Frontenac County goes to 'The Royal'

Nov 08, 2019

The County of Frontenac in partnership with South Eastern Ontario Tourism Region RTO 9 and local businesses is represented at the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair in Toronto November 1 - 10.

“We found out that the Royal was creating a new space at the fair this year called the Spotlight on Local to really celebrate small scale, artisanal producers,” said Richard Allen, Manager of Economic Development at the County of Frontenac. “We reached out to Frontenac County businesses involved in local food, and immediately had a handful who wanted to participate in a booth,” said Allen.

With the growth of small-scale food producers across South Eastern Ontario in recent years, this was a natural partnership opportunity for Frontenac County and RTO 9 to combine resources and maximize the opportunity.

“RTO 9 is pleased to partner with Frontenac County to highlight products and producers from South Eastern Ontario at the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair,” said Steve Weir, Marketing and Communications Manager at RTO 9. “This is a great opportunity to bring awareness of all destinations in South Eastern Ontario while showcasing homemade, authentic products,” Weir said.

Frontenac businesses at the fair include Food Less Travelled, Holiday Country Manor with their line of Marty G Sensations savoury pies, Fine Chocolate by Ludwig, David and Sons Fine Condiments, the Cheesecakery Bakery and Hanna’s Meat Pies. Products are being sampled and sold for the duration of the fair.

Ludwig Ratzinger (as in Fine Chocolate by …) was at the fair for the first few days with his chocolate but is back home now getting ready for Christmas shows. He said the show was “great fun. It provided us with access to new markets, a chance to work with each other and meet other producers from eastern Ontario and was a really good showcase for Frontenac County. The co-ordination between Frontenac County and the RTO-9 folks was really good. Everything was very well done. And the Royal Winter Fair itself is very, very lively.”

County staff are using the opportunity to spread the message about Frontenac County outside of its region, handing out the Frontenac Visitor Guide, a brand-new culinary tourism brochure, and other materials about local food producers. The booth is set up like an old-fashioned general store, an idea that was brought to life with borrowed props from Trousdale’s General Store and Upper Canada Village.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the largest fair of its kind in the world, celebrating the best in agriculture, local food and equestrian competitions from across the Canada.

(submitted by Frontenac County - with a file by Jeff Green)