Processing industry looking to polish its image Tuesday, June 12, 2012 by SUSAN MANNThere’s a shortage of skilled labour capable of maintaining food-processing equipment and Ontario’s newly appointed Jobs and Prosperity Council needs to address it, says a food industry spokesman.Steve Peters, executive director of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors, says the food and beverage manufacturing sector is a major contributor to Ontario’s economy. It contributes 90,000 direct jobs and is a $39 billion a year industry for the province. The alliance represents more than 650 food and beverage processing companies in Ontario.He described the sector as the farmers’ best customer with 65 per cent of Ontario agricultural production being purchased by food and beverage companies in the province.“One of the things that needs to happen is the profile needs to be raised regarding job opportunities within the food and beverage sector,” he says, noting there’s a perception that food and drink manufacturing jobs are dirty and poorly paid but that is very far from reality.Peters says the council should also look at programs food and beverage manufacturers could use to upgrade their equipment. And it should look at how a better relationship between farmers, processors and retailers can be created. The government announced the formation of the council in this year’s budget and recently appointed 13 members plus chair Gordon Nixon, president and CEO of RBC, the Royal Bank of Canada, and its subsidiaries. The council will report directly to Premier Dalton McGuinty and have its first meeting later this month.Michael McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., is the only food manufacturer’s representative on the council.Peters says his appointment is a recognition by the government of the industry’s importance.The council’s mission is to generate new ideas and approaches for improving Ontario’s long-term productivity and competitiveness. It’s made up of leaders from business, labour and the research community. BF Shropshire sheep found Farm registration grinds to halt
Corn and Soybean Crops Fall Short in 2025 Predicts Great Ontario Yield Tour Thursday, August 28, 2025 Ontario’s 2025 corn and soybean harvest is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory, as persistent drought and heat have pushed yields below the Agricorp 10-year average say experts and master scouts Moe Agostino and Henry Prinzen of the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour.... Read this article online
Global grain trade gets a shake-up: What it means for Canadian farmers Thursday, August 28, 2025 The global grain and oilseed trading industry is undergoing a major transformation—and Canadian farmers should take note. A recently published study in the September 2025 issue of discussed how the traditional dominance of a few multinational giants is giving way to a more competitive,... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers Share Yield Strategies Amid Drought Wednesday, August 27, 2025 The Great Ontario Yield Tour held an event at Petersen Custom Farming in Osgood, Ontario, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The farmer panel during lunch was one of the highlights of the event. Farmers and industry experts gathered to discuss yield strategies and the realities of this season’s... Read this article online
2025 Livestock Tax Deferral Regions Announced Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has published the initial list of prescribed regions eligible for the 2025 Livestock Tax Deferral provision, a key support measure for Canadian livestock producers grappling with the impacts of extreme weather. “As we continue to see the very... Read this article online
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