Funding Opportunity: Nature’s Finest Fund for Ontario Producers
Posted: December 2, 2014
Categories: Food in the News / Funding Opportunities / GoodFoodBites / Opportunities
From The Big Carrot:For thirty years The Big Carrot has been searching for Nature’s Finest to provide our shoppers with delicious, nourishing and sustainable food. In celebration of this commitment The Big Carrot created the Nature’s Finest Fund. This annual grant program expands the availability of locally produced food and supports and strengthens the working relationships between local family farms and The Big Carrot.
As founding members of Carrot Cache (a small foundation that funds local organic food initiatives), we have seen the transformative power of investing in our regional food economy. Inspired by this success, we want to provide a similar opportunity for our own producers.
Five grants were awarded to Ontario farmers in the inaugural year of the Nature’s Finest Fund increasing our supply of local beans, pastured chicken, organic vegetables and greens. The grants lent support to some long-standing producers as well as bringing new farmers into our community.
This year The Big Carrot is committing $15,000 for new grants to eligible Ontario Producers.
Mission
- To invest in our community of local sustainable food producers
- To expand the availability of locally produced Organic food
- To strengthen the working relationships between family farms and The Big Carrot
Criteria for Eligibility
- Meet The Big Carrot’s Quality Standards
- Products marketed as Organic must have a current Organic Certificate
- Be a registered farm business
- Funds are to be used for capital expansion (i.e. investments in new equipment, greenhouse extension, perennial crops, breeding stock, etc), not for operating expenses.
- Interest in becoming a Big Carrot supplier.
Visit the Nature’s Finest Fund website for more application details, example projects and FAQ.
Applications are due December 18th. Recipients will be announced in mid-January.