Local food week kicks off across Ontario

Some of the wares at the Kincardine Farmer's Market.

While locally-produced food is available year-round, the first week of June marks Local Food Week in Ontario.

There are 37,000 farm families in the province working to produce a wide variety of quality food for residents.

Tony DeMaria, of D & D Meats sells some of his meat products at the market in Kincardine.

"People feel relaxed when they know it's local. They don't have to worry about it being imported from a different country or whatever.

Bob Curry, who was shopping at the Kincardine Farmers' Market, says he prefers to buy local.

"You don't want anything that's full of herbicides or insecticides on it. We know most of the farmers here, so we know where it's home grown and we like that part of it," he says. "We've been coming for many years and we've never had a problem yet with it."

It also makes economical sense to buy local.

"The local growers actually support the local town so when you buy it from out of town, the money goes out of town. It doesn't stay within the community," says farmer Ralph Kruetz.

Ontario-produced meat, eggs, dairy products and greenhouse vegetables are available year-round.

But the arrival of spring and summer mean even more choice as a number of fruits, vegetables and flowers come into season.