The Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network (EOAN) is producing a series of videos to promote local food producers and products to consumers.
So far, two new videos have been produced. One is for Les Fruits du Poirier in East Hawkesbury and the second is for Les Serres Quenneville Greenhouses in Alfred and Plantagenet. EOAN Executive Director Tom Manley said the motivation to create the videos came from the fact local food producers have a story to tell. He explained how people want to know about their food and the people who produce it.
“Consumers generally want that information,” Manley remarked. “It’s not just a name or a label.”
EOAN is planning to develop at least eight more videos about local food producers. Manley said up to 20 could eventually be produced. Other businesses in Prescott-Russell which will be featured in future videos include L’Orignal Packing and Les Vergers Villeneuve, a berry farm in St-Pascal-Baylon. Manley said others from Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SD&G) will also be featured.
The videos will allow visitors to Eastern Ontario to learn about local food destinations and what is unique to the region.
“The tourists are looking for these opportunities,” Manley said, adding the videos will also show residents what opportunities there are to purchase locally produced food.
All of the videos are bilingual with subtitles. Production is funded 50 per cent by the business and the remaining 50 per cent by EOAN. EOAN receives funding from the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, SD & G, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
The video profiles of Les Fruits du Poirier and Les Serres Quenneville Greenhouses, along with all future video profiles of local food producers can be viewed on the EOAN website at https://www.agro-on.ca/pages/meet-your-producers .
