Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers are celebrating a major milestone achieved by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association’s (OFVGA) Fresh from the Farm school fundraising program. Since the program was launched in 2013, participating schools have sold more than five million pounds of fresh, Ontario-grown root vegetables and apples, raising $2.6 million to support local school initiatives.

This achievement was recognized December 2 at Malvern Collegiate Institute in Toronto, where both the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Minister of Education attended. Their presence underscored the importance of the fundraising program in strengthening local food systems, supporting Ontario farmers, contributing to the province’s economy and encouraging healthy eating habits among students.

“Fresh from the Farm brings students closer to the people who grow their food,” said Trevor Jones, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “It puts fresh, nutritious, Ontario-grown produce on family tables and encourages everyone to choose local. Thank you to the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association for leading Fresh from the Farm, and congratulations to the 395 schools across Ontario who raised more than $515,000!”

“When children have access to healthy food, they are more focused, more engaged and better prepared to learn,” said Paul Calandra, Ontario Minister of Education. “Fresh from the Farm gives students hands-on learning about healthy choices while supporting their schools and Ontario’s farmers. It connects classroom learning to real life and strengthens our local food system. Congratulations to everyone involved for their hard work on another successful fundraising campaign.”

The event also highlighted the efforts of everyone who contributes to making the Fresh from the Farm fundraiser a success, from the local farmers who supply fresh produce, to the students, teachers and volunteers who dedicate their time to supporting the fundraiser each fall.

“For more than a decade, Fresh from the Farm has introduced school-aged children to the incredible variety of fruits and vegetables grown right here in Ontario," said Shawn Brenn, potato grower and chair of the OFVGA. "Raising money for schools while supporting farmers – it’s a feel-good story that we’re proud to be a part of.”

Fresh from the Farm started as an alternative to traditional school fundraisers, offering students the opportunity to sell Ontario-grown carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and apples each fall to raise funds for their schools while also giving local farmers a new market opportunity for their produce.

The Ontario government has been a committed supporter of Fresh from the Farm since its inception, and earlier this year announced a $175,000 investment to help grow the program’s reach and impact.

This year, schools had the opportunity to purchase donation bundles, resulting in nearly 30,000 pounds of fresh product being donated to local community organizations and families in need across Ontario.

While the 2025 campaign had great representation across the province, schools in the Ottawa, Toronto, Cambridge and Timmins areas had particularly strong registration and sales. Enrollment for the 2026 fundraiser will be open in May 2026. To learn more, visit freshfromfarm.ca.

Source: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association December 2, 2025 news release