By Brent Royce, Board Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
For more than 90 years, agriculture has made an important trek into the heart of Toronto to showcase and share Ontario’s finest at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. This year, from November 6-15, farmers, agricultural supporters, consumers, chefs and families will visit Toronto for the annual “country comes to the city” event.
The Royal has changed over the years with the industry. What has remained a constant, and becomes more important than ever, is the idea of bringing the city and country closer together for a few days. You don’t have to look very far in the news media, social media or local grocery store to be reminded how increasingly interested many consumers are in where their food comes from and how it is produced.
For many urban consumers, the Royal is the only opportunity to meet a real farmer, stand beside livestock and learn about the variety of farm produce grown in Ontario. Every year the Royal continues the tradition of introducing consumers to producers of their food and facilitating conversations about food and farming.
The educational opportunities at the Royal have really taken off in recent decades. Whether it’s young families visiting on weekends, or the thousands of school children who tour the show every year, the Royal provides a great, accessible venue for visitors to learn about what it takes to produce the fresh, healthy and nutritious food that Ontario farmers are so proud of.
This year the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) will be on hand at the Royal to support our farmers and exhibitors with sponsorship of the exhibitors’ lounge. After a full day showing off the best of Ontario and Canadian agriculture at the fair, OFA invites exhibitors to take a break in the exhibitors’ lounge.
OFA thanks all Ontario farmers who make the trip to Toronto to be ambassadors for agriculture, sharing your passion and pride for this great industry at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
For more information, contact:
Brent Royce
Board Member
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-291-8279
Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883