the 2012/13 Guelph Wellington Local Food Map. Download the Advertising Rate Sheet here.

• Download the 2012 Supporter Partnership Application Form here.

• Become a Program Sponsor - view the taste•real Sponsorkit here.

For more information and questions, please contact Mona.

Mona Sorensen 

T 519-837-1335  C 519-803-0750 F 519-837-1527

mona.sorensen@guelph.ca

 

 

taste•real ~ From the Ground Up is an initiative of

Guelph Wellington Local Food

Launched this past spring, taste•real is the new branding initiative of Guelph Wellington Local Food. When you see the taste•real logo, you know that you are experiencing food grown close to home! Look for the logo at farmers markets, farm gate stalls, on-farm stores, at your favourite retail outlets, restaurants and places to stay and taste real food. The  brand exists to support local businesses and farms and represents a group of people who are

passionate about the way local food is grown, prepared, presented and enjoyed, and how real it tastes!

taste•real was developed with stakeholder engagement and is built upon the many successes of promoting local food that have taken place across the region. Working together, we are growing one of the most vibrant, local food economies and food tourism destinations in Ontario.

Why Local Food First?

Because supporting the local community allows for business retention and expansion:

1. When stores are kept in business, it keeps jobs in town.

2. Money spent in your town in a local small business is spent again locally, often another five to seven times. Money spent at the big-box stores leaves town immediately and goes to the headquarters of said company.

3. You get better customer service from small businesses.  And you can say “hi”, knowing the face behind the counter, which builds customer loyalty.

4. Supporting local businesses keeps your community alive. It keeps the local economy alive which helps with local events, and local community organizations, which small businesses are more apt to sponsor and support.

5. Supporting local food and farming helps make our communities more sustainable – economically, socially, environmentally and culturally.

taste•real puts local food first by making it easy to bring to the table.

taste•real undertakes the marketing of local food initiatives, saving organizations and businesses many advertising dollars, by developing new products and marketing local farm and food businesses so that members can focus on their own product. We are laying the foundation to increase production in the area to satisfy the demand of the public sector, having recently been awarded a grant to get local food into local hospitals, day cares and schools. We are also growing culinary tourism opportunities.

In Wellington and Waterloo Counties combined, $452.5 million is spent on food. If 10% of that was spent on local food, we would see an additional $45 million spent locally. We are building connections by networking between stakeholders and establishing new partnerships to achieve this. Working closely with Guelph Tourism and the Economic Development Officers of 6 of Wellington's municipalities, together we are growing one of the most vibrant, local food economies and food tourism destinations in Ontario.

 Partnership

taste•real is driven by partnerships and its members. Partner involvement and fees will enable development and implementation of new programs that will grow your business and the region.

Guelph Wellington Local Food has a proven track record. Over the past 5 years, our initiatives have paid dividends. The Local Food Map, Local Food Fest, Rural Romp and Source It Here have reached thousands of people and increased local food awareness and purchases among citizens and businesses alike.

 

For more information about membership or the taste-real strategy contact Kate Vsetula at info@guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca or 519-821-6638 ex 335.

 

taste•real Mission

The mission of taste•real as an initiative of Guelph Wellington Local Food is to support local small businesses and farms to build stronger rural communities and grow one of the most vibrant, local food economies and food tourism destinations in Ontario.

taste•real Strategic Objectives

1. Build upon the current authentic local food network by engaging agriculture, food and tourism partners and community ambassadors.
2. Foster the creation of infrastructure and distribution networks throughout the supply chain.
3. Develop, promote and deliver innovative products, services and experiences.
4. Facilitate transfer of knowledge, skills and best practices to mobilize the strategy.

Who is involved?

View list of current Coordinating Committee 2011-2012

A group of 45 stakeholders were represented at the planning table, including representation from Wellington County and its seven Townships, and the City of Guelph. Representatives from all parts of the supply chain from farms and retail to foodservice and distribution were also involved. A key thrust of the initiative is economic development, which is supported by staff from Township Economic Development Offices, Guelph Tourism and Waterloo-Wellington Community Futures.  Other supporters with multi-sectoral vested interests include Guelph Community Health Centre, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Wellington County OFA, and the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance.  As the strategy moves forward, more and more partners are becoming involved.

This initiative just received further funding to continue with the strategy. To read about this exciting news check out the Wellington Advertiser.

To read more about the Development of this brand follow this link to an article on the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance website (OCTA).