be a locavore

eat food harvested close to home, enjoy fresh & tasty ontario bounty all year round.

Did you know that over 40% of all produce available in Canada is imported, including fruits and vegetables that grow in Canada¹?!

So instead of buying produce that has traveled thousands of miles, why not spend our money on foods that have been grown locally, are tastier, fresher and benefit our provincial economy?

When we buy local food, we are supporting local growers and sustainable farming practices; we eat foods that are better for us, the environment, and more importantly our taste buds! All that good stuff while we help reduce food miles (therefore pollution) and packaging waste.

At RFRK, sourcing local, sustainably grown food has always been a priority.

We care about the quality of our food and where it comes from, and we know you do too!

Nurturing good relationships with our suppliers also means better traceability. It allows for transparency along the value chain from “farm to fork” and enables us to know where our foods come from, how they were farmed and transported, what goes into them, and who plays what role along the way.  

Partnering with trusted local producer partners enables us to create products with specific ingredients and nutritional guardrails that are aligned with our mission, values, and promise.

From fruits and vegetables to cheese curds, granola, organic turkey, beef, yogurt, and more!
Kids can dig into local food year-round!

In a nutshell*, this is why we choose locally and sustainably grown food, and why you should too:

• They are fresher, better-tasting, longer-lasting, and more nutritious
• They preserve agricultural land and open spaces
• They help sustain a diverse, resilient food system and encourages new generations to start farming
• They keep our money in the local economy, helping to maintain robust local communities
• When we know our farmers, we know where our food comes from and how it was produced

*RFRK is nut-free, the only nuts we use are in blog post idioms!

Of course, when it comes to locally produced goods, we’re not the only ones at the table… With over 3,000 food and beverage processing businesses in Ontario, our provincial agri-food sector is a massive economic force, generating more than $63 billion in annual sales².

There’s a lot going on to ensure that food and locally made products are accessible to families throughout Ontario. In fact, The Ontario Greenbelt has established the Local Food Investment Fund for farmers and producers. By providing investments to fuel sustainable agriculture, more local food gets onto people’s plates.

Greenbelt Fund grants help increase:

• market access for farmers
• the amount of local food purchased by institutions like hospitals and universities
• food literacy and awareness

how we can all support sustainable & locally grown food

At RFRK, we do our best to provide your little ones with local produce and products throughout our seasonal menus, but enjoying local food doesn’t have to end there. Here are fun ways for your family to enjoy Ontario food all year round:

• Show love for all things grown and made in Ontario during Local Food Week (annually during the first week of June): Lots of seasonal fruits and veggies like cherries, rhubarb, cucumber, mushrooms, lettuce, peas, radish, sweet potatoes, and more are at the peak of freshness! Visit your local farmer’s market, choose Ontario grown foods at your neighbourhood supermarket, cook delicious meals (look for the Foodland logo) and eat out at one of over 100 Feast ON restaurants.
• Discover the bounty of Ontario:Take a bite out of Ontario Tourism through guided farm tours, vineyard visits, and weekend getaways in the countryside. The Culinary Tourism Alliance is a great resource for planning your next family trip!
• Pick up groceries at your local Farmer’s’ Market: It’s easy to purchase locally grown food thanks to the accessibility of Ontario grown and made products. Whether you live in downtown Toronto or a small community outside of the big city, the Toronto Farmer’s Markets Network and Farmers’ Markets Ontario are helpful websites for locating a market close to you!
• Figure out what’s in season:We all know that good things grow in Ontario but if you want to ensure you’re getting our province’s freshest and tastiest produce, browse the Foodland Ontario Availability Guide. Their website has tons of recipes and nutrition info too!
• Become a CSA member: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an easy way for families to directly access and support nutritious farm products. Seasonal orders are typically delivered weekly to a convenient pick-up location and include products like fresh produce, eggs, cheese, and poultry. Check out the Ontario CSA Farm Directory for farm information and products availability.
• Learn more about the benefits of the Ontario Greenbelt:Ontario’s Good Fortune report provides an updated assessment of the value of natural capital in Ontario’s Greenbelt region. It also shows how you directly benefit from this protected agricultural land and green space.

How does your family support local food?