Buy Algoma, Buy Local launches new website in support of local food economy

June 17, 2020

Buy Algoma, Buy Local made locating local food products much easier for Algoma residents.

Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Buy Algoma, Buy Local, a program of the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN), has made locating local food products much easier for Algoma residents. 

With the launch of its new website equipped with an interactive map, Buy Algoma, Buy Local has provided a tool for communities in the Algoma region to support local producers, processors, farmers’ markets, restaurants and retailers. 

“One of the main goals of the updated website was to provide people in the Algoma region with the tools and resources to find and support our local food economy,” explains RAIN Manager David Thompson. 

“Buy Algoma, Buy Local sums up a new reality that Algoma communities need to embrace.” 

The program is partially funded in response to the pandemic through the Algoma Community Foundation's COVID-19 Response Fund, which includes generous contributions from Green Shield Canada and public donations. 

According to Co-Chair Jessica Bolduc, the COVID-19 pandemic influenced their decision to fund the project. “As we begin to move through and beyond the pandemic, Algoma Community Foundation imagines a future centered on equity, sustainability and abundance for Algoma,” says Bolduc.

“It is with that sentiment in mind that we are investing in organizations like RAIN who are considering the future of food sovereignty as a key component of a localized recovery strategy." 

Acorn Information Solutions, another division of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, created the map so that Buy Algoma, Buy Local website users can search items available in the following categories: 

• Brewery • Caterer • Coffee Roaster • Community Supporter and Organization • Farm • Farmers' Market • Fishery • Food Artisan • Greenhouse/Garden Center • Harvester/Forager • Maple Farm • Restaurant/Cafe • Retailer • Wholesaler • Winery

If you are local producer, processor, farmers’ market, restaurant or retailer that would like to become a member of Buy Algoma, Buy Local, please visit the new website www.buyalgoma.ca. 
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About the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) The Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) is a division of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC). RAIN is supported by the agricultural community, municipalities, the private sector (farmers and businesses), and funding partners to conduct research and provide business development and networking support. RAIN’s vision is to build a resilient farm sector in northern Ontario through innovative research and agricultural development projects. www.rainalgoma.ca
About Acorn Information Solutions 

Acorn Information Solutions (AIS) (formerly known as the Community Geomatics Centre) is a
division of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre. AIS is dedicated to promoting and
establishing the means to share data, knowledge, and tools among organizations to create
healthier, safer, and more prosperous communities. Declared to be the most comprehensive
Geographic Information System (GIS) solution in the world, AIS is the first true Information
Utility and is the best example of leveraging public data for public good in North America.
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Northern Ontario Value-Added Agriculture (NOVA) Program Launches

October 11, 2024
The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) has launched the Northern Ontario Value-Added Agriculture (NOVA) Program to empower agri-food entrepreneurs across Northern Ontario to develop new food products. By offering workshops, training sessions, networking events, and a mentorship program, NOVA aims to equip Northern entrepreneurs with the essential skills and knowledge needed for long-term business growth and sustainability. Supported by $42,080 in funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, NOVA will address the critical need for professional development in the agri-food sector. It focuses on enhancing entrepreneurial skills, improving safety and risk management practices, and providing strategies to expand market presence at home and abroad. “The agri-food promise and potential of Northern Ontario is immense, and our government will continue to work with Northern partners like the SSMIC to help seize it,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “NOVA will help unlock more of the huge untapped entrepreneurial energy and ambition of Northern agri-food entrepreneurs to build strong local businesses, create good-paying jobs and strengthen Northern Ontario’s economy.” Program goals include strengthened business capabilities, job creation, and increased economic activity, leading to a more vibrant and sustainable agri-food sector in Northern Ontario. By fostering public engagement with agriculture and local food, NOVA will also contribute to rural development and enhanced community well-being. "Through the NOVA Program, we are excited to provide agri-food entrepreneurs with the tools and networks they need to thrive," said Peter Bruijns, Executive Director of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre. "This initiative not only supports individual businesses but also strengthens our entire region's agricultural ecosystem." For more information visit: https://rainalgoma.ca/programs/the-northern-ontario-value-added-agriculture-nova-training-program/ SSMIC would also like to thank FedNor the Government of Canada, and the Sault Ste Marie Community Development Corporation for their support in this exciting program. 

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