By Clint Cameron
Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
This week is Ontario Agriculture Week, leading us into Thanksgiving – one of the most food-focused times of the year. It’s a perfect reminder of just how much our province has to be thankful for when it comes to agriculture and food.
Ontario farmers grow and raise more than 200 different food and farm products. That’s an incredible depth and breadth of diversity that few other places in the world can match. It means we’re fortunate to enjoy a wide variety of locally grown and raised food and beverages right here at home, no matter what season it is.
Ontario’s agricultural story stretches across the entire province. In northern Ontario, livestock and crop farms supply beef, pork, lamb, and grains to local and regional markets. Eastern Ontario is well known for its dairy and poultry farms. Apple orchards in midwestern and central Ontario are bursting with crisp, sweet fruit at this time of year.
Southern Ontario has long been the heart of fruit, vegetable, and grape production — think tender fruit in Niagara and along the Lake Erie shore, tomatoes and peppers in Chatham-Kent, greenhouses in Leamington, and the world-class wine industry those grapes support.
Whether it’s maple syrup from Lanark County, wild blueberries from Sudbury, or pumpkins from Norfolk, every corner of the province contributes something unique to Ontario’s harvest.
Agriculture isn’t just about what ends up on your plate, though. It’s also a powerful economic engine.
Our province’s agri-food sector contributes more than $51 billion to the provincial economy every year and supports over 867,000 jobs. Farming businesses don’t stand alone – they connect to food processors, transporters, retailers, farm suppliers, equipment dealers, and countless others.
That’s why we like to say that everyone in Ontario is part of agriculture. You might not milk cows or drive a tractor, but if you work in a food plant, drive a truck, stock grocery store shelves, serve a meal in a restaurant, or simply sit down to enjoy breakfast, you are part of the food system that agriculture makes possible.
One of the best ways to connect with Ontario agriculture is to meet the people who grow your food. This year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), where I’m part of the provincial board of directors, once again partnered with Farmers’ Markets Ontario to help markets across the province promote their farmer vendors.
Following a successful launch year in 2024 with $50,000 of funding from OFA that was matched by the 28 markets who participated, 14 new and 20 returning markets took part in the 2025 program to strengthen connections between farmers and Ontarians.
Visiting a farmers’ market is a chance to ask questions, try something new, and build a direct relationship with the people who produce your food. It’s also a great way to support small businesses and keep food dollars circulating in local communities.
Ontario Agriculture Week is about recognizing the care and commitment farmers put into raising livestock, tending orchards, planting fields, and harvesting crops. It’s about acknowledging the truck drivers, millers, processors, retailers, and chefs who all play a role in moving food from farm to table. And it’s about celebrating the incredible variety of wonderful farm products – from food and fibre to flowers and fuel – that are produced close to home.
Equally important is recognizing agriculture as the powerful foundation of a thriving economy in our province, supporting jobs, healthy communities, and a resilient future. When we support food and farming, invest in rural infrastructure, or work to preserve our farmland, we’re also strengthening our province.
Happy Ontario Agriculture Week – and a happy Thanksgiving.
