Originally announced last fall as part of the Local Food Act, Ontario’s agriculture minister Jeff Leal was on location today to formally roll out a tax credit for farmers who donate food to food banks.
The “Food Donation Tax Credit for Farmers” gives farmers a tax credit valued at 25% of the fair market value of the agricultural products they donate to community food programs, including food banks and student nutrition programs, according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The ministry says this is the first of its kind tax credit in Canada.
Farmers can claim donations dating back to January 1, 2014.
Eligible products include: fruits and vegetables, dairy and eggs, grains and meat, nuts, mushrooms and more.
VG Meats was one of the companies at the press conference launching the tax credit, and donated 1,000 kg of ground beef to the Hamilton Food Share.
Cory Van Groningen, with VG Meats, says, “Our donation will help more than 13,000 hungry people. VG Meats encourages other Ontario farmers to share the bounties of their harvest and take advantage of this initiative.
Our new tax credit helps farmers donate fresh, local food to community food programs like food banks #ontag #onpoli pic.twitter.com/zx6GZ1b7GY
— Jeff Leal (@JeffLeal_MPP) September 29, 2014
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