Northern food producers ready to return to the big stage
Some northern Ontario agri-food producers are getting set to return to the world's largest exhibition.
Wednesday, FedNor announced it was cutting a cheque to help 45 businesses show off their wares at the 2023 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.
Nickel City Cheese was the backdrop as FedNor announced $680,000 to help 45 businesses participate in the fair and break into the Toronto market.
"It's a big demand, we're helping small businesses to grow their business and we got to Toronto to the Royal Winter Fair and it's amazing to see all the people from the north,” said Nicole Paquin of Nickel City Cheese.
"It's one of the great things about northern Ontario and all the things we do, but specifically in the agriculture sector,” said Neil Fox of Economic Partners Sudbury East/West Nipissing.
“There is an inter-dependency between all the businesses."
Fox said businesses here rely on each other not only for products and services, but their general knowledge on how to grow in this environment.
"For the people who are not familiar with it, it's like everything else,” he said.
“They think northern Ontario is lakes, rivers and rock cuts but it certainly is a thriving agricultural sector and we love bringing it to the people of southern Ontario.”
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré said investments FedNor has made across Greater Sudbury and northern Ontario are important.
"Small businesses, you know we've got more high-speed connectivity now so that's important for small business,” Serré said.
“How can FedNor support that in a bigger way? And now you've got businesses in the area raising families, having children and growing northern Ontario like we need to do."
Since 2015 -- and excluding two years for COVID-19 -- businesses at the Northern Ontario Agri-Food Pavilion in the fair have generated $7.2 million in on-site and projected sales.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.