Black Restaurant Week is underway in Toronto.

Back for its third annual campaign, almost two dozen Black-owned restaurants, bakeries, and food trucks across the GTA will be highlighted from July 7 to 16.

Organizers Derek Robinson, Falayn Ferrell (managing partners), and Warren Luckett, founder, said the objective is to support Black-owned businesses in the restaurant industry.

“The odds are continuously stacked against Black-owned culinary businesses and their survival is still in jeopardy as they face constant economic downturns due to recovering from the pandemic while currently coping with inflation. According to the Independent Restaurant Coalition, 500,000 restaurants and bars are faced with an uncertain future due to lost revenue and increased debt over the past two years,” a release reads.

Black-owned businesses can join at no cost and benefit from the campaign by receiving marketing materials to place within their space and digital assets to share online and on social media platforms, the statement adds.

In addition to events in Canada, Black Restaurant Week also supports activations in Atlanta, DC, Houston, Chicago, and New York.

The initiative was founded in 2016 and has supported over 3,000 restauranteurs and chefs across North America. Last year, the organization supported 1,700 Black-owned eateries and bars, and participants averaged a 15 per cent sales increase through the week.

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Participating restaurants in Toronto include:

What a Jerk Food Truck

Jamaica Food Basket

Taste Seduction Jamaican Cuisine

Miss Likklemore’s

Rasta Pasta

Honey Soul Food

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Afrobeat Kitchen

GC JERK XPRESS

Brown Sugar Cravings

A.M.T CREATIONS

Stars Fusion Eats

Boukan

Scotthill Caribbean Cuisine

Onyxx Sports Bar & Grill

Creole Jamaican Kitchen + Bar

Stacy’s Island Flavor Restaurant

JNC Jerk Hut

Flame & Smoke

What a Jerk Restaurant & Bar