Wynne Makes Pitch in China to Alibaba to Sell Ontario Agri-Food Products. Is there anything Ontario farmers or the ag industry can do to help?

Premier Kathleen Wynne is in China on a one-week trade mission and is keen to sell more agri-food items. Officials met with senior executives at Alibaba, aiming to convince the Chinese online shopping giant to carry Ontario made products.

In this Toronto Star article the interest by the company sounds very positive: http://www.thestar.com/business/2014/10/29/wynne_woos_alibaba_in_ch...

Is there anything Ontario farmers or the ag industry can do to help?

What else can Kathleen Wynne do to help the agri-food industry in Ontario?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on November 2, 2014 at 5:06am

The government is investing $713,000 to Martin’s Family Fruit Farm to adapt their processing equipment for the slicing and dehydration of fresh vegetables into chips.

“This type of innovation is key to creating jobs and increasing profitability for farmers,” said MP Harold Albrecht, who made the announcement on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

The company already makes apple chips at their processing facility in Elmira. They will work to develop a dehydration method for potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and tomatoes. Martin’s will also design and install processing equipment for large-scale production.

“This project will help create jobs and increase demand for vegetables leading to increased opportunities and greater profitability for farmers,” Albrecht said.

The money comes from the AgriInnovation program. Albrecht said the goal of the program is for Canadian producers to benefit from cutting edge science and technology while boosting the economy.

“When we think about innovation in Waterloo Region, we think about computers and digital media, but Martin’s Family Fruit Farm are a shining example of the innovation occurring at the farm gate,” Albrecht said.

“It’s exciting to see the growth from where we came from, from the first hundred apple trees that my father planted in ’71 to where we are now,” said Kevin Martin, the President of Martin’s Family Fruit Farm.

▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

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

North American Farm Groups Unite to Strengthen USMCA/CUSMA Ahead of 2026 Review

Farm organizations across North America are urging governments to reinforce CUSMA/USMCA, warning that stability in cross-border trade is essential to producers in all three countries.

US Cuts Tariffs on Agricultural Machinery to 15% - What It Means for Farmers

The U.S. is reducing tariffs on farm equipment imports, a move expected to ease cost pressures for farmers and support equipment investment.

Farmer wellness initiative offers support across Ontario

The mental health of Ontario farmers is receiving greater attention through the Farmer Wellness Initiative, a program designed to support the well-being of farmers, farm workers, and their families across the province. Operated through Agriculture Wellness Ontario, the initiative offers free and unlimited counselling services tailored specifically to the agricultural community. Farming is often described as more than just a career; it is a lifestyle that comes with long hours, financial uncertainty, unpredictable weather, and emotional stress. Recognizing these challenges, the Farmer Wellness Initiative provides access to trained mental health professionals who understand the realities of agricultural life. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through a confidential helpline. The program is open to Ontario farmers, farm employees, international agricultural workers, and family members over the age of 16. Youth between 12 and 15 years old may also access services wi

Ontario's pitch to expand northern farming sparks questions from farmers, food security experts

Ontario is pitching its plan to expand agriculture in the north and restrict foreign ownership of farmland as a way to strengthen food security and protect farmers. But some farmers, researchers and environmental advocates say the proposed legislation leaves unanswered questions about land ownership, affordability and whether more production would improve food access in the north. The province introduced the Protecting Ontario’s Food Independence Act, 2026 on April 22. The bill would limit foreign ownership of farmland and “unlock” agricultural potential in the Clay Belt — a region of fertile soil in northeastern Ontario and northwestern Quebec covering 180,000 square kilometres. In a statement to CBC News, the Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth said expanding agricultural access in the Clay Belt would help farmers grow their businesses, create jobs, increase local production and strengthen domestic supply chains. Province says Clay Belt offers growth opportunity

Rapid seeding progress made in some areas of the province

Farmers are dealt with all kinds of weather conditions this spring. The mixed precipitation in late-April, subsequent rainfall, and the recent heat wave resulted in producers beginning seeding operations one week or more later than normal. Jeremy Welter farms in the Kerrobert area in west-central Saskatchewan and is also a Vice-President with the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS). He said while the warm weather allowed them to catch up, it did provide a challenge to equipment. "The high temperature did certainly help to dry land out so the guys could get on it. That being said, those really hot days, they add a lot of stress to your machinery," he said. "You really notice it when you get out of the tractor. Even on a cool day, the tractor's blowing a lot of warm air off of it, but on those plus 35 days that temperature is as hard on equipment as it is on people, so it definitely creates additional challenges." In the Kerrobert area, they're about a week to

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service