SteelTown
Dec 19, 2008, 1:44 AM
Food terminal discussed for Stoney Creek
By Kevin Werner/News staff
News
Dec 17, 2008
http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/news/article/156117
Rural politicians are investigating the idea of creating a food terminal, possibly in the Stoney Creek area, to service the Hamilton and Niagara agricultural communities.
“It would be great for Hamilton’s agricultural community, which contributes about $1.2 billion annually to the economy of the area,” said Flamborough councillor Robert Pasuta, a member of the Board of Health’s community food security stakeholders group.
“This would be good for farmers, and good for residents.”
The idea, they say, would be to allow the area’s farmers to use a local food terminal to distribute their produce rather than having to travel to the Ontario Food Terminal in Toronto.
“I like the idea,” said Stoney Creek councillor Dave Mitchell. “To have something like that for our local farms would be great. They wouldn’t have to go to Toronto, which can be a hassle.”
Mr. Mitchell said a byproduct of a food terminal in Stoney Creek would be that local people would come out and support their neighbourhood farm families, who contribute to the local economy.
“This is exciting news,” he said, who has already spoken to a number of farmers about the idea.
Mr. Mitchell has suggested a perfect area for a food terminal – in Upper Stoney Creek.
Downtown councillor Bob Bratina said a food terminal would contribute to Hamilton’s agricultural community, which is an integral part of the city economic clusters as detailed in the economic development department’s strategic goals.
“Having a food terminal outside of Toronto would be terrific,” said Mr. Bratina.
Neil Everson, the city’s economic development executive director, said staff is helping the councillors secure funding to get a feasibility report done.
“It’s a great idea,” said Mr. Everson. “That will help the area’s agricultural community. It would also prevent farmers from driving to Toronto at 3 a.m. in the morning (to buy and sell their goods).”
He pointed out farmers’ markets have become a popular attraction across the city from the downtown market, to the successful market near the Centre Mall. Mr. Everson said it makes sense to see if a food terminal can benefit the Hamilton-Niagara area.
Mr. Pasuta said the committee will be meeting with representatives of the Friends of the Greenbelt this week to discuss the issue. He hopes the organization can provide some funding to hire a consultant to conduct a feasibility study for a food terminal.
The Ontario Food Terminal, located at 165 Queensway in South Etobicoke, just off the Queen Elizabeth Way, is the largest wholesale fruit and produce distribution centre in Canada. Started in 1954, it houses short-term leaseholders, a cold storage facility, a farmers’ market with about 550 stalls, has 22 warehouse tenants, and over 5,000 buyers. Last June the Ontario Food Terminal Board commissioned a feasibility study to determine the potential areas for upgrades, including building new warehouse space.
By Kevin Werner/News staff
News
Dec 17, 2008
http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/news/article/156117
Rural politicians are investigating the idea of creating a food terminal, possibly in the Stoney Creek area, to service the Hamilton and Niagara agricultural communities.
“It would be great for Hamilton’s agricultural community, which contributes about $1.2 billion annually to the economy of the area,” said Flamborough councillor Robert Pasuta, a member of the Board of Health’s community food security stakeholders group.
“This would be good for farmers, and good for residents.”
The idea, they say, would be to allow the area’s farmers to use a local food terminal to distribute their produce rather than having to travel to the Ontario Food Terminal in Toronto.
“I like the idea,” said Stoney Creek councillor Dave Mitchell. “To have something like that for our local farms would be great. They wouldn’t have to go to Toronto, which can be a hassle.”
Mr. Mitchell said a byproduct of a food terminal in Stoney Creek would be that local people would come out and support their neighbourhood farm families, who contribute to the local economy.
“This is exciting news,” he said, who has already spoken to a number of farmers about the idea.
Mr. Mitchell has suggested a perfect area for a food terminal – in Upper Stoney Creek.
Downtown councillor Bob Bratina said a food terminal would contribute to Hamilton’s agricultural community, which is an integral part of the city economic clusters as detailed in the economic development department’s strategic goals.
“Having a food terminal outside of Toronto would be terrific,” said Mr. Bratina.
Neil Everson, the city’s economic development executive director, said staff is helping the councillors secure funding to get a feasibility report done.
“It’s a great idea,” said Mr. Everson. “That will help the area’s agricultural community. It would also prevent farmers from driving to Toronto at 3 a.m. in the morning (to buy and sell their goods).”
He pointed out farmers’ markets have become a popular attraction across the city from the downtown market, to the successful market near the Centre Mall. Mr. Everson said it makes sense to see if a food terminal can benefit the Hamilton-Niagara area.
Mr. Pasuta said the committee will be meeting with representatives of the Friends of the Greenbelt this week to discuss the issue. He hopes the organization can provide some funding to hire a consultant to conduct a feasibility study for a food terminal.
The Ontario Food Terminal, located at 165 Queensway in South Etobicoke, just off the Queen Elizabeth Way, is the largest wholesale fruit and produce distribution centre in Canada. Started in 1954, it houses short-term leaseholders, a cold storage facility, a farmers’ market with about 550 stalls, has 22 warehouse tenants, and over 5,000 buyers. Last June the Ontario Food Terminal Board commissioned a feasibility study to determine the potential areas for upgrades, including building new warehouse space.