Holland Marsh 'goes local' with Greenbelt Foundation Funding

Toronto, August 19, 2008 ─ After decades of exporting vegetables grown in one of Ontario’s most productive agricultural regions, Holland Marsh farmers are seizing the opportunity to sell their products in the local marketplace.

Today the Holland Marsh Growers Association announced that it received a $400,000 grant from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. “The Holland Marsh is the Olympics of farming,” says Foundation President Burkhard Mausberg. “The sheer volume of vegetables coming from the Greenbelt’s Holland Marsh deserves a gold medal. And this grant continues our staunch support for Greenbelt farmers.”

Renowned Toronto chef and local food advocate Jamie Kennedy has tossed up a new salad to mark this announcement using ingredients picked entirely from the Holland Marsh. “The salad showcases the taste, freshness and variety of vegetables that are growing in the Marsh,” says Kennedy. “It is rewarding to create a salad with such high quality fresh vegetables: harvested in the morning and on your plate at noon.”

Kennedy has selected artichoke hearts and romaine lettuce, complemented by coloured carrots, radishes, Italian parsley and celery root, topped with roasted beefsteak tomatoes and shallot vinaigrette. The salads are being hand-delivered to Premier Dalton McGuinty, and local MPP Julia Munro, representing the Holland Marsh.

The Holland Marsh is located in the protected Greenbelt and is home to some of the richest soils in the country. Farmer and Chair of the Holland Marsh Growers' Association Alex Makarenko says, “for decades, the Holland Marsh has been considered the crown jewel for agricultural production: it is our very own ‘salad bowl’ with over 150 Marsh farmers on nearly 10,000 acres. With the might of the Marsh behind the local food movement, we anticipate a significant shift in choices for consumers.”

“I want to thank Mr. Kennedy for developing a salad that reflects the diversity and quality the Marsh is renowned for,” added Makarenko. “We want consumers asking for products of the Holland Marsh everywhere they go – because our products have the quality, taste, and freshness they want, and come with the assurance that what we do is environmentally friendly as well.”

Vegetables will not only be grown within the Holland Marsh, but stored, processed and packaged as well, shortening the entire distribution chain, and strengthening the local economy. Local food reduces greenhouse gases, addresses the growing unease over food ripening as it spends weeks in storage and meets high food safety standards. The Association will also work with farmers to become certified by Local Food Plus, creating a distinct Holland Marsh-Local Food Plus brand.

In the past, Holland Marsh farmers have focused mostly on growing carrots, onions and celery. The new program builds on efforts that are underway to diversify crop production to meet the wider demand across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Marsh farmers are already growing more than 40 different vegetables ranging from red and green leaf lettuce, endive, celery and spinach to bok choy, Asian radishes and kohlrabi.

Other grants recently made by the Greenbelt Foundation range from supporting species restoration, to restaurant purchasing of local food, and children’s educational programming. Total amount of the recent grants, including to the Holland Marsh Growers Association, is $2,268,000. Click here for the complete list.

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For further information please contact:
- Jamie Reaume, Executive Director, Holland Marsh Growers’ Association at (905) 251-6786, jreaume -at- rogers.com
- Meredith Davis, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation at (416) 960-0001 ext. 308, mdavis -at- ourgreenbelt.ca
- Diana Crosbie, Crosbie Communications at (416) 360-6625, diana -at- crosbie.on.ca
- Jodi McBurney for Jamie Kennedy at (416) 362-1957 ext. 380

Contact information for Holland Marsh farmers available for interviews:
- Alex Makarenko, Chair, Holland Marsh Growers Association at (905) 836-3202 (mobile)
- Roman Dyriw, Board Member, Holland Marsh Growers Association at (905) 960-6467 (mobile)
- John Gorzo, Holland Marsh Farmer who provided vegetables for the salad at (905) 252-2822

Photos of the Holland Marsh are available here.
Additional photos of Jamie Kennedy preparing the salad are available here.

The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation began its work in June 2005 as an independent, charitable foundation with a mandate to promote and sustain our Greenbelt as a beneficial, valuable, and permanent feature, enhancing the quality of life for all residents of Ontario.

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Holland Marsh Salad Press Release August 19-08.pdf	375.61 KB