New Initiative Connects Ontario Florists and Designers with Fresh, Sustainable Greenbelt Flowers

Ontario, Canada – September 4, 2025  – A new initiative is putting Greenbelt flower farms in the spotlight—and into the hands of florists, event planners, and wholesale buyers across the province. Open Food Network Canada, with generous support from the Greenbelt Foundation, is thrilled to announce the launch of Sustainable Cut Flowers Direct – Greenbelt, a targeted initiative aimed at enhancing the Greenbelt thriving floral supply chain. 

This newly funded project will focus on building a more resilient, regional marketplace for Ontario’s flower farms—many of which are women- and gender-diverse-led enterprises. With an emphasis on climate-conscious practices, the project will offer innovative tools to help small and mid-sized producers scale their businesses and reach new markets.

At the center of the project is a new online directory, designed to help buyers easily find and connect with local flower farms across Ontario’s Greenbelt.  The directory highlights direct purchasing options, listing flower farms in the greater Greenbelt that sell either wholesale to designers or retail to consumers. To further enable wholesale and collaborative selling, the initiative will also support the development and scaling of three digital flower marketplaces in the Toronto, Hamilton, and Niagara regions.

“This project is a response to the growing demand for locally grown, sustainable flowers,” said David Thomas, Director of Open Food Network Canada. “By making it easier for florists and wholesalers to source regionally, we’re strengthening local agriculture, reducing emissions, and supporting vibrant rural economies.”

In contrast to imported flowers—which are often flown thousands of kilometers and treated with preservatives—Greenbelt-grown blooms are field-grown, freshly harvested, and uniquely reflective of Ontario’s seasons and soil. The project brings these advantages to the forefront, helping buyers access fresher, more environmentally friendly floral options.

“This project gives flower farmers a chance to grow our businesses beyond weekend markets and farmstands,” said Theresa Schumilas, owner of Garden Party Flower Farm in St. Agatha. “Connecting with wholesale buyers is a game changer—it helps us scale, plan ahead, and keep doing what we love.”

With over 2 million acres of protected farmland, Ontario’s Greenbelt is ideally suited to serve the Greater Toronto Area and beyond with low-impact, local delivery options. This funding marks a critical step forward in building a more climate-resilient and economically inclusive floral sector.

“This initiative is well positioned to support and elevate the Greenbelt’s vibrant nursery industry and floriculture farms, which currently generate over $95 million in GDP and support more than 1,500 jobs,” said Edward McDonnell, CEO of the Greenbelt Foundation. “We are pleased to support a project that uses innovative infrastructure to amplify the work of Greenbelt growers and is helping to build a stronger and healthier future for Ontario agriculture.”  

About Open Food Network Canada
Open Food Network is a non-profit, social purpose organization dedicated to supporting local food and farming enterprises. Our vision is for diverse food systems, agroecology and healthy communities to be the norm in Canada. We work to make this vision a reality through community partnerships, open source software, resource development, and research initiatives.

About the Greenbelt Foundation
The Greenbelt Foundation is a charitable organization committed to strengthening Ontario’s Greenbelt by supporting local agriculture, environmental stewardship, and strong regional economies.

Media Contact:
David Thomas, Director, Open Food Network Canada

openfoodnetwork.ca