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 Fruit & Vegetable Convention Names Douglas Darling as President Wednesday, May 20, 2026 The Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention (OFVC) has named Niagara-based grower Douglas Darling as its new President, marking a leadership transition as the organization prepares for continued growth and innovation within Ontario’s horticulture sector. Darling, with Sunnydale Farms in... Read this article online
Sunrise Farms invests over $100 million to build advanced poultry plant in Woodstock Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Ontario’s agri‑food sector is set for another major boost as Sunrise Farms announced an investment of more than $100 million to build a state‑of‑the‑art poultry processing facility in Woodstock. The expansion—described as the largest greenfield project in the company’s history—will create... Read this article online
Simple Breeding Boosts Bee Survival Wednesday, May 20, 2026 To celebrate World Bee Day, May 20, we thought some good news about bees would be welcome. Honeybee colonies continue to face serious losses each year due to many challenges. Changes in weather, climate conditions, and land use all affect bee health. However, Varroa mites remain the... Read this article online
Protect Lake Simcoe from Water Soldier Spread Monday, May 18, 2026 Residents and visitors in Ontario are being encouraged to protect Lake Simcoe from watersoldier, a fast-growing invasive aquatic plant. This plant spreads quickly in shallow water and along shorelines, making activities such as swimming, fishing, and boating difficult. It can also pose a... Read this article online
90 percent of agri-businesses are concerned about the future of Canadian agriculture Thursday, May 14, 2026 Canada’s agriculture sector is facing a prolonged period of low confidence and limited growth, raising concerns about its long-term resilience. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), agri-business sentiment remains near the bottom across all industries, with... Read this article online