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
Ontario Grows Most of the Nation's Celery Friday, July 24, 2026 When Canadians reach for a stalk of celery at the grocery store, there is a good chance it began its journey on an Ontario farm. While celery occupies only a small share of Canada's overall vegetable acreage, the crop continues to play an important role in the country's fresh... Read this article online
University of Guelph Receives $1 Million Gift to Advance Sustainable Materials Research and Bioeconomy Growth Friday, July 24, 2026 The University of Guelph has received a $1-million gift from The WB Family Foundation to expand research into sustainable materials and support the continued growth of Ontario's bioeconomy. The investment will support the University's Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre... Read this article online
Southco Launches R4-50 Rotary Latch with Dual Triggers for Equipment Cabs Friday, July 24, 2026 Southco has launched a new cab access solution aimed at improving safety, durability, and ease of operation in demanding environments. The company’s latest product, the R4-50 Rotary Latch with Dual Triggers, is designed specifically for agricultural and heavy-duty... Read this article online
Zucchini Harvest and Summer Squash – Ontario leads the way. Friday, July 24, 2026 Ontario has the largest field vegetable sector in Canada, with approximately 859,000tonnesof field vegetables produced in 2024, representing about 34% of total Canadian field vegetable production. Quebec was second at about 694,000tonnes. Ontario also has the largest number of field... Read this article online
Pilot project supports Ontario and Quebec ag Friday, July 24, 2026 A new two-year pilot project is designed to help livestock farmers in Quebec by giving them access to an Ontario abattoir. The project, a collaboration between the Quebec and Ontario governments, with additional support from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), would see a limited... Read this article online