Wellington County economic development practitioners picked up a provincial award for their “Taste Real” promotional program, county councillors were told at their monthly meeting Feb. 28.
County economic development officer Jana Reichert told councillors the award was presented at the recent 56th annual Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) conference in London, Ontario.
“We are extremely excited to let you know that Wellington received provincial recognition for its work with the Taste Real Guelph Wellington initiative,” Reichert said. “As many of you already know, Taste Real’s mission is to grow one of the most vibrant, local food economies and tourism destinations in Ontario.”
The award was presented under the product development category. Wellington beat out the County of Norfolk which received honourable mention in the same category. Taste Real is a joint venture between the county and Guelph.
“It was really wonderful for our representatives present that evening to see that, through Taste Real, we are able to expose the world to the wonderful agricultural and food initiatives in Wellington under the growing recognition of the Taste Real brand,” Reichert said.
“Taste Real is a made in Wellington project,” she added.
The program is aimed at growing the regional agri-food sector by creating business-to-business opportunities through tradeshow and training events promoting food. The program has 124 partners with 71 per cent operating within the county, including restaurateurs, growers, producers and processors.
“The EDCO award is a very prestigious one and we are grateful for how well our partnership works, extremely grateful for county council’s supporting the Taste Real initiative and we are grateful for the wonderful agri-food community we have that has believed in this project from conception,” Reichert said.
She said the concept will be part of the county economic development strategy plan.
“To compete and do what you did was a great feather in your cap,” councillor George Bridge, head of the county economic development committee, said of those involved in the program.
