A provincial government decision to keep the Ontario Food Terminal at its Etobicoke home is good news for local farmers, says Larry Davis.

“A lot of our local farmers will be breathing a sigh of relief over this decision,” said Davis, who represents Brant Haldimand and Norfolk on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “There was a lot of concern when the review was launched.

“People were worried that it might be moved and were wondering how it would affect them.”

Established in 1954, the terminal enables Ontario farmers with a market to get their produce to Ontario families. It is the largest wholesale produce market in Canada serving Eastern Canada and some northern United States. More than two billion pounds of produce are sold through the terminal annually.

It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is the largest food terminal in Canada and among the top-five terminals in North America.

A provincial review of the terminal was launched in April as officials looked at modernizing the facility. There was some thought the review would result in the terminal being shutdown or moved to another location away from Toronto.

But on Monday, Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, announced the terminal would be staying put and that the province will look towards improving the existing facility.

“We received a lot of input from people and it was made pretty clear to us that keeping the terminal where it is makes the most sense,” Hardeman told The Expositor. “It makes sense for the people who work there, the wholesalers and the farmers.

“When we started out with the review, the whole idea was what is the best way to continue to provide this service for the next 50 years.”

When it became clear that keeping the terminal at its present location, Hardeman wanted the decision to be made public as quickly as possible.

“Our motto is ‘Open For Business’ and we wanted to provide certainty to farmers, wholesalers and everyone connected to the food terminal,” Hardeman said. “We didn’t want them holding back on expansion plans because of concerns about the food terminal and it’s location.”

Now the goal is to work towards making sure upgrades are made to the food terminal to ensure it can continue to provide the services needed for the next 50 years.

“We want to make sure that going forward, the food terminal stays up to date – just like the producers, just like the whole industry,” Hardeman said. “We can’t stand still with the system at any time.”

In addition, the provincial review will look at ways to promote local produce and capitalize on modern food distribution systems.

The review includes an advisory group that will consist of representatives of the agri-food industry.

“Their decision makes a lot of sense,” Davis said. “That’s a prime location, all the buyers are there and that’s where a lot of the restaurants in Toronto go to get their fresh produce.

“It serves a huge market and there is a lot of employment associated with that terminal.”

Davis said he has neighbours who get up early in the morning – at 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. – to take their produce to the terminal.

Earlier news reports have said the terminal employs 5,000 people directly and another 165,000 indirectly including farmers, buyers, wholesalers, restaurant owners and independent grocers.

Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett is pleased with the government’s decision and the future plans for the terminal.

“Remaining at its current location, the Ontario Food Terminal can look to future investment and modernization of distribution and marketing,” Barrett said. “I have heard from many local producers on this topic and all wanted the terminal to stay in its present location.”

Vball@postmedia.com

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