Canada’s revamped Food Guide places an emphasis on the consumption of plenty of fruits and vegetables. President of the Ontario Produce Marketing Association and dietitian Michelle Broom said, “We are glad to see that in the revised version of Canada’s Food Guide, Health Canada highlights the importance of including an abundance of produce as part of a healthy, balanced diet."

Fresh fruit and vegetables provide a variety of essential nutrients and research suggests people who eat more produce are at lower risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. However, studies show Canadians are not eating enough.

“The new guideline to make half your plate fruits and vegetables will give people a clear idea of how much they should be eating for good health,” said Broom.

The role of the Ontario Produce Marketing Association is to provide people with information and ideas on easy ways to include fresh produce in their day. The website Produce Made Simple is an encyclopedia of everything fruit and veg, including how to select, store and cook the huge range of produce available in Ontario. With recipes and tips and tricks on how to select, store and prepare produce, producemadesimple.ca is a great tool for Ontarians who are looking for unique ways to incorporate more variety and colour into their meals. To make the ideas even more accessible, Produce Made Simple is also available on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.