Information sharing would help apple farmers target consumers Wednesday, November 20, 2013 by MATT MCINTOSH Using information and traceability systems more effectively will make Ontario apples more competitive and profitable, says a new report by the Value Chain Management Centre and the Norfolk Fruit Growers Association. The two organizations produced the "Collaborating to Increase the Profitability of Ontario Apple Producers" report, which identified opportunities to "capture greater value from the production, grading, packing, marketing, and retailing of Ontario apples." The report found that relaying consumer trends to producers, who can then try and grow more specific products, would make Ontario apples more attractive to consumers. "We have to start producing what people want, not what we want to sell," says Tom O'Neill, general manager for the Norfolk Fruit Growers Association. "We gather a lot of information on the packaging and marketing side. If we can tell our producers that apples of a larger size, for instance, are favoured by consumers, they can grow apples to target that category," he says. However, O'Neill also says the report's conclusions are not strict science. "It's just a general way to utilize the information we have; Mother Nature still likes to play tricks on us every year," he says. Relaying information like the size of apple preferred by consumers, says the report, would not require a capital investment, but should still be considered along with other methods designed to improve productivity and cost-cutting. The project generating the report was funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program. BF Video highlights problematic dairy cow disease Two winners for Egg Farmers' New Entrant program
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
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
Effective Strategies for Corn Soybean and Wheat Thursday, October 2, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, effective crop residue management in corn, soybean, and wheat fields is key to profitability and long-term soil health. It begins at harvest, with combines and headers set correctly to size and spread residue evenly across the... 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