For Immediate Release
October 28, 2015
QUEEN’S PARK – Promoting healthy choices is not only good for the health of Ontarians, but also good for the economic health of farmers.
MPP and Opposition Agriculture Critic Toby Barrett believes the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s ‘Half Your Plate’ initiative is something the Government of Ontario should be adopting. The initiative is designed to encourage consumers to increase their consumption of fruit and vegetables.
“Speaker, to be frank, North America—and certainly Ontario—has an obesity problem,” Barrett explained in the Legislature. “The health costs associated with overweight people are significant, and promoting healthy choices is vital to improving health.”
British Columbia has explicitly endorsed the need to increase the number of portions of healthy fruit and vegetables.
“The success of initiatives like ‘Half Your Plate’ obviously supports Eat Local, and certainly supports my riding’s production of fruit and vegetables,” Barrett said. “I also think of the Community Supported Agriculture program run by Carron Farms in the Holland Marsh. They call it the Harvest Share Food Box and, in partnership with 50 other farms, distribute something like 500 boxes each week.”
Barrett continued that the economic growth and the reduction of healthcare costs associated with such a program in Ontario should be reason enough for the government to endorse and adopt the initiative.
– 30 –
For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446, 905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629