Policy: There is no comprehensive policy framework for street food vending in the City of Toronto. Information is fragmentary and hard to find. Our project will work toward consolidating information, compiling and disseminating best practices, and addressing policy challenges and opportunities. We will support increased coordination between City divisions and the creation of a City task force on street vending. We will also work to initiate a pilot project to test alternative regulations, foods and vending locations.
Participatory Action Research: There are a lot of unanswered questions regarding street food vending. We will work with vendors, policy makers and others to contribute to needed research, answering questions like: What are the market and producer demands for the sale of healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food? What is the viability of shifting vending locations and increasing the numbers of street vendors in public and private spaces and in underserved neighbourhoods?
Food Security: On the streets of Toronto, one can buy hotdogs and little else due to current health regulations concerned with food contamination. It is ironic that these regulations only permit foods with high fat and sugar content and/or limited nutritional value. Regulations also enforce the homogeneity of street food, denying the cultural diversity of vendors and consumers in one of the most multicultural cities in the world. This project will explore the ways in which street vending can contribute to a more food secure city. Vendors could locate in underserved neighbourhoods, partner with community kitchens and gardens, and offer more culturally diverse street food. Food safety and nutrition staff in the City could work together to improve regulations or introduce an awards program for food premises and nutritional levels. We will work with partners to explore the market for nutritious foods, and the regulatory framework and the training that vendors might require.
Employment and training: Vending offers entry-level, part-time and flexible employment opportunities for many, including newcomers and others facing employment barriers. More jobs could be created through business training and financing, and through partnerships with the local food industry. Our project will explore ways to meet the employment, training and financing needs of vendors while contributing to a friendlier vending climate.