Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Gordon Food Service

The Greenbelt Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating systemic change in Ontario’s local food system. Working across the province, it delivers financial support to farmers, agri-food businesses, public institutions and community organizations so that more Ontario-grown food is produced, marketed and consumed in hospitals, schools, long-term care homes, retail outlets and foodservice markets. Its grants complement education, policy and networking initiatives that all aim to increase the share of local food in the provincial food economy.

Through themed grant streams, the Fund backs projects that develop new products, improve processing and storage capacity, expand distribution hubs, modernize packaging lines, and enhance local food literacy among consumers and professionals. The “Grants Made” section documents dozens of funded initiatives each year, with recipients ranging from farm operations and co-operatives to municipalities, universities and non-profit organizations.

Greenbelt Fund investments span several recurring themes: stronger market access for Ontario producers, local food literacy and education, and increased local procurement in the broader public sector. Examples include equipment purchases for farms and processors, development of regional food hubs, culinary and agriculture curricula, marketing campaigns for local products, and training programs in local food procurement. Beneficiaries include individual farms, sector associations, colleges and universities, school boards, municipalities, Indigenous and community groups, and health-care institutions.

While detailed criteria are defined within each call for proposals, the projects highlighted on the site show a focus on measurable increases in local food sales or procurement, capacity-building within the value chain, innovation in products or distribution, and educational impact. Many projects are described with projected increases in local sales or procurement volumes, or in the number of people reached through training and public engagement.

The Fund demonstrates transparency by publishing a year-by-year list of past grants with recipient names, locations, project summaries and funding amounts. This public record provides insight into its priorities, such as supporting ecological farming, greenhouse vegetable promotion, institutional menu changes, Indigenous food education, and technology tools for traceability. Through these grants, the Greenbelt Fund plays a central role in channeling financial resources to initiatives that grow Ontario’s local food economy.