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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Healthier products, fewer sales?

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Fewer chocolate fountains, more oil free salad dressings. That's Whole Foods CEO John Mackey's recipe for the future, according to Associated Press. Goodbye to food as an indulgence and hello to food as a key to health.

The latter was behind Whole Foods' early years of success. But indulgence became the mainstay of business in later years and those chocolate fountains, into which shoppers could dip morsels of fruit, for example, were the centre of some stores. Farmers who are suppliers of products that align with pricey imported sea salts and truffle oil should take note.

The reason for the change is not altruistic. Whole Food's business suffered when the recession crimped spending and indulgence fell out of fashion. But aging baby boomers want to live longer and healthier. Whole Foods plans to introduce nutrient density labelling, showing the amount of nutrients per volume of a grocery item.

Might be good for customers' health. Might not be good for sales. A study conducted by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, and published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that consumers who saw the calorie label and a notice that the recommended daily caloric intake for an average adult is about 2,000 heeded the hint to cut back. They ate 1,380 calories at a dinner meal, about 250 calories fewer than if there was no list and no notice of the cue to healthier eating. BF
 

Current Issue

September 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Festival of Guest Nations returns to Leamington

Friday, September 12, 2025

On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Seacliff Park in Leamington, Ontario, will come alive with music, food, and celebration as the Festival of Guest Nations returns to honour the migrant worker communities who play a vital role in Essex County’s agricultural economy. With more than 20 years... Read this article online

York Region launching new Agri-Food Startup Program

Thursday, September 11, 2025

A new program in York Region is designed to help entrepreneurs find their footing in the food space. The 14-week hybrid Agri-Food Start-up Program partners entrepreneurs with local organizations like the Foodpreneur Lab, Syzl, York Region Food Network, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island... Read this article online

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Wednesday, September 10, 2025

As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, as well as in previous articles by Farms.com, the 2025 growing season is nearing its end with corn and soybean farmers in Ontario and the U.S. Corn Belt facing disease challenges that reflect changing weather conditions. For corn, two... Read this article online

Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online

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