Markham’s local food policy is making a difference

April 5, 2011

Ontario’s Local Food Champions report recognizes Markham Ontario as being the first municipality in Ontario to develop a local food policy. Highlights of the policy include:
• Cutting edge food service model bringing more Ontario food into a municipally run cafeteria
• In 2008 Markham committed to procuring no less than 10 per cent Local Food Plus (LFP) certified Ontario food in the municipal cafeteria, with a target of five per cent yearly increases
• By 2010 over 30 per cent of food procurement was LFP certified, Canada’s only local sustainable food certification
• Based on Markham’s success other municipalities, such as Halton Region, are implementing similar food procurement policies