Canada's organic trade now worth billions, research reveals Monday, April 15, 2013 by SUSAN MANN Fifty-eight per cent of Canadian consumers are buying organic products every week, reveals new research from the Canada Organic Trade Association. This diverse consumer base is helping to drive the phenomenal growth in the organic market that grew to $3.7 billion last year, the research further indicates. Initial results from the association’s organic market research program were released April 11, and indicate the value of the organic market has tripled since 2006, far outpacing the growth rate of other agri-food sectors. Shauna MacKinnon, association projects and development manager, says they don’t have numbers for Ontario yet as the first phase of the research focused on British Columbia and Canada as a whole. In September, the association plans to release a more detailed national report containing provincial numbers. But MacKinnon says based on analysis she has done so far Ontario “is one of the engines of growth because the market there is large.” Even though Ontario doesn’t have as high a market share for organics as British Columbia, it’s definitely catching up, she says. The research is the first data on the organic market since the Canadian government introduced national organic certification regulations in 2009. In provinces that had provincial organic certification programs, such as British Columbia and Quebec, the consumer market is further developed and more consumers are buying organic products. “There’s stronger support of organics,” MacKinnon says. But now with the national organic certification program that’s been in place for almost four years, provinces that previously didn’t have their own certification program, such as Ontario and Alberta, are catching up to ones that did. BF Ontario farm values vault to new heights Young farmers launch social media campaign
Be ready for your next flat tire Friday, May 30, 2025 By Braxten Breen Farms.com Intern The Andersen Hitches Rapid Jack is a three-in-one tool - a tire jack -- that can also be used as a post block or a wheel chock. Its main purpose is to help change tires on trailers, and this cool tool is made in the USA. It is an innovative Tire Jack... Read this article online
An Ontario Foodbelt? Two MPPs want to see it happen Friday, May 30, 2025 Ontario has a Greenbelt and a Whitebelt, and if two MPPs are successful with a piece of legislation the province’s future will include a Foodbelt. Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner (Guelph) and independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady (Haldimand-Norfolk) tabled Bill 21, the Protect Our... Read this article online
Livestock Research Innovation Corporation welcomes new board members Thursday, May 29, 2025 Two new board directors have joined the leadership of Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC). Mohamad Yaghi with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Sonya Fiorini from Burnbrae Farms both fill appointed director positions on the LRIC board. Yaghi replaces Franco Naccarato from Meat and... Read this article online
Canadian Farm Income Sees Sharp Decline Thursday, May 29, 2025 In 2024, Canadian farmers experienced a significant financial setback, with realized net income dropping by $3.3 billion, or 25.9%, to $9.4 billion according to Statistics Canada. This marks the steepest percentage decrease since 2018. When cannabis is excluded, the drop stands at... Read this article online
Did you Know you can Experience IPM 2025 in the Comfort of Your RV? Thursday, May 29, 2025 The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) is making a grand return to Niagara this fall for the first time in nearly a century. Visitors can now stay close to the excitement by booking a spot at the official IPM 2025 RV Park. Located just steps away from the main action, the... Read this article online