Why Should I Give Preference to Local Craft Beer?

Well, first of all because we produce a huge range of diverse beers that are among the best in the world. Many of our best brewers are featured at the Brewers Plate, and more are listed on the Ontario Craft Brewers Association site.

Giving priority to locally-owned producers and service providers in a particular region has immediate environmental benefits through the reduction of all kinds of longer-distance costs, in shipping and other costs associated with far-flung headquarters and production. A great, and poorly understood, benefit of giving trade to locally-owned suppliers is that the owners and their employees spend more money and pay more tax in the local regional economy, generating the economic multiplier effect that can be as high as 3 times more than the benefit of money left in local economies by non-local corporations such as chain stores. We may enjoy the imported goods, and there is room for all kinds of imports in the local economy from coffee to computers, but we also need to be aware of how a “buy local first” policy fuels the engine of local economic resilience as we confront this deep economic crisis and end of cheap energy. Another key green benefit of giving priority to locally produced goods and services is that you maximize your support to the local tax base and the efforts of local governments to renew their infrastructure and implement the greening programs that are needed.
In 2009 we produced a cool little local sustainable recipe book for the event, and embedded some messages in it that link food to the broader movement to think local first.
Here is a bit of the intro to it:
Taste slow, local and delicious.

Slow Food: Fresh ingredients, craft, creativity, tradition. Respect for farmers, artisans, the land, and the food (not fast food) www.toronto.slowfood.ca

All the food we eat has a story. Where does it comes from, how is it made, who earns their living from it? Some stories are more delicious than others!
Why should I buy food that’s grown locally?
  • The best tasting food ripens close to home
  • Buying local food keeps your dollars in your community
  • The distance food travels is reduced benefiting the environment
How can I find locally grown food?

Market Finder

Ontario Fresh online marketplace to help everyone involved in local food grow their business. Whether you're a grower, producer, chef, caterer, buyer or foodservice distributor, Ontariofresh.ca will give you new opportunities to source local quickly and easily.

Directory of local, organic food sources in the Toronto region: www.veg.ca

Think Local First

All of the businesses featured at the Brewers Plate are independently owned by people who live in southern Ontario. Supporting them keeps more of your money here and preserves Toronto’s unique identity. They are some of our region’s most responsible businesses and organizations. You can feel good knowing that your dollars are going to people who care about Toronto as much as you do.

What does it mean to “be local”? It means really connecting yourself to the place you call home. Your choices make a difference in our city and our region. Whether it is where you eat, shop or live; what you throw away or simply where you spend your free time, small decisions make a big impact.

Ask For local. Don’t be shy—ask questions like:

Is this an independently-owned store?

Does this restaurant source local food?

Is this item from a local artist?


Let businesses know local matters.


Support independently-owned retail. Three times more of your money is re-spent in Toronto when you shop locally.

The First Annual Brewers Plate, Berkeley Church, Toronto April 2008 (5 minutes, Ecotone)