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In This Issue
- Breakfast on the Farm in Dublin, September 14, 2024
- Re-cap Local Food Week
- Ottawa Breakfast on Farm
- ICYMI: FFCO hosts Registered Dietitian Tour with CropLife Canada
- FFCO Member Forum meeting summary
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The Real Dirt on Farming media kit
- Resources and lending library
- Save the Date: 2024 Ontario Harvest Gala, November 28, 2024
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More than a Migrant Worker featured in LCBO's early summer Food & Drink magazine
- Order your "Life is Better on the Farm" T-Shirt
- FFCO welcomes new members
- Breakfast on the Farm guest testimonial
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Breakfast on the Farm: Dublin, September 14, 2024 | |
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On September 14, visit Hillmanor Farms to see how robots handle tasks like milking and feeding, showcasing the Louwagie family's commitment to efficiency and sustainability. Tour the new dairy barn designed for animal comfort and equipped with solar panels, which provide more than half of the farm's power.
Hillmanor Farms has been in the family since 1960 and is home to 340 animals. The farm features modern technology and innovation in agriculture. In 2022, Hillmanor Farms was recognized as one of Canada's top 25 best-managed dairy herds.
Guests will enjoy an all-Ontario breakfast, a farm tour, interactive educational displays, family photo opportunities, and a memorable experience!
Farm & Food Care and the Louwagie family are excited to welcome visitors to Perth County and are looking for volunteers to help make this event a success.
Volunteers will assist with:
- Serving an all-Ontario breakfast
- Guiding tours of the modern dairy barn, highlighting innovation and technology
- Facilitating conversations with local farmers
- Managing family-friendly interactive exhibits
If you interested in being a part of this event, please reach out to events@farmfoodcare.org
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Highlights from Local Food Week | |
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During Local Food Week, FFCO collaborated with AgScape and other members to organize three virtual food and farm field trips. Students had the opportunity to explore an Ontario feed mill at Wallenstein Feed & Supply Ltd., witness cheese production at Summit Station Dairy, and learn about growing onions and herbs at Brenn-B Farms. These tours attracted over 3,600 registered students, and the videos, which are still available, have been viewed by an audience of more than 14,000.
Additionally, FFCO created social media graphics for industry partners to use during Local Food Week. These graphics were downloaded more than 450 times, and hashtags like #loveONfood and #loveONTfood reached over four million people.
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Ottawa Breakfast on the Farm
On June 22nd, Eastern Ontario came together for Farm & Food Care Ontario’s second Breakfast on the Farm of the year at Blackrapids farm near Ottawa. Despite light rain, over 200 volunteers and exhibitors joined the Ruiter family in welcoming more than 2300 guests. Attendees were transported from a nearby park and ride via Ottawa city transit buses. Upon arrival, they enjoyed an all-Ontario breakfast with a side of milk. The Ruiter’s state-of-the-art dairy barn showcased fully automated feeding and milking systems for guests to see in action. The farm grounds featured over 20 exhibitors, including FFCO’s industry partners, alongside impressive livestock and equipment displays.
Guests savored strawberries from Shouldice Farms and Berry Growers of Ontario alongside treats like ice cream from Kawartha Dairy. They also had the opportunity to take home local mushrooms courtesy of Carleton Mushrooms and Mushrooms Canada.
Farm & Food Care Ontario extends heartfelt thanks to all partners, volunteers, local farmers, and especially to Peter, Rosemary, and the entire Ruiter family for their outstanding hospitality at this memorable event.
You can use this link to see a full list of event partners: https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ottawa-Thanks-to-our-partners.pdf
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ICYMI: FFCO hosts Registered Dietitian tour with CropLife Canada
Farm & Food Care Ontario was pleased to assist CropLife Canada on June 15 with a farm tour for international Registered Dietitians attending the International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics in Toronto. The Canadian Food Focus program managed by Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan, was also invited to participate.
FFCO organized the farm stops and all logistics for the day and helped as bus hosts, explaining sights along the route that guests were seeing.
Guests on the bus were from Israel, Japan, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico, Columbia and from across Canada.
The first stop of the day was Barlow Farms at Binbrook where Jeff Barlow and his father Earl introduced the group to their sixth generation farm and talked about the equipment they use and the crops they grow with a trip into the wheat field for a closer examination.
After lunch, the group toured Beverly Greenhouses at Waterdown, hosted by Jan and Daniel VanderHout whose family grows English cucumbers in 30 acres of greenhouses. They discussed markets for cucumbers, seasonal agricultural labour and their Integrated Pest Management plan that utilizes the raising of “good bugs” to manage “bad bugs” that threaten the crops.
FFCO appreciates CropLife Canada’s invitation to be part of the day.
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Guests at Barlow Farms near Binbrook | |
Touring Beverly Greenhouses | |
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June FFCO Member Forum: Key highlights and discussions
FFCO’s second Member Forum of 2024 took place on June 26 at the Grandway in Elora. FFCO would like to extend a thank you to Grand River Agricultural Society for providing the space for this event. The meeting, attended by both in-person and virtual members, featured engaging presentations from our member and guest speakers:
- Ron Campbell from Acute Environmental & Safety Services discussed Health and Safety Due Diligence in the workplace and its relevance to agribusinesses.
- Scott Ross, Executive Director of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, provided updates on the Canadian Grocery Code of Conduct and participated in a Q&A session.
- Emily Haramule, Manager of Public Affairs & Marketing at Turkey Farmers of Ontario, shared insights from TFO’s public trust initiative, TurkeyONTour: Lessons from the Road.
All member organizations in attendance shared industry updates including market statuses, upcoming events, campaigns and current issues.
The next Member Forum meeting for 2024 (open to all Platinum, Gold and Silver members) is scheduled for September 25.
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Above left: Ron Campbell, Acute Environmental & Safety Services, discussed health and safety due diligence in the workplace.
Above right: Scott Ross, Executive Director, Canadian Federation of Agriculture providing updates on the Canadian Grocery Code of Conduct.
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Above left: Emily Haramule, Manager - Public Affairs & Marketing, Turkey Farmers of Ontario, speaking about TFO’s public trust initiative.
Above right: A room full of FFCO members listening intently to Emily Haramule's topic.
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The Real Dirt on Farming media kit | |
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It's here! The newest edition of The Real Dirt on Farming is complete, and we are looking for your help spreading the word! The sixth edition is available in English and French as both a full and shortened digest publication and an online version at https://www.realdirtonfarming.ca/. With your help, we want to amplify and share this incredible resource across our platforms. The Real Dirt on Farming is everyone's guide to food and farming in Canada.
Included here is a link to a Media Kit. This kit provides graphics and assets that can be used on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram that outline some of the many topics covered in the publication. We've also included several caption ideas to make spreading the word about The Real Dirt on Farming easy.
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Resources and lending library
Do you have an event coming up this fall? FFCO has Ag Ambassador resources for those promoting agricultural awareness through events, fairs, etc.
Information sheets cover topics ranging from educational livestock displays to making sure important messages are displayed.
A library of lendable or custom resources is available for FFCO members at a supporter level or above. These include farm fact signs, speech bubbles, ag education signage, FarmFood360 kiosk and access to FarmFood360 videos.
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Save the date: 2024 Ontario Harvest Gala | |
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Join FFCO on November 28, 2024, in Guelph for an event celebrating the harvest and excellence across all sectors of Ontario agriculture.
The annual Farm & Food Care Ontario Harvest Gala brings individuals from all areas of agriculture, together in one room to celebrate our successes of the previous year.
The night will include:
- Cocktail reception & hors d’ourves
- Buffet dinner featuring Ontario’s finest foods
- Program featuring the presentation of the annual Paul Mistele Memorial Award
FFCO is currently seeking partners for this event, including general event sponsors, cocktail hour hosts, and dinner hosts. This year's theme, Boots & Bowties, invites you to dress in your finest boots and most stylish ties to celebrate the harvest season.
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More Than A Migrant Worker featured in LCBO's early summer Food & Drink magazine | |
The early summer edition of the LBCO's popular Food & Drink magazine hit shelves across Ontario in May. The magazine featured a full-page ad highlighting the More than a Migrant Worker (MTAMW) campaign and Michael Ferguson, a seasonal vineyard worker from Jamaica who works at Malivoire Wine Company in Beamsville.
The most recent edition of Food & Drink released in mid-June, as the LCBO’s summer issue, featured Delroy Martin, a seasonal apple farm worker from Jamaica who works at Nighthawk Orchards in Meaford. Both the early summer and summer editions are highly sought after by the magazine’s readership.
The placement of these ads by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association (in a project partnership with Farm & Food Care Ontario and many OFVGA members) boosts the successful MTAMW campaign. The campaign is aimed at sharing stories of the men and women who grow our food while answering people's questions about seasonal workers in the fruit and vegetable industry. More photo shoots are planned for the summer months.
Food & Drink is one of Ontario's most widely-read magazines, with a total readership of 2,748,000/issue.
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Order your "Life is Better on the Farm" T-Shirt | |
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"Life is Better on the Farm" t-shirts, designed for FFCO, are now available to order for $20.00.
Show your love for the farm life and your support for FFCO with these stylish and comfy tees. Order now and feel the farm vibes wherever you go!
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Member accolades:
Sue Hudson named one of Canadian Grocer's 2024 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner
Congratulations to Sue Hudson, Senior Director, Communications & Digital Marketing Burnbrae Farms on her award as a 2024 Shining-Level Star Women in Grocery.
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Sara Abe, Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd., and Spir Marinakis, Maple Leaf Foods, named Senior-Level Stars in Canadian Grocer's 2024 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner
Congratulations to Sara Abe, VP, Commercial Capabilities & Marketing
Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd., and Spir Marinakis, VP of Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Technical Services & Sanitation, Maple Leaf Foods on their awards as a 2024 Senior-Level Star Women in Grocery.
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Above: Sara Abe, VP, Commercial Capabilities & Marketing Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd.
Below: Spir Marinakis, VP of Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Technical Services & Sanitation, Maple Leaf Foods
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FFCO welcomes new members | |
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FFCO is pleased to welcome the following new members:
Gold member
- Hog Slat / Georgia Poultry
Supporter member
- Albion & Bolton Agricultural Society
- Arnprior Agricultural Society
- Belleville Agricultural Society
- Brooklin Agricultural Society
- Brussels Agri Services
- Cobdin Agricultural Society
- Grand Valley Agricultural Society
- Glencoe Agricultural Society
- Ilderton Agricultural Society
- Listowel Agricultural Society
- Mapleton’s Organic
- Massey Agricultural Society
- Millbrook Agricultural Society
- Mitchell & District Agricultural Society
- Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative
- Pontiac Agricultural Society/Shawville Fair
- Port Hope Agricultural Society
- Seaforth Agricultural Society
- Teeswater Fair
Individual members
- Lorna Wilson
- Steve Dolson & Karen Galbraith
- Haleyview Farms Ltd
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.
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Breakfast on the Farm guest feedback
"Exceedingly valuable. I am not from a farming community and have only lived in cities. The event was fun. It was also educational. It was such a good reminder of the importance of the farming community in Canada and it put a human face on it for those of us who only tend to drive by some of these lovely farms in our region. We need to support them."
Ottawa Breakfast Guest
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Become a Member
Did you know?
- You, your farm or your business can become a member of FFCO
- Your support in membership makes FFCO's work possible
- Corporate members ($1800+) can access free training and workshops
Not a member yet? Learn why others have joined FFCO.
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Not a subscriber? Become one here: | |
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