Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Local Food Initiatives Receive Funding: A Good Idea?

In early July, the Ontario Market Investment Fund announced funding for six new projects:
From The Grower website.

Grown in Windsor-Essex


Visitors to Essex County’s restaurants and casino will soon be more likely to find Ontario-grown foods on the menu. The Windsor-Essex Development Commission and the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association are working together to promote the wide variety of locally grown foods to the community, boosting the local economy and providing consumers with safe, quality products fresh from the field or greenhouse. The province is contributing $47,500 to this
project.


Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Map


If you’re looking for fresh produce in Chatham-Kent, you can locate it quickly with the Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map that will showcase local foods in the region. Events, sponsors and partners will be listed on the map. The province is contributing $9,275.


Sustainable Distribution Systems for Ottawa


Eastern Ontario’s organic farmers will be working to better market their products as the Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Organic Growers (COG) connects organic farmers with local retail and institutional markets. The COG will also expand its existing farm tours to raise awareness of sustainable agriculture. The province is contributing $25,000 to this project.


Finding Farm Fresh Products in Essex County


The Essex County Federation of Agriculture will develop, promote and distribute a “Buy Local” map to increase consumer awareness of the products available throughout the county. The province is contributing $21,000 to this project.


Ontario Berries


It will be easier to find fresh, Ontario-grown berries beyond the traditional growing season as the Ontario berry industry will be promoting their products to retailers through retail contests, media and trade events and advertising. In recent years Ontario farmers have extended the berry production season by adopting new technologies and introducing new varieties. The province is contributing $51,000 to this project.


Harvests of Haldimand


The Harvests of Haldimand Local Food Guide and Culinary event will develop a network between food producers, retailers, restaurateurs and tourism-based businesses, to increase awareness of the health and environmental benefits of local foods and its role in stimulating local economic
development for the county. The province is contributing $22,000 to this project.

With the announcement of these new projects, the four-year Ontario Market Investment Fund program has invested more than $2.7 million in 52 projects to date.

Views: 57

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sandra Dales on August 20, 2009 at 12:49pm
The OFVGA has a Buy Local Video. Click the link to watch the video and let everyone know what you think.

http://www.ofvga.org/movie.html

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

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

Trade with China

China’s Anti-Discrimination Investigation On March 8, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced the outcome of its anti-discrimination investigation initiated in September 2024 as a result of the federal government’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. In response to Canada, China’s State Council Tariff Commission will impose a 100 per cent tariff rate on Canadian canola oil and canola meal along with several other tariffs on other Canadian agricultural commodities as of March 20, 2025. Tariffs from the State Council Tariff Commission resulting from the anti-discrimination investigation are separate and distinct from China’s anti-dumping investigation into imports of Canadian canola seed which is ongoing. China’s Anti-Dumping Investigation On August 12, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced its preliminary ruling as part of its anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola seed imports. In its ruling, MOFCOM announce

Advocating for Trade and Market Diversification on The Hill

Canadian canola farmers are navigating major trade volatility. Ongoing tariffs have closed access to China, once a $4.9 billion market, while uncertainty around the upcoming Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) review is putting Canada’s two largest export markets under pressure. At the same time, Canada’s growing biofuels sector offers a valuable opportunity for canola farmers. With strong policy support, biofuels can drive new domestic demand for canola and reduce farmers’ exposure to trade disruptions. Canada’s canola farmers rely on predictable market access. These shifts show how quickly geopolitical issues and national policies can ripple back to the farm gate.  As the national representative of Canada’s 40,000 canola farmers, Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) has been front and centre with the federal government, calling for a political solution to the China tariff dispute and for a canola-friendly biofuels policy.  Canola’s Annual Lobby Day Every year, the Board o

Revitalizing rural and agricultural infrastructure

Since 2023, Alberta’s government has taken action to support ag societies through the Agricultural Societies Infrastructure Revitalization Program, strengthening the quality of life in rural communities. The program has delivered $7.5 million in total grants for 106 ag society projects over the past three years, including funds allocated this year. This funding has helped ag societies with improvements and repairs to commercial kitchens, roofs, horse riding arenas and heating and ventilation in ice rinks, and has increased accessibility and energy efficiency in rural facilities. Alberta’s rural communities need up-to-date facilities to promote community involvement and economic growth. These buildings are central hubs, offering residents the opportunity to gather, engage and connect with their neighbours. “Ag societies have an important role in the quality of life for Alberta villages, towns and rural communities. Throughout the year they welcome Albertans to community events, from l

Canada makes commitments to international ag

Canada will spend almost $400 million to support farmers around the world

Growth Promoters and the Environment Revisited

In October 2021, this column described a research project that examined how long residues from growth promoters persist in the feedlot environment. They learned that residues from trenbolone acetate (TBA; used in some growth implants to mimic testosterone) and melengestrol acetate (MGA; sometimes fed to heifers to suppress estrus) dissipate very quickly after they’re excreted. However, residues from ractopamine (a feed additive that improves feed efficiency, weight gain and leanness late in the feeding period) could be found on the pen floor for up to five months after it was last fed. Jon Challis and collaborators at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Saskatchewan recently published a follow-up study to learn whether manure composting, stockpiling or soil incorporation help break down ractopamine residues and whether ractopamine residues can affect hormone levels in other organisms that may come in contact with them in the environment (“Chemical and bioassay-based

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service