MILTON, ON – January 19, 2009 – Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. (OAFE) was recently overwhelmed with applications for its Healthy Eating Program that will see $450,000 invested in projects designed to promote Ontario farm-grown products, and include partnerships with non-traditional organizations that share a vested interest in healthy eating.
 
In total, OAFE received eighty-two (82) proposals from a wide range of organizations from across the province, representing the agriculture, health and education sectors, as well as local community groups. “We are thrilled with the number of proposals received,” says Krista McFadden, Chair of OAFE’s AdHoc Committee responsible for reviewing the proposals. “It is obvious that there are many initiatives that require new and additional funding to support the concept of eating healthy.

There are a large variety of projects that will ensure a positive impact across the agri-food industry,” McFadden added. A selection committee has been brought together to review the proposals, determine which proposals best fit the program criteria and ultimately have a great impact on healthy eating habits.

The OAFE selection committee in itself has also generated new partnerships – the committee consists of representatives from the Guelph Food Technology Centre, Peterborough Public Health, University of Western Ontario, a marketing communications company, and agri-food sectors.

“We would have needed over $7 million to fund every project proposal received,” commented McFadden. “It is obvious that Ontario needs funding opportunities to promote and supply healthy eating initiatives throughout Ontario. It will be very difficult to choose from the wide range of projects we’ve received.”

The funds for the Healthy Eating Program resulted from a vitamins industry class action settlement in 2006. Key criteria points of this RFP are to promote Ontario farm-grown products and include one new partnership or alliance with a non-traditional group. The organizations who are eligible to receive grants from the Healthy Eating Program have to be Ontario legal entities, including not-for-profit organizations and associations, cooperatives, marketing boards, government agencies and for-profit companies.

Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. is a not for profit, charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the learning experiences of students with high quality, balanced curriculum-linked agriculture and food related resources and programs for Ontario educators. Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. receives support from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
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Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc.
8560 Tremaine Road, Box 460 Milton ON.
(905) 878-1510 Fax (905) 878-0342