February 18 & 19, 2009 - 19th Annual FMO Networking Symposium & AGM held again simultaneously with the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention & Trade Show at St. Catharines, ON. Over 1300 participants with at least 100 farmers’ market leaders, managers and vendors. The FMO sessions which attracted the most attention were:

• “Results of a 2008 Farmers’ Markets Ontario Impact Study”
• “The MyMarket Brand”
• “The Real Farmer - Our Hero!”

The Impact Study revealed that 93% of Ontario shoppers state that buying directly from a local farmer is extremely important (67%) or somewhat important (26%). Annual sales at Ontario’s 154 farmers’ markets totalled at least $641 million in 2008 with an economic impact of $1.9 billion. There were over 15,000 million shopper visits during 2008.

Minister, Leona Dombrowsky, OMAFRA announced during a special event on the front lawn at Queen’s Park that the Government of Ontario is providing $4 million dollars over four years to help people buy food directly from Ontario farmers. FMO was told that it would receive $2.55 million...consisting of $750,000 in 2008-09 and $600,000 in each of the next three years to:

• Expand the “MyMarket” brand with Farmers’ Markets Ontario, as well as at farmers’ markets that are not part of the organization through producer and market certification. This will help ensure that the products sold at markets are grown or made by local farmers.
• Develop information to help farmers who may be new to selling at farmers’ markets.
• Research what consumers are looking for when they buy Ontario food via direct marketing channels.
• Undertake consumer awareness and marketing activities to promote these efforts. 

Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association will receive $250,000 in 2008-09 and $200,000 in each of the next three years.

OMAFRA is also committing up to $600,000 to provide business information and market analysis to Ontario farmers.

This initiative shall be referred to as the “Ontario Farmers’ Markets Strategy”.

April 2007 - FMO Board members and FMO friends across the province provided the leadership in organizing “Food Safety Matters at Farmers’ Markets” workshops. Most sessions featured an FMO-sponsored dinner; an assortment of attendance draws and everyone received a “Food Safety Matters at Farmers’ Markets” T-shirt. Over 500 farmers’ market leaders, managers and vendors participated.

February 21 & 22, 2007 - 17th Annual FMO Networking Symposium & AGM held in concert with the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention and Trade Show. The Convention theme was “Profit Through Knowledge”. There were 1,200 convention participants including at least 125 farmers’ market leaders, managers and vendors. FMO’s two-day program was action-packed but the two sessions which attracted the most attention were our FISH! Philosophy session with Cali Beals from Iowa and the roll-out of our special 2007 “Food Safety Matters at Farmers’ Markets” program.

FMO received word that the Greenbelt Foundation will provide a $1 million grant to be spent over 3 years on special programming with our member farmers’ markets in the Greenbelt.

FMO submitted a $1,724.500 funding application to The Greenbelt Foundation. “Project GREEN” would provide a variety of funds to our 46 member Farmers’ Markets in the Greenbelt area...including advertising and promotion; signage; four “Town & Country”-produced videos; tarps/canopies; tables and benches; various farmers’ market equipment; 4 new/rejuvenated “green Farmers’ Markets” in the City of Toronto; various workshops and more!  Received approval in June 2006 for 3 years.

16th Annual FMO Networking Symposium/AGM held in concert with the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention & Trade Show. Over 1,100 delegates for the main convention...FMO attracted crowds of up to 90 people during two-day sessions. 2006 Convention theme “Learning, Sharing, Growing” submitted by Catherine Clark. World-renowned speaker, Barry Siskind’s presentation “Dare to be Different” was hugely popular. The session on Food Safety Guidelines attracted much attention. Barbara Lovitt, Iowa Department of Agriculture was a featured speaker.

Fall 2005 - Major Market Research conducted in partnership with 12 Farmers’ Markets. 3,066 shoppers interviewed. AgriFood Consultant, James Farrar, Jayeff Partners engaged for the project.

Spring 2005 - The strong partnership between FMO and OMAF continued. The six year Memorandum of Understanding negotiated in 1999 was renewed for three more years.

February 16 & 17, 2005 - 15th Annual FMO Networking Symposium/AGM held in concert with the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention and Trade Show. FMO was not a Trade Show exhibitor, for budgetary reasons. Over 1,000 attended the main convention...50-80 Farmers’ Market leaders, managers and vendors attended the two days of FMO sessions. Topics included "Risk Management and Pets"; "Food Safety"; "Producer-based Markets...are we gaining or losing ground?"; a "Managers’ Forum" and a two hour "Model Farmers’ Market" presentation from Philip Powell and Robert Chorney. That session was later modified and converted to a Workshop Series entitled "Sharing the Harvest" and it was offered across Ontario during the week of April 25 to 29... at Ottawa (Bells Corners/Nepean); Peterborough; Cambridge; Orillia and Sudbury. Over 250 Farmers’ Market leaders, managers and vendors participated, at a cost of $10 each.