Gay Lea expands share of cheese market with purchase of Salerno Dairy Wednesday, February 5, 2014 by MATT MCINTOSH The family-owned Salerno Dairy Products Ltd. has been bought by Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd., Ontario’s largest dairy co-operative, for an undisclosed amount. Employing 185 people, the Hamilton-based Salerno Dairy manufactures and markets traditional Italian cheeses to retail stores, as well as other foodservice businesses and organizations. According to Gay Lea’s website, the Salerno Dairy’s wide range of products will help the co-operative “establish relationships with new customers,” and enhance their current position in the cheese market. “The co-operative manufactures a variety of dairy products, but has a very small cheese business,” says Michael Barrett, chief operational officer at Gay Lea Foods. “Cheese and yogurt are a very significant part of the market, and the Salerno purchase helps Gay Lea continue its growth into that cheese market.” Gay Lea reached a deal with Salerno this past weekend, and the company was bought, officially, on February 1. “With this acquisition we are merging two of Ontario’s best traditions: a farmer-owned co-operative and a family-owned business” says Paul Vickers, chair of Gay Lea Foods, on the co-operative’s website. Gay Lea Foods has five production facilities in Ontario, and is owned by approximately 1,200 dairy farmers. The co-operative’s sales reached $560 million in the last fiscal year. BF Call for water management project funding applications Wellington horseman's hydro woes shared by others across Ontario
Poll Reveals Mixed Public Sentiment on BC Ostrich Cull Decision Thursday, October 2, 2025 Farms.com poll shows divided opinions among Canadian farmers on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull. A recent poll conducted on Farms.com's X account @OntAg aimed to capture Canadian farmers' views on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull in British... Read this article online
New Ontario agrobotics challenge seeking high school submissions Thursday, October 2, 2025 A new competition for Ontario high school students is looking for innovative ways to solve challenges in the ag sector. The AgRobotics Ontario Challenge launched at the end of September. The competition is a collaboration between the Western Fair District, the Ontario Council for... Read this article online
Canada Post Strike Continues to Threatens Agri-Businesses and Rural Communities Thursday, October 2, 2025 The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling on the federal government to take swift action to end the ongoing Canada Post strike, warning that the disruption is causing serious harm to small businesses – including many in the agriculture sector. “The government’s... Read this article online
Farmland Values Climb Across the Prairies-Manitoba Leads, Ontario Holds Steady Thursday, October 2, 2025 Canadian cultivated farmland values rose by an average of 6.0 per cent in the first half of 2025, according to the mid-year farmland values review by Farm Credit Canada (FCC). This marks a modest acceleration compared to the first half of 2024, which saw a 5.5 per cent increase. Over... Read this article online
Setting Foundations for Higher Yielding Soybeans Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Farmers can achieve higher soybean yields by focusing on strong foundations and careful field management according to Shaun Casteel, Extension Soybean Specialist from Purdue University, who spoke at the in August. He emphasized that no single method guarantees success—each field... Read this article online