Overview
Foodland Ontario developed these food definitions with industry partners and tested with consumers.
The definitions are credible and widely accepted as a proven way to help define local food as being from Ontario.
Understanding if your product falls within the consumer and industry approved definitions of Ontario food products is vital for properly requesting a logo agreement to use the Foodland Ontario logo or Foodland Organic logo.
Dairy
Ontario cheese
- More than 90% of the milk in Ontario cheese is produced on Ontario dairy farms.
- Up to 10% of the milk used for processing in Ontario can be sourced from within Canada.
- Curds and whey must be produced in Ontario from Ontario dairy inputs.
- Any identified secondary ingredients need to be grown and produced in Ontario (for example, strawberry cream cheese).
Ontario dairy products excluding milk and cheese
This may include yogurt, sour cream etc.
- More than 90% of the milk in Ontario dairy products must be produced on Ontario dairy farms.
- Up to 10% of the milk used for processing in Ontario can be sourced from within Canada.
- Any identified secondary ingredients need to be grown and produced in Ontario (for example, peach yogurt).
Ontario milk
- More than 90% of the milk processed in Ontario is sourced from Ontario dairy farms.
- Up to 10% of the milk used for processing in Ontario can be sourced from within Canada.
- Any identified secondary ingredients need to be grown and produced in Ontario.
Eggs
Ontario eggs must be laid on egg farms in Ontario.
Fruits and vegetables
Ontario fruits and vegetables (including sprouts and microgreens) must be grown in Ontario.
Grains
Ontario hard wheat flour
A majority (over 80%) of the final volume of the product must be grown in Ontario and 100% of the wheat must be milled in Ontario.
Ontario soft wheat flour (cake and pastry flour)
Due to extensive production of soft wheat in the province, 100% of the Ontario soft wheat needs to be grown and milled in Ontario.
Meats
Ontario beef
- Ontario beef cattle is born, raised, slaughtered, and further processed in an approved facility in Ontario.
- When there are not enough calves born in Ontario to meet the demand for beef, calves may be sourced from within Canada. This beef will be raised, slaughtered and further processed in Ontario.
Ontario lamb
Must be born, raised, slaughtered and processed in Ontario.
Ontario pork
Must be born, raised, slaughtered and processed in Ontario.
Poultry
Ontario chicken
- Ontario chicken will be hatched from eggs laid in Ontario or from newly hatched chicks which may be sourced from within Canada or the United States.
- These chickens will then be raised, slaughtered and processed in Ontario.
Ontario turkey
- Ontario turkey will be hatched from eggs laid in Ontario or from newly hatched poults which may be sourced from within Canada or the United States.
- These poults will then be raised, slaughtered and processed in Ontario.
Processed food products
- Processed foods includes food that has been cooked, canned, frozen, packed or transformed from its natural state.
- More than 80% of the primary ingredient mix (weight or volume) must be from Ontario.
- Any primary ingredient must meet the individual Ontario foods definition.
- No non-Ontario ingredients may be included in the name of the product.
- Examples that would meet the individual Ontario food definitions:
- Ontario beef and vegetable soup — the primary ingredients identified as Ontario products are beef and vegetables.
- Ontario jams and jellies — the primary ingredients identified as Ontario products are locally grown fruits or vegetables (for example, strawberries, apricots, onions, etc.)
- Ontario canned tomato paste — the primary ingredients identified as Ontario products are locally grown tomatoes.
Seafood
Ontario farmed seafood (shrimp, rainbow trout, tilapia and other finfish) must be hatched, raised and processed in Ontario.
Specialty food
Ontario honey
100% of the product must be produced, extracted and packaged in Ontario.
Ontario maple syrup
100% of the product must be collected, processed and packaged in Ontario.
Commodities without definitions
Commodities or commodity organizations that have not developed commodity specific definitions for the use of the Foodland Ontario logo will use 100% Ontario definitions (grown, born, raised, slaughtered and processed in Ontario).