In This Issue

• Phone system issues – We appreciate your patience
• FFCO's annual meeting and speakers' conference, April 10, 2025
• Nominate a Food & Farming Champion
• FFCO at OAAS Convention: February 20 & 21, 2025
• FFCO webinar for communicators in the ag sector, February 25, 2025
• Waiting list for agricultural media training: March 27 or April 4, 2025
• ICYMI: FFCO Member Forum meeting
• FFCO speaker services
• Food Freedom Day: February 8, 2025
• Celebrate Canada's Agriculture Day: February 11, 2025
• Member accolades
• Platinum member testimonial
• FFCO welcomes new members

Phone system issues – We appreciate your patience

Over the past month, we've been experiencing ongoing issues with our phone system. If you've called and left a message or haven't been able to get through, we sincerely apologize for any frustration this may have caused.

Please feel free to reach out to us again by phone (519) 837 1326 or email at info@farmfoodcare.org, and we'll be sure to get back to you as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

FFCO's Annual Conference and Speakers' Program

Farm & Food Care Ontario’s (FFCO) AGM and Annual Speakers' Conference returns on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at the GrandWay Event Centre in Elora.

This year’s theme, From Field to Front Page: The Changing Coverage of Agriculture Stories in the Media, features keynote speaker Claire McCormack, a PhD researcher and agricultural journalist at University College Dublin, who will explore trends in media coverage of agriculture and its future.

Following the keynote, a dynamic panel discussion will feature four journalists exploring the evolution of agriculture reporting and the factors influencing editorial decisions.

Highlights of the day will include:

• Taste of Ontario lunch
• Food & Farming Champion Award
• Overview of FFCO Initiatives: Gain insight into FFCO’s achievements and future plans for advancing agriculture and food awareness.

Join industry leaders to connect, learn, and celebrate the intersection of media, agriculture, and community!

Early bird tickets are now available with prices increasing on March 28th.

Nominate a Food & Farming Champion

FFCO is now accepting nominations for its annual Champion Award, which honours individuals, organizations, or businesses that have made a significant impact in educating consumers about agriculture in Ontario. This award celebrates those who have worked to clarify misconceptions, promote agricultural practices, and raise awareness about the importance of the farming industry.



Nominations are open until March 7, 2025. If you know someone who deserves this recognition, we invite you to submit a nomination through the form provided.

Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies Convention February 20 & 21

The team at Farm & Food Care Ontario is pleased to attend the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) Convention on February 20 and 21, 2025. FFCO team members will be presenting, sharing resources, and connecting with fair organizers to support agricultural society fairs across Ontario.

Visit the booth in the Agriculture Education Showcase, where FarmFood360 will be featured, an interactive virtual reality tool that brings the on-farm experience to life. Plus, there'll be a variety of signage and materials to help you promote agriculture at your fair.

Don’t forget to grab your fair resource package, including a Resource Catalogue full of educational items for your events. We look forward to seeing you there and supporting your agricultural programming.

FFCO Webinar for communicators in the ag sector

How do you communicate with people who don’t care or don’t understand you?

“If you can understand how someone thinks about something, then you know how to talk to them in a more effective way.” -Dr. Sadie Hundemer

This session welcomes agricultural communicators, researchers, and educators to explore ways to refine communication strategies and build meaningful connections with non-farming audiences. 

Dr. Sadie Hundemer will discuss why science-based communication often fails to change perspectives. She will discuss the deficiencies of knowledge-based communication, the worldviews that motivate reasoning on scientific topics, and how to use value-based communication to effectively communicate across worldviews.

Waiting list for agricultural media training: March 27 or April 4

Farm & Food Care's agricultural media training sessions on March 27 and April 4, 2025, have SOLD OUT.

Due to overwhelming demand, we’ve opened a waiting list for those still eager to attend. If you would like to be added to the list or would like more information, please email us at info@farmfoodcare.org, and we'll notify you as soon as a spot becomes available or when another session is organized. The cost for the full day session is $400 for members and $500 for non members.

This promises to be an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on media training tailored to Ontario's agriculture industry. Stay tuned for more updates on future sessions.

In case you missed it: FFCO Member Forum Meeting

FFCO’s first Member Forum of 2025, open to Platinum, Gold and Silver members, was held virtually on January 23, bringing together members from across the province. To accommodate weather challenges that often impact January events, the forum was conducted entirely online .

This session featured insightful guest speakers, including three members from the OPP Provincial Liaison team. They shared valuable information about their role in responding to events like demonstrations, protests, rallies, vigils, and labour disputes. Additionally, Bridget Mahon and Dan Woods from the Western Fair District presented on The Grove @ WFD and their innovative AgRobotics Project, discussing opportunities for collaboration within the agricultural community. 

As always, members shared industry updates, highlighting market trends, upcoming events, and key issues currently shaping the agricultural sector.



Stay tuned for upcoming Member Forum meetings in 2025, which will take place on June 25 and September 24. These sessions are open to all Platinum, Gold, and Silver members.

Invest in your team’s success with FFCO Speaker Services – book a session today

Enhance your organization's professional development with tailored training and expert speaker services from Farm & Food Care Ontario.

Invest in your team’s success—book a session today.

Featured training:

• Agricultural Media Training: Media training gives participants a basic understanding of both urban and agricultural media as well as how to develop key messages and pose and answer questions. Advanced media training goes a step further and participants enroll in a full day session that includes two facilitators and a videographer. Half day and virtual courses also available.
• Social Media Sessions: Discover the dos and don’ts of online engagement and how to effectively advocate for agriculture.
• Boothmanship Training: Ensure your trade show presence is impactful with strategies for effective branding and engagement.
• Ag 101: A must for anyone looking to understand the basics of Ontario agriculture and engage confidently with clients.

Interested in booking a session or learning more? Varying amounts of free courses are available to Platinum, Gold and Silver members. Discounted rates are available for all FFCO members. Please contact us at info@farmfoodcare.org

Food Freedom Day

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has calculated that by Saturday, February 8, 2025, a Canadian household with average income will have earned enough to cover their entire year’s grocery bill.



Each year, CFA examines the proportion of income that Canadians spend on food to track year-over-year changes in food expenditure and help raise awareness of Canada’s food system, from Farm-Gate-to-Plate.

Given the significant inflation in food prices over the past few years, it’s essential to provide additional context for the Food Freedom Day metric. The average Canadian disposable income does not reflect the varied experiences of all Canadians, nor does it fully capture the impact of rising food prices on different households. While Canada’s food system continues to offer access to affordable food by global standards, inflation and other global factors have greatly affected food affordability and security.

To address this, CFA continues to analyze Food Freedom Day through a lens that considers the differential impacts food prices have on Canadian households, particularly in relation to income levels. This approach helps highlight the percentage of disposable income spent on food last year, shedding light on the broader challenges faced by Canadian consumers.

On Food Freedom Day, CFA will issue a press release highlighting the significance of this day.

Celebrate Canada's Agriculture Day: February 11th

Join us on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, as we celebrate the incredible individuals who make Canadian agriculture thrive. From farm to table, agriculture is key to our nation's prosperity and well-being, providing the food we love and rely on every day.

This Canada’s Agriculture Day, let’s honour the hard work, dedication, and innovation of farmers, food producers, and everyone in the agriculture industry. Stay connected with FFCO on social media, and use the hashtag #CdnAgDay to join the conversation. Together, we can spread the word about the vital contributions of agriculture to our communities and economy!

Member accolades:

Dairy Farmers of Ontario celebrate 60th anniversary at annual meeting

Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) kicked off its 60th anniversary year at the organization’s annual general meeting, held from January 14 to 16, 2025 in Toronto. The event focused on the accomplishments of 2024 and the strategies needed to continue growing Ontario’s dairy industry.

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. named as one of Canada's top 100 employers for young people in 2025

Congratulations to Maple Leaf Foods for this prestigious recognition and its ongoing dedication to empowering the next generation of talent.

The company was celebrated for its commitment to supporting young workers through initiatives like rotational programs, tuition assistance, and mentorship. These programs help young employees explore career paths, develop soft skills, and grow within the organization.

Platinum member testimonial - Egg Farmers of Ontario

Egg Farmers of Ontario (EFO) is a proud Platinum member of Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO). Over the many years of our partnership, our focus may have changed, but our shared values remain the same.

Farm & Food Care has been a valuable advocate for Ontario egg and pullet farmers. Their efforts in sharing the story of modern agriculture across the province helps extend our messages to a wider audience; from students in the classroom to chefs, Registered Dietitians, food writers and consumers.

Through our shared understanding of the importance of creating and continuing the conversation between farmers and consumers, EFO has been happy to work alongside FFCO to share the egg farming experience. Programs like Breakfast on the Farm, farm tours and sharing of resources all help to bridge the gap between rural and urban and engage with consumers. Many of our farmers have also been able to access FFCO programs and resources to help them become better egg ambassadors, and connect in meaningful ways with the public.

We view FFCO as a valuable partner in engaging with consumers and an excellent resource for our farmers. We are confident the relationship will continue to evolve with the changing consumer.

- Scott Helps, Chair, Egg Farmers of Ontario

FFCO welcomes new members

FFCO welcomes the following new members:

Silver member

• Barentz

Supporter member

• Three Roads Farms 
• Kevin MacLean - Ripplebrook Farms

Thank you for your membership and support as we continue to educate and bring awareness of food and farming to consumers in Ontario and across Canada.

Renew your membership for 2025

It's time to renew your FFCO membership for 2025. Individual and supporter members can visit the link below to renew your membership. Continue your support of the important work for Farm & Food Care Ontario and help build public trust and shared understanding of agriculture in Ontario.