Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Holland Marsh Freshness

We're very excited here in the Holland Marsh. There is a new television show, Fresh Life, airing on SUN TV, and they are featuring the Holland Marsh in several episodes. The film crew has been in the Marsh since Monday filming different farmers and their crops. It's been really exciting. I have to share this story with you. On Monday when they first arrived at our farm we were combining carrots, and I had been working on the back of the combine with our farm assistant, Rick, (he's new to our farm) I was showing him what he is expected to do while working on the back. It was windy, warm and VERY dusty. My face was caked in muck, and the makeup lady, Brandie, asked if I wanted makeup. I asked her if she thought that would really help. lol We all laughed and left my face alone. I'll tell you one thing though, farmers really need to get the word out to consumers about what we REALLY do, and HOW we do it. These people were absolutely amazed, and some of the misconceptions about farming practices have been cleared up. Now, if we could just get some more government officials to come out and see, and learn about agriculture (all sectors), then maybe we wouldn't remain a "junior portfolio" with the Federal cabinet.

Views: 184

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wayne Black on September 17, 2009 at 3:57am
"farmers really need to get the word out to consumers about what we REALLY do, and HOW we do it. These people were absolutely amazed, and some of the misconceptions about farming practices have been cleared up."

Excellent work Avia. That is what we try to do each time we have friends and family from the urban areas visit. Do you know when Fresh Life will be airing or how to catch the episodes?

Wayne Black
Permalink Reply by Avia Eek on September 17, 2009 at 4:57am
Hi Wayne. Well, it's not all me, but thank you. My husband and I are members, and I am a director on the board of the Holland Marsh Grower's Association (we have an amazing board), and an equally awesome executive director, even though he likes to downplay his part in what we are doing. Believe me, anyone who will lend me their ear gets an ear full. We'll educate them one at a time! As for Fresh Life, it will be airing on SUN TV probably around November. Marty told me it will take a couple of months for editing, etc. In total the Holland Marsh is to be featured in 13 episodes, I will be in 4 of those!! I'll keep you posted through Ontag. They will also be doing segments on cheese, chefs, etc. . It's been one heck of a summer. I had an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister's wife this summer, and gave her a copy of a book about the Holland Marsh. The following week we had an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister himself. I spoke with him briefly, as well as Mr. Hudak. I think we are doing something in Queen's Park in October, where I plan to do more talking.

As an aside, our kids are always hearing me rant about how little the general public knows about what we do, and I guess some of that has rubbed off. My daughter is in Grade 11, and the teacher was talking about all the pesticides, etc that are on vegetables. Somehow the teacher made a specific reference to onions (we grow onions and carrots so Amanda knows what goes on) anyway, Amanda put up her hand and corrected the teacher. Advising her that 60 days before harvest no "pesticides" (weed spray) are sprayed on the crop. The class was silent, and the teacher stood corrected. One for the farmer's kid!!
Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on September 19, 2009 at 4:17am
Hi Avia: This sounds like a great way to get the realities of farming to the consumers. Let us know when the shows are available online and we will try to help promote them. Great work. Give you daughter a high five from all of us.

Joe
Permalink Reply by Avia Eek on September 19, 2009 at 3:33pm
Hi Joe. I think it's a great start regarding letting people know the realities of farming. One thing, well actually, two things that were priceless were when we pulled carrots out of the ground and started eating them, without washing them, just wiping them off, and then in a lettuce grower's field, we did the same thing, grabbed a head of romaine and started eating it--the looks on their faces, and just a little hesitation--priceless!

It seems our Holland Marsh farmers are a reticent bunch, but one way or another we'll get them moving again. I've been told my daughter is alot like me, God help her!!! lol

I'll let you know when the show is to be televised. Thanks again for your support!

Joe Dales said:
Hi Avia: This sounds like a great way to get the realities of farming to the consumers. Let us know when the shows are available online and we will try to help promote them. Great work. Give you daughter a high five from all of us.

Joe
Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on September 20, 2009 at 2:24am
Good work Avia and family.

We cash crop and city folk can't really relate to corn or beans...maybe wheat but that is a stretch.
Carrots and lettuce are food they recognize and know so I love the "we pulled carrots...and started eating them..."
I am looking forward to watching the show.

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Hursh: My canola acreage prediction

Statistics Canada will release a seeded area estimate on June 30. This will be based on data collected in late May and early June. I'm predicting a larger than expected increase in canola acreage. In its preliminary seeding intentions report back in March, Statistics Canada predicted a 1.0 per cent increase in Canadian canola area to 21.8 million acres. A lot has happened since then and canola prices have seen more strength than other commodities. Canola also looks good from a crop insurance coverage point of view even in non-traditional canola growing regions. Canola is already a large percentage of the cropland in central and northern areas of the grain belt limiting how much more it can increase. However, I believe acreage may have increased dramatically in many southern regions. In southwest Saskatchewan where I farm, I can’t remember seeing so many canola fields. Canola here still isn’t nearly as common as lentils or durum, but there’s a surprising amount of canola and mos

Seeding virtually done in Saskatchewan, though some acres unseeded

The latest provincial crop report indicates seeding is basically done in Saskatchewan as progress is marked at 99 per cent complete. A map of seeding progress province-wide shows an area from Hudson Bay down to Yorkton is between 85 and 95 per cent complete, with pockets at less than 80 per cent complete. The east-central region as a whole is at 96 per cent complete while other regions are at 99 or 100 per cent. However, three per cent of acres of the province went unseeded due to excessive moisture. "Similarly, three per cent of forage crops have excess moisture and are unlikely to produce a crop while two per cent of pastureland is not accessible or is unusable," states the report. "In areas experiencing reduced moisture, two per cent of the seeded acreage this spring in the province is affected. Five per cent of the forage crops may have yields significantly impacted, while five per cent of pastures may have reduced carrying capacity." Rainfall this past week delayed fieldwork,

Cereals Canada Releases its 2025 Annual Report

Cereals Canada has released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting a year of strong market development, technical leadership, and advocacy efforts that reinforced Canada’s position as a leading global supplier of high-quality wheat, durum, oats, and barley. Throughout 2025, Cereals Canada continued to support international customers and strengthen demand for Canadian cereals through targeted market development programming, technical expertise, and proactive market access engagement. Canada exported cereals to more than 80 countries, with cereal exports valued at approximately $12.8 billion annually, demonstrating continued global confidence in Canadian quality and reliability. A key priority throughout the year remained helping global customers understand and optimize the value of Canadian cereals. Through technical support, customer outreach, and crop quality programming, Cereals Canada worked closely with global buyers to ensure Canadian quality translated into measurable value throu

Cereals Canada Announces New Board Leadership

Adam Dyck, industry representative from Warburtons, has been elected Chair of the Cereals Canada Board of Directors. As Chair, Dyck will help lead the organization’s work to strengthen Canada’s position as a trusted supplier of high-quality wheat, durum, barley, and oats. Rounding out the executive committee is Josh Boersen, producer representative from Grain Farmers of Ontario, as Vice-Chair; Rob Stone, producer representative from Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, as Secretary; and Jean-Marc Ruest, industry representative from Richardson International, as Treasurer. The Board also welcomed four newly elected directors, whose insight and leadership will guide the organization’s efforts to support market development, customer engagement, and innovation across the cereals sector. “The Board of Directors plays a critical role in guiding our work on behalf of Canada’s cereals value chain,” said Dean Dias, chief executive officer of Cereals Canada. “We are pleased to welcome Ad

Knowledge Centre receives $2.6 million from Weston Family Prairie Grasslands Initiative

Stretching across Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba, Canada’s prairie grasslands support hundreds of species, including migratory birds, pollinators and people, while also sustaining soil health, water systems, livestock production, and Indigenous stewardship. Yet of the roughly 141 million acres of historical grasslands in Canada, only 26 million acres remain intact today. What remains of prairie grasslands represents a rare and urgent opportunity to protect biodiversity at scale. “Indigenous lifeways, languages, and food systems evolved with the environment, and these reciprocal relationships shaped the ecological processes that can restore the health of grasslands,” said Candice Pete-Cardoso, director of the kihci-okawimaw askiy Knowledge Centre at USask. The new Indigenous Grasslands Stewardship and Knowledge Exchange Network has been launched by the kihci-okawimaw askiy Knowledge Centre together with the Indigenous Kinship Circle (IKC). The IKC is a cross-boundary community of

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service