Foodism Toronto recently celebrated some of Toronto’s brightest hospitality professionals for their accomplishments and contributions to diversity, sustainability, and the culinary arts.

Mentioned on a list called Foodism 40, the organization recognized several Black professionals in its release on Nov. 1.

“We’ve been living, eating and breathing all things delicious in Toronto for eight years. And, thanks to the culinary creatives in our community, we’ve never gone hungry when it comes to finding our content,” its website reads. “Now, it’s time to return the favour. This year, we’re celebrating an important milestone. To mark 40 issues of Foodism, we launched Foodism 40, a list of hospitality professionals who are committed to bettering our industry. Supporting the local community has been a cornerstone of Foodism’s mission since we launched in 2016, and now it’s time to put the spotlight on those pushing it forward.”

See the list of Black professionals that made the list below:

Beverly Crandon, co-founder of Vinequity non-profit and founder of Spice Food & Wine Group, Canada’s first ethnic food and wine festival

A champion of diversity, Beverly Crandon founded the Spice Food & Wine Group to redefine the perception of wine, making it accessible to all, regardless of background or expertise. In addition to launching Canada’s first ethnic food and wine festival, she is a founding member of Vinequity, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of BIPOC wine professionals in Canada.

Janice Bartley, founder and executive director of Foodpreneur Lab

An award-winning entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience, Janice Bartley is the founder and executive director of the non-profit Foodpreneur Lab. The non-profit organization supports Black food entrepreneurs from the ideation stage to full-scale production. Bartley has devoted her 30-year career to levelling the playing field and opening doors for aspiring and established food entrepreneurs in underserved communities. She founded the organization in 2019, and through the Black Ecosystem Fund, her project has supported and provided opportunities for 200 Black food entrepreneurs over four years. Foodpreneur Lab is the only Canadian Black woman-founded and led non-profit with a national mandate to advance racial and gender equity in the food sector.

Ren Navarro, founder of Beer Diversity

Wanting to make the alcohol industry more diverse, Ren Navarro used her decade of experience in her company, Beer Diversity. The company addresses the need for more diversity in breweries, wineries, distilleries, and beyond through various services, including consultations and diversity and inclusion workshops at festivals, panel discussions, and podcasts worldwide.

Camille Mayers & Maria Simonelli, co-founders of Deeply Rooted Black and Indigenous Farmers’ Market

With over 15 years of culinary expertise spanning from Toronto to Vancouver, Camille Mayers noticed the underrepresentation of Black and Indigenous vendors in Toronto’s farmers’ markets. She co-founded Deeply Rooted Farmers Market, a Black and Indigenous farmers market advocating for food sovereignty in Canada. Their business partner, Maria Simonelli, had a different but equally significant journey to the market. Growing up on an O-day’min and Mishiimin farm in Huttonville, Simonelli has a deep bond with the earth, botany, medicine, and the farm-to-table concept.

Christina Veira, educator, organizer and co-owner of Bar Mordecai

Christina Veira's extensive list of accolades and titles is a testament to her wealth of experience and expertise in the hospitality industry. As a WSET Spirits educator and co-owner of Bar Mordecai, she has achieved remarkable recognition, including the prestigious Roku Industry Icon title from the World's 50 Best Bar in 2022, the esteemed Canada's 100 Best Bartender of the Year for 2023, and a place among the 100 most influential figures in Drinks International Bar World's list.

Her success in various cocktail competitions further distinguishes Veira's journey, her pivotal roles as the bar and beverage curator for the Restaurants Canada Show, and her directorship of programming for Toronto Cocktail Week. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Veira consistently uses her platform to advocate for diversity, equity, and safety in the industry. Notably, as the national coordinator for Speed Rack, she was crucial in introducing the all-female bartending competition to Canada.