LFP in a (Certified Local Sustainable) Nutshell

Local Food Plus (LFP) is Canada’s premier solutions provider for local sustainable procurement. We are an award winning charitable non-profit committed to growing local sustainable food systems.

We certify farms and processors for environmentally and socially sustainable practices, make connections throughout the supply chain, do public speaking and community outreach to help eaters understand the many pluses of local sustainable food systems, and help buyers of all different sizes find Certified Local Sustainable food.

Learn more about how the program works.

We also consult to broader public sector institutions such as universities, municipalities and hospitals, as well as to private sector companies, on how to introduce local sustainable food programs and practices.

We could tell you more about us, but why not read what others have to say instead?

Or, if you’re looking for something specific, why not check out our FAQ, it’s full of useful information about us.

History

LFP got its start in 2005 when the Metcalf Foundation funded LFP founder Lori Stahlbrand’s proposal to link local sustainable Ontario food producers with several key University of Toronto food services.

LFP’s game out of the gate was a University of Toronto pledge that instantly became the biggest local sustainable food contract in North America – exactly the pace and scale of change that can make a real and meaningful difference in a world starved for hopeful signs of progress toward sustainability.

In 2009, LFP received funding from the World Wildlife Fund to test the program in other provinces.  These successful pilot projects saw the certification of producers in B.C, the Canadian Prairies, and Atlantic Canada.  A year and a half later, with the support of the J. W. McConnell Family Foundation, LFP was able to fund the launch programs in B.C., Manitoba and Quebec.

Six years after founding, LFP has the world’s only local sustainable certification system and Canada’s leading sustainable food partnership program – a Canada-wide network connecting sustainable food producers to local purchasers in every manner of restaurant, retailer and institution.

In fact, to date LFP has certified over 200 farmers and processors, partnered with almost 100 retailers, restaurants, caterers, distributors and institutions, and educated countless eaters about the importance of supporting a food system that is local and sustainable.

Want more history of LFP? Check out the many articles that have been written on LFP over the years.