Local food bill returns to Queen's Park for third reading Tuesday, October 29, 2013 by SUSAN MANN A provincial government local food bill is coming up for third reading next week and possibly a vote by mid November, says Mark Cripps, communications director for the Ontario agriculture ministry. Premier and Agriculture Minister Kathleen Wynne “is committed to working with all the parties to ensure that the bill is passed,” Cripps says. Currently the bill is in second reading. On Monday, the Progressive Conservatives issued a press release outlining their proposed amendments to the bill, including making food education for all grades mandatory to increase students’ knowledge of nutrition and where food comes from as well as to improve their cooking skills. Other Conservative amendments call on the government to create a 25 per cent non-refundable tax credit for farmers donating their products to an Ontario food bank, requiring the agriculture minister to set targets for local food and moving Local Food Week to the first week in June from the proposal to have it happen the same week as Ontario Agriculture Week, which is the week just before Thanksgiving in October. Having Local Food Week during first week in June will kick off the summer local food season and create another opportunity to highlight local food, the press release says. Cripps says “there has been some great suggestions from the other parties that will only strengthen the bill.” BF Areas for bean research prioritized New foreign worker program targets high skilled workers for Canadian farmers
Rappa High-Speed Electric Fencing System Friday, June 12, 2026 Rappa has introduced its vehicle-mounted fencing solution, the Rappa Winder, to the U.S. market, offering a faster and more efficient way to install and retrieve electric fencing. The system reduces fencing time by up to 80 percent, allowing producers to deploy approximately 650... Read this article online
P&H and Picton Terminals officially open new Picton grain facility after months of early operations Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited (P&H) and Picton Terminals formally opened their new bulk agricultural marine terminal today, June 10, 2026—an event that marks the public debut of a facility that has already been operating for months. Construction wrapped up in February, with... Read this article online
Ontario Crops Show Strong Start Despite Weather Challenges Friday, June 5, 2026 Acorrding to the OMAFA fieldcropnews.com, crop conditions across Ontario indicate a generally positive start to the growing season, although dry weather and cool soil temperatures have created uneven growth and management challenges. Corn planting is nearly complete across most regions, with... Read this article online
Kudrinkos Store Shines with Farm Focused Award Thursday, June 4, 2026 A grocery store in Ontario, Kudrinko in Westport has been recognized for its strong commitment to promoting locally grown food and supporting farmers. The recognition was presented as part of a well-known provincial awards program that highlights retailers who actively encourage the sale of... Read this article online
Ontario Marks Local Food Week 2026 Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Local Food Week began on Monday, June 1and runs until June 7, 2026--celebrating the important role of farmers, food processors, and agribusinesses in Ontario, providing safe, healthy, and high-quality food for families while supporting the province’s economy. The government is highlighting... Read this article online