Help Functions Content
Question: What can users search for under "Food Product"?
Answer: Users can search for one or more individual food products (i.e. apples, carrots, lamb) by typing the name of each product in the box. Users can also search for farmers' markets by name (i.e. Dufferin Grove Farners' Market). Once users have typed in a food product they can choose a category from the "Select Category" drop down list, then Click Find. Results will be listed in alphabetical order. If users make an error by misspelling a product, typing in a product that is not available in the Fresh Food Finder, or any other error, an error message appears and users are taken to the "Advanced Finder" page.
Question: What can users search for under "Select Category"?
Answer: A drop down list allows users to search for food categories such as fruits, vegetables, prepared foods and others. Once users select a category they must click "Find." Search results are listed in alphabetical order.
Question: Do users have to fill in all the "Fresh Food Finder" boxes in order to perform a search?
Answer: The "Food Product" and "Select Category" boxes in the "Fresh Food Finder" can be searched independently of each other. Once users fill both or either boxes they must click "Find."
Question: How does the" Postal Code" box function?
Answer: The "Postal Code" box allows users to narrow their search by travel distance. If users enter their postal code and click "Find" the search results are listed in order of distance from closest to farthest. If no postal code is entered, search results are listed in alphabetical order.
Question: What can users search for in the "Search the Site" box?
Answer: Use the "Search the Site" box to perform a general search for all content on the site, excluding products and farms that can only be searched using the "Fresh Food Finder."
Question: How do I search Farmers' Markets?
Answer: From the Home page farmers' markets can be searched by users entering their postal code, selecting the travel distance they want to search and clicking "Find." Farmers' Markets can also be searched by entering the name of the market in the "Food Product" box in the "Fresh Food Finder" at the top of the page. In the "Advanced Finder" column users can search farmers' markets by travel distance, town/city, region and day of the week they are open.
Question: What is the Market Manager Login function?
Answer: The website contains an online forum for Market Managers to update information on their farmers' markets, find the latest news on farmers' markets, and network with other managers and markets. Market Managers new to the forum can select "Sign Up Now" to enter the Market Managers page and learn more. Market Managers with an existing membership to the site can type in their username and password and click "Submit" to be taken directly to the forum where they can update their market profile and participate in the forum.
Question: Are there any search restrictions on the website?
Answer: Search results will contain information on farms located in Ontario's Greenbelt and farmers' markets located in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Question: Can users send friends a link to the website?
Answer: Users can forward website content to a friend by clicking the "Share" button in the" Greenbelt Connect" section and typing in an email address. A copy of the current webpage will be sent to that address.
Question: How do users contact the site host if they have a comment/ suggestion?
Answer: To contact the website host users can go to the "About the Marketplace" webpage and follow the instructions.
Question: What are Farmers' Markets?
Answer: Community market where farmers sell directly to consumers
Question: What are On-farm Markets?
Answer: Farm store open to the public. Along with farm products, many also sell prepared foods, baked goods, fruit wines and local crafts, and offer family fun activities.
Question: What are Pick-Your-Own Farms?
Answer: Visit a farm and head into the fields to pick bulk quantities of fruits and vegetables. Many pick your owns' also operate farm stores and family activities.
Question: What are Community Shared Agricultural Farms?
Answer: Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) farmers are a popular way to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Consumers and farmers share the harvest and cost of farming. CSA s are often dedicated to sustainable farming practices.
Question: What are Vineyards?
Answer: Vineyards are viticulture farms that cultivate wine grapes and produce local wines. Many include guided tours, wine tastings and restaurants.
Question: What is meant by organic?
Answer: Sustainable farming practice that does not use pesticides and fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), antibiotics or growth hormones. Many farms listed are certified organic, but not all.
Question: What is Local Food Plus?
Answer: Local sustainable certified food that is farmed using less or no pesticides, conserves soil and where care is taken to treat animals well, conserve soil and water, protect wildlife habitat, provide safe and fair working conditions, reduce energy use and sell locally.
Question: How do users search the "Advanced Finder" using the "Travel Distance" option?
Answer: To search by "Travel Distance" users must enter their postal code. Users can then select their preferred "Travel Distance" by either selecting the distance from a drop down menu or moving the slider. This option is not mandatory, If users skip this option the default travel distance is set at 100km.
Question: How do users search for Farmers' Markets in the "Farm Type" option?
Answer: Users must select a "Farm Type" in order to search the" Advanced Finder." If users select Farmers' Markets they must also select from a second, pop up, menu and choose to search by day of the week, city/town or region. No other options in the "Advanced Finder" can be selected. Once users select how they want to search Farmers' Markets click "Find" to be taken to the "Results Page."
Question: How do users search using the Farm Type Option?
Answer: Users must select a "Farm Type" in order to search the "Advanced Finder." Users can select one or more options under "Farm Type" (except Farmers' Markets) , then proceed to the next option - "Farm Practice."
Question: How do users search using the Farm Practice Option?
Answer: Users must select a "Farm Practice" in order to search the "Advance Finder." Users can choose one or more options under "Farm Practice" then proceed to the next option - "Products."
Question: How do users search using the Product Option?
Answer: Users must make a selection from the" Product" list in order to search the "Advanced Finder." Users can choose one or more products from one or more categories. Once users have selected from all the mandatory options (Farm Type, Farm Practice, Products) they can click "Find" and be taken to the "Results Page."
Question: How do users make changes to their search selections?
Answer: Users can view a summary of their search selections in the "Your Choices" sidebar on the left-hand side of the page. Users can modify their search choices by making changes to the "Your Choices" sidebar or by clicking the "Reset" button at the bottom right of the webpage. Clicking the "Reset" button clears all the search selections made by the user.
Question: What happens if users click the Reset button?
Answer: Clicking the Reset button clears all search selections made by the user.
Question: How do users search using the "Advanced Finder"?
Answer: Users must fill out the "Farm Type, Farm Practice and Products" options then click "Find" to perform a search. Clicking "Find" will take the user to the "Results Page." Results are listed in alphabetical order.
Question: What does it mean to select Consumer from the "I am a" button?
Answer: The website is designed for both consumers looking for local food for themselves and/or their families and bulk buyers looking for local food for their businesses and commercial kitchens. Consumers are directed to an "Advanced Finder" that enables them to search for farms and farmers markets that are open to the public. On the other hand, Bulk Buyers will use the "Advanced Finder" to search for farms interested in wholesale/ retail sales.
Question: What is meant by organic?
Answer: Sustainable farming practice that does not use pesticides and fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), antibiotics or growth hormones. Many farms listed are certified organic, but not all.
Question: What is Local Food Plus?
Answer: Local sustainable certified food that is farmed using less or no pesticides, conserves soil and where care is taken to treat animals well, conserve soil and water, protect wildlife habitat, provide safe and fair working conditions, reduce energy use and sell locally.
Question: What is meant by conventional?
Answer: Farming practices not dedicated to alternative methods.
Question: How do users search suing the "Travel Distance" option?
Answer: To search by travel distance, users must enter their postal code. Users can then select "Travel Distance" buy either selecting the distance from a drop down menu or moving the slider. If users skip this option the default "Travel Distance" is set at 100km.
Question: How do users search using the Farm Practice option?
Answer: Users must select a "Farm Practice" in order to search the "Advance Finder." Users can choose one or more "Farm Practice" options then proceed to the next search option - "Products."
Question: How do users search using the Product option?
Answer: Users must make a selection from the "Product" list in order to search the "Advanced Finder." Users can choose one or more products from one or more categories. Once users have selected from all the mandatory options (Farm Type, Farm Practice, Products) they can click "Find" and be taken to the "Results Page."
Question: How do users make changes to their search selections?
Answer: Users can view a summary of their search selections in the "Your Choices" sidebar on the left-hand side of the page. Users can modify their search choices by making changes to the "Your Choices" sidebar and clicking "Find." Users can also click the "Reset" button at the bottom right of the webpage which will clear all search results.
Question: What happens if users click the Reset button?
Answer: Clicking the "Reset" button clears all search selections made by the user.
Question: How do users search using the Advanced Finder?
Answer: Users must fill out the "Farm Type, Farm Practice and Products" options then click "Find" to perform a search. Clicking "Find" will take the user to the "Results Page." Results are listed in alphabetical order.
Question: What does it mean to select Bulk Buyer from the "I am a" button?
Answer: The website is designed for both consumers looking for local food for themselves and/or their families and bulk buyers looking for local food for their businesses and commercial kitchens. Bulk Buyers will use the "Advanced Finder" to search for farms interested in wholesale/ retail sales. On the other hand, consumers are directed to an "Advanced Finder" that enables them to search for farms and farmers markets that are open to the public.
Question: Once users have performed a search, how can they find out more information?
Answer: Users can click on the name of the Farm or Farmers' Market and go to a profile page that contains additional information about the Farm or Farmers' Market.
Question: How do users change their search choices?
Answer: Users can change the search results by modifying their selection on the Your Choices sidebar and do not need to go back to the Advance Finder. Once users modify their search choices they must select "Find" to update their search.
Users can also click the "Back to Finder" button to return to the "Advanced Finder" and modify results. In this case, the search choices previously selected remain until modified by the user. Clicking the "Reset" button takes users back to the "Advanced Finder" and clears all choices selected to date.
Question: What is the Plan a Trip function?
Answer:Users can enter multiple addresses of farms they want to visit and/or pick up orders. The results will not provide the most efficient route, instead giving directions to farms based on travel distance and alphabetical order.
Question: How to get directions?
Answer: Users can click the "Get Directions" button and follow instructions. A pop up map will outline the route.
Growing practices conform to the Canadian Organic Standards and products have been certified by an accredited body recoginzed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Farming practices follow sustainablility principals developed and certified by Local Food Plus (LFP).
Question: How do users search their results on the Farm Profile page?
Answer: Under the" Your Choices" sidebar, users can click "more information" to change the Farm Profile and read in-depth profiles of all the farms selected by their search options.
Question: How do users modify their search results?
Answer: Users can click the "Back to results" button and modify their search results under the" Your Choices" sidebar.
Traceability Certification: Voluntary certification programs that ensure agricultural management practices minimize food safety risks by tracking products from fields to consumer hands, enabling the quick recall and removal of products from the marketplace. Certification bodies such as CANTrace and ONTRace verify that industry standards are being met for collecting, keeping and sharing data between supply chain partners involved in food production, processing, shipping and selling. Farms and facility operators can apply for certification which also often requires that industry food safety standards are met for employee health and hygiene, environmental hazards (water quality, pest control), harvesting practices and land usage history.
Food Safety Certification: Voluntary food safety audits that verify industry standards are being met for agricultural management practices that minimize food safety risks by reducing the potential for hazardous events. Various audit programs exist to certify farmers, packers, distributors, processors, cold storage operators and others within the food industry. For example,
GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) and GMP (Good Management Practices) audit activities that reduce microbial food safety hazards in fresh produce by growers, packers, distributors, processors and others.
GlobalGAP audits and certification are often required by major retailers that operate globally. The audits address site history, irrigation, harvest and post harvest operations, fertilizer usage, recycling and reuse, waste management and other practices.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) identifies and prevents biological, chemical and physical hazards at critical points in the food production and distribution process.
SQF (Food Safety and Quality Certification) audits certify product quality for primary production, manufacturing, storage, distribution and agents and brokers.
FPA-SAFE Program (Food Processors Association) audits food processors and suppliers of food ingredients.
Question: What happens to the information growers/producers provide in the online form?
Answer: The information provided by growers/ producers is used to create an individual Farm Profile Page on the website. While most of the information provided is automatically uploaded onto a new webpage, growers/ producers can control what contact information is made available ie users can contact the farmer directly or their wholesaler/ distributor.
Question: Why do growers/ producers have to provide both a farm location and a mailing address?
Answer: The postal code provided for farm location is used to identify the location of the farm on a map. The mailing address is needed in order for the website host to contact growers/ producers, if needed. Only order and delivery contact information provided by growers/ producers shows up on the Farm Profile Page.
Question: How are orders and deliveries set up through the website?
Answer: The website provides contact information to purchasers, financial transactions are not made online.
