Inside The Ontario Food Terminal
The Ontario Food Terminal (OFT) is the largest wholesale fruit and produce distribution centre in Canada, and the third largest in North America after LA and Chicago. It sits on a 40 acre lot at the foot of Etobicoke. Nestled next to the Gardiner Expressway, the OFT is in full view to thousands of Torontonians every day on their way in and out of the city but few have ever entered its doors. It's not open to the public. It's a strictly wholesale operation and a vendor permit and $155 fee (paid every two years) is required for admission.
As a fan of urban infrastructure, I've always wanted to get a peek inside and finally this past week I got my chance courtesy of a tour organized by the Alphabet City Food Festival. Here's what I discovered.
First, some history. The OFT wasn't always here. Toronto's original wholesale market was at the St. Lawrence Market from the 1800s to 1954 when the OFT was opened to relieve the congestion occurring at Front and Jarvis. It's current location is optimally located close to the city and next to major transportation routes including Pearson International Airport.
With the exception of what you'd find at national retailers like Walmart and Loblaw, almost all the fruit and vegetables in the city filter through the OFT. It's the source for local grocery chains like The Kitchen Table, small family-run grocers like Maple Produce, Chinatown vendors and many local restaurants. The national chains might even shop here once a week to supplement their usual inventory if there's a supplier shortage or quality issue.
Except for a brief interruption during the 2003 North American Blackout, the OFT never closes. It's open for deliveries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Inside and outside, the OFT is a hub of activity. Trucks are in perpetual states of being loaded and unloaded, buyers are inspecting produce, sellers are looking to cut deals, forklifts whiz back and forth with inventory being moved, like hundreds of red peppers or a crate of raspberries worth thousands of dollars wholesale.
Long hallways connect different parts of the facilities, from its 80,000 square feet of cold storage to its 10-acre outdoor farmers market where on the day I visited a box of sphagetti squash could be had for $15. There's also a small flower market, a couple of stalls selling fresh-baked pies, a coffee shop, a restaurant and a hot dog stand, all enjoying what looks like brisk business.
For many participants here, the buying and selling starts at 2am and doesn't let up until about 8 hours later. The collection of fruit and vegetables I saw was among the best looking I've ever seen. While much here is shipped from international growers, the farmer's market is well-represented by local farmers who truck in their product daily. This being October and close to Thanksgiving, pumpkins, squash and root vegetables were in abundance. Farmers pay $3.14 a square foot to be able to sell stuff here and haggling over prices is standard.
The whole operation is overseen by the Ontario Food Terminal Board and disputes are policed internally. Its 67 cameras recording video to catch would-be thieves are just a line item of the $8 million of expenses the OFT board incurs each year. But with a revenue rate exceeding that by $1 million, the operation is profitable, self-sustaining and receives no government support or preferential treatment despite its status as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Buyers come here from all over Ontario, Upstate NY, Quebec and the Maritime provinces. Some of those that operate here are among the wealthiest families in Canada. According to Pierre Belanger and Angela Iarocci who have been at the forefront of documenting the OFT, perhaps its most striking characteristic is its tenancy system. They write:
The thirty-year leases held by the most powerful grocers in the city are renewable in perpetuity, privileging a small number of family-owned businesses that have kept a tight hold on their terminal rights for over three generations. The business is so robust, and the leases are so sought after, that each one is estimated to be worth over a million dollars in annual economic returns.
That a serious amount of money flows through here shouldn't come as a surprise. During downtimes, workers like those below can be seen engaging in a game of cards. Money is being exchanged here too if the wads of twenties I saw gripped by some participants is any indication.
More photos:
Pears as seen inside the cold storage facilities. They're fresher than they look at the typical grocery store.
Baskets of vegetables like these peppers are a common sight in the farmer's market.
If you liked this article you might also like Inside the South Central Letter Processing Plant.
Comments (38)
Interesting read. Too bad the general public can't buy from there...everything looks so much fresher!
Great pics of the produce at the Food Terminal. Interesting to see what's happening there these days. My family farmed our plot of land on Holland Marsh since the 1950's and my grandfather had a stall at the Ontario Food Terminal, which we finally let go in the 1980s when he passed away. I wish the tour would have included for you a history of the place that showed the difference between the pre-CAFTA and NAFTA deals and today. Before amalgamation of the major grocers, which was before NAFTA, all the Toronto grocers showed up every day, and buying and selling could only officially start at 6am - buyers and sellers would line up on opposite sides of a white line, and a police officer at one end of the line would blow his whistle, whereupon the buyers and sellers would literally run towards each other to carry out their deals for the best produce of the day. That's how "in season" produce was handled - whatever made it past the weather and pests and was available in limited amounts would be up for grabs to grocers in a fair manner, though some made prearranged deals very quietly.
Sad that at the Ontario Food Terminal not even the ghosts of local farmers that have been squeezed out of the business by American wholesalers and fellow farmers opted for large scale farming whisper about the more sustainable past.
Some advocates of the free market system might say that free trade has resulted in a less chaotic Ontario Food Terminal, since the few major grocery buyers can be supplied with "fresh" produce from few suppliers year round, but who benefits from this but the grocers and the lucky industrial sized suppliers?
I would like to export the best hot peppers from Trinidad to Canada but I don’t have a market. So if you know any1 that would be interested in my produce feel free and let them contact me and I would send all the info and pictures that they would need. Thanks. trinipepperking@yahoo.com 18683832501
Regards Kendell
I would like to apply for access into the food terminal. How much is the application and where can I apply. Please contact me at (905) 893-9957 Thank you very much.
My father worked at the Terminal in the '60's and 70's as a driver. I remember spending summers with him in his truck, rolling through the city and depositing produce at various grocery stores. It was a fun time.
To whom it may concern-
I am trying to reach the author of this content for permission to use one of the graphics in a business journal.
Please contact me.
Regards,
A. MacDonald
I'm looking for buyers for the followng produces
OKRA
PLATAIN
LIMES
MANGO
FLOWERS PICTURES AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE
CONTACT ME AT 647- 241- 3630
Hi Laura, that story is really cool. I like the history told be other people and yes it would be nice if someone had included what went on a long time ago. I currently work at the terminal taking care of some of the refrigeration there. My father was servicing 17yrs ago and things have changed a lot. The market got a little smaller and there was rumors of selling the land for development. Where would they go? The only thing that makes me think they'll stay is they just spent a lot on the loading docks. Would your family or anyone reading this have old photos of the market ? Please email me. Oh one more thing, Thanks to all the farmers and families. Ed
Editor's note: *name address contact removed*
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a position that will allow me to use my exceptional customer service skills.
SUMMARY OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work well with others, in both supervisory or support staff roles
• Played US college basketball and all-star Peel Region High School Player
• Focused on goals, successfully competing in collegiate sports and simultaneously earning 3.68 GPA
• Creative and dedicated in exercise routines; task oriented capable of getting the job done
Customer Service Experience
• Played a key role increasing retention as well as satisfaction rates
• Handled relationship management functions promoting and maintaining relationships with a diverse cliental; conducted field visits to solve customer concerns
• Improving customer service based on client feedback through the development of new policies and procedure
Sales Experience
• Performed marketing research, Participated in sales function
• Attended trade shows, and promoted products and services
Leadership
• Taught young soccer players fair play, self-esteem, confidence and teamwork
• Directed and trained soccer players, coordinating activities and drills, and emphasizing and modeling teamwork and fair play
• Successfully led sales team to exceed highest targets within company
• Implemented training course for new recruits — speeding profitability
Teamwork
• Active member / player of competitive sports teams, learning and exhibiting teamwork, self-sacrifice for the teams' good, drive to win, initiative and commitment to goals
WORK HISTORY
Basketball Coach York University Summer Camp 2006
General Labourer BRR Logistics 2005 - 2006
Customer Service Trade Span 2003 - 2004
Cashier / Customer Service T- Shirt Fantasy 1995 - 1999
ACHIEVEMENTS
Basketball scholarship to attend school in Vincennes University, Indiana
Peel region all star in high school basketball; Second highest grade point average on team
EDUCATION
Youth Enhancement Support Service Certificate Vincennes University, Indiana USA
Reference Available Upon Request
Get a job, resume writer*! oh right... you don't have a life to get one...
Editor's note: *name removed*
Shay
Your comment is insensitive to the thousands of people who are being laid off in a recession. Having a "life" or not having a "life" has nothing to do with being laid off or not being able to find a job. Recessions and companies losing money has everything to do with it.
Shame on you.
Resume writer*: You seem like a bright kid, I hope you find a job.
Editor's note: *name removed*
My dad worked at the OFT for almost 40 years with Gamble Robinson and I worked there for 2 summers. It is an amazing experience
I am from Pakistan, suprise to see such a wonderful and organise market place but seems it is not open for all.
Pls advice me what is the procedure to check this market from inside (ofcourse after arriving in Canada)?
Who can shop ( every one or just grocery owner)?
What is the proicedure to have a stall (small place) in this Market??? What is the leasing rent?
B/Regards
Syed
How do I get access to the market ?
Where do I pay the $155.00 dollars ?
I need to buy 5000 pieces of sweet corn , green lemon, coconut.
Email me right away with price.
My email : mick
can some nice person tell me the price of strawberries per flat, a flat of 6 pineapples, a flat of red grapes, and 9count cantalope per flat. thank you!
can you please tell me prices for flats of strawberries,red grapes, 9 count cantelopes,and pineapples please and thank you!
I have fresh sweet corn starting July 27 would like to sell direct but might have to go to the terminal. how do I learn how? 613 847 1232
lookimg for prizes on ontario vegetals and frut for new store to be open on september.
Thank you
R. Silveira
We have great quality yellow yams and sweet potatoes coming from Jamaica and want to sell in the OFT...what's the procedure to get in ????
I have excellent quality of Coconut, wrapped or unwrapped in bags of 25. If you are interested let me know.
Hi Micky, If you are still interested in Coconut, email me. I can supply you with the 5000 pieces that you required.
I would like to purchase carrots for export. Could you help me or is there someone who would like to sell me. Also how could I get access to the Food Terminal. How do i apply
Wholesale quantities of Jamaican yellow yams,sweetpotat potato for sale @@ @ be best to source it in Ja and air freight into Pe@arson
Hi Nada, I can supply you with Hot Peppers from Guyana and probably the Bora and Eggplant. Email me (abhack1109@rogers.com) with quantity and frequency.
Hello my name is Kadian and the youth worker for a non-profit organization, I wanted to know if anyone knows any food organization who be willing to do in-kind donation to our first boys cooking program within the Jamestown area. Please let me know, please and thank you. If you need to reach me my email is kadian.barnes@rexdalechc.com
Thank you
What is the cost of a daily stall on the outdoor market?
What time does the market open for vendors and what time is the market over? If anyone has this information that would be great.
Thank you
Pat
pj@vaxxine.com
ABDOOL. EMAIL ME TODAY WITH PRICE ON BORA, PEPPER AND EGGPLANT@STABROEKMARKETPLACE@HOTMAIL.COM
I want to import tomatoes from mexico somebody interested to buy please send a e mail to natrxedu27@hotmail.com 416 562 96 45
I want to import tomatoes from mexico. somebody importing tomatoes please contact me 416 562 96 45
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