• Toronto’s west end is home to local good guys, The Stop, an organization that started out as one of Canada’s first food banks. Today The Stop has grown to be a hub for community advocacy, fighting hunger and shaping public policy across our province. On Sunday January 24^th, cozy up in one of Toronto’s most beloved restaurants, Scaramouche, for a fundraiser hosted by Executive Chef Keith Froggett. Dinner will be a delectable 4-course meal for $250 per person (including wine pairing) with all proceeds benefiting The Stop’s innovative work. For reservations, contact Danielle @ 416.652.7867 ext. 250 or Danielle@thestop.org

• Yummy Stuff will donate $2.00 from the purchase of every feature cupcake to World Vision from now until Feb.7. ”We want to do our part for Haiti.” says owner Morag Cleevely. ”The feature is a red hot chocolate cupcake with spicy chocolate buttercream. Lots of yummy cinnamon, ancho chili and cayenne!

• Eat, Drink and Give, this looks like it is going to be an incredible event. Roy Thomson Hall, Feb.9th.

Fiesta Farms employees have been canning and pickling all summer and fall to preserve Ontario’s delicious harvest.

stacked boxes of mixed fruit jam made in-house

Produce arrives within hours of being picked in the fields, the team gathers it up then begins transforming fruit, berries and vegetables into Strawberries in Balsamic, Cherries in Ice Wine, Chilly Dilly Green Beans, Sticky Pear Butter, Indian Cauliflower Chutney…..the list goes on.

The amount of local fruits and vegetables produced from May to October is just too much to eat, so they must be preserved. Every true canner knows that what is good fresh can be better in a Mason jar.

just a few of the many preserves available

Fiesta Farms new line of preserves, “Take Me Home”, use no fillers or additives and are made with 90% Ontario product (we had to go out of province for lemons and the like!). Coming across the “Take Me Home” display is like discovering a bountiful farmer’s market in winter.

“Take Me Home” preserves can be purchased seperately or as part of a Foodland Ontario basket.