Honourable senators, I rise today as we enter the summer to highlight the importance of buying and eating local food. After months of uncertainty, we’re seeing local farmers’ markets, restaurants, stores and bakeries opening back up, obviously with strict health measures in place.

Our country has an amazing variety of agricultural products to offer us, from delicious Alberta beef and B.C. wine to hearty P.E.I. potatoes. Here in Ontario, we produce a wide variety of agricultural commodities — over 200 commodities, in fact — including grains like barley; soybeans and canola; fruits, like strawberries, grapes and apples; meat, like beef, pork and chicken; dairy products; and so much more.

Like many of us, our agricultural producers have had a tough few months. With restaurants and school cafeterias being closed, the agricultural sector has certainly taken a hit with respect to a decreased market for their products, a lack of processing capacity and an inability to obtain seasonal workers in a timely manner. But that is now changing and it is time to show our producers and local business owners that we support them.

Buying local can help someone in your community keep their small business afloat, especially during these challenging times. It helps to boost your local economy, meaning more small and family-run businesses can thrive and survive. The pandemic has certainly shone a light on the value of local food and buying local.

One way we can all show our support is by celebrating Food Day Canada on Saturday, August 1. Food Day Canada is an opportunity to highlight and appreciate the diverse and nutritious food products we have access to. Hopefully by August we’ll be able to hold picnics and barbeques with friends and loved ones. But even if that’s not the case, we can still enjoy cooking and eating these local products at home.

So with that, Your Honour and colleagues, when we do return to our home communities this weekend, I hope you will join me in visiting a local farmers’ market and other local businesses to show your support for your local community. I hope you will also eat local on August 1 for Food Day Canada. I’ll be posting about my Food Day Canada celebrations on social media and I do hope you will join me. Thank you very much for listening. Meegwetch.