Foodservice company Sysco has bought a new facility in Toronto to meet growing demand in the area for local fresh-cut produce, including mushrooms, root vegetables and greenhouse vegetables.
The marketer and distributor has acquired processor Martha's Garden and hopes to be operating out of its new centre by June.
Under the name Sysco Fresh Cuts of Toronto, it will supply eastern Canada and complement an existing processing plant in Vancouver.
'Local has really gained momentum in the past 18 months and it's one of our biggest initiatives this year,' said director of produce Dan Martin.
'We want to get to the point where we can tell our customers and chefs what farm the produce comes from,' he added.
Sysco also wants 95 per cent of its Canadian suppliers to be certified for good agricultural practice by the end of the year.
