Ontario Food Terminal
Encyclopedia
The Ontario Food Terminal is the main produce
distribution centre for Toronto
, Canada
. It is located on The Queensway
in Etobicoke just off the Gardiner Expressway
. Annually some one million vehicles arrive at the centre delivering produce from across North America or leave to distribute it to stores and restaurants across the city. It is the largest such facility in Canada, and the third largest in North America after those in Chicago
and Los Angeles
. The fruits and vegetables are shipped to the terminal from Ontario farms as well as more distant locales such as Florida, California, and Mexico. At the terminal local buyers meet the sellers and haggle over prices. It is thus the main market for establishing produce prices in the region. The majority of the produce eaten in Toronto moves through the terminal, though some of the largest stores such as Loblaws
contract directly with growers and do not use it.
The OFT was constructed in 1954. Previously the main distribution centre for Toronto was the St. Lawrence Market
, but congestion made it difficult to access and the new terminal was constructed on what was then the edge of town. Originally most of the shipments arrived by rail, but today it mostly arrives by truck. Some are flown in via nearby Pearson Airport. It is located on a forty acre site, and the facility itself covers some 1740000 square feet (161,651.3 m²). This includes 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) of cold storage
.
The Ontario Food Terminal is owned by the provincial government and managed by the arms length Ontario Food Terminal Board, which leases space in the market to the distribution companies. The board members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
on recommendation from the Minister of Agriculture and Food.
Produce
Produce is a generalized term for a group of farm-produced goods and, not limited to fruits and vegetables . More specifically, the term "produce" often implies that the products are fresh and generally in the same state as where they were harvested. In supermarkets the term is also used to refer...
distribution centre for Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located on The Queensway
The Queensway
The Queensway/Queensway Avenue is a major street in the municipalities of Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is the western extension of Queen Street, after it merges with King Street near Roncesvalles Avenue in Toronto...
in Etobicoke just off the Gardiner Expressway
Gardiner Expressway
The Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, colloquially referred to as "the Gardiner", is a municipal expressway in the Canadian province of Ontario, connecting downtown Toronto with its western suburbs...
. Annually some one million vehicles arrive at the centre delivering produce from across North America or leave to distribute it to stores and restaurants across the city. It is the largest such facility in Canada, and the third largest in North America after those in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The fruits and vegetables are shipped to the terminal from Ontario farms as well as more distant locales such as Florida, California, and Mexico. At the terminal local buyers meet the sellers and haggle over prices. It is thus the main market for establishing produce prices in the region. The majority of the produce eaten in Toronto moves through the terminal, though some of the largest stores such as Loblaws
Loblaws
Loblaws is a supermarket chain with over 70 stores in Canada, headquartered in Brampton, with stores across Ontario and Quebec. Loblaws is a division of Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's largest food distributor...
contract directly with growers and do not use it.
The OFT was constructed in 1954. Previously the main distribution centre for Toronto was the St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market is one of two major markets in Toronto, the other being Kensington Market.It features two buildings, both on the west side of Front St. East and Jarvis St. Each building holds different purposes:...
, but congestion made it difficult to access and the new terminal was constructed on what was then the edge of town. Originally most of the shipments arrived by rail, but today it mostly arrives by truck. Some are flown in via nearby Pearson Airport. It is located on a forty acre site, and the facility itself covers some 1740000 square feet (161,651.3 m²). This includes 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) of cold storage
Refrigeration
Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from one location to another. This work is traditionally done by mechanical work, but can also be done by magnetism, laser or other means...
.
The Ontario Food Terminal is owned by the provincial government and managed by the arms length Ontario Food Terminal Board, which leases space in the market to the distribution companies. The board members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario is the viceregal representative in Ontario of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
on recommendation from the Minister of Agriculture and Food.