Whole Foods introduces 'value-oriented' stores Sunday, October 4, 2015 Saddled with the moniker "whole paycheck" because of its prices, premium grocer Whole Foods will open its first five "value-oriented" concept stores branded "365 by Whole Foods Markets" next year in the United States.These stores will carry its private brands promoted as "products that can fill your pantry without emptying your pocketbook." The stores will carry products made from whole grain flours, "shade grown coffee," organic milk and frozen vegetables, presumably also organically grown. Animal welfare and meat quality standards will be maintained, including "no antibiotics, ever."There is no indication if this concept will come to Canada, or if some of the "savings" will be taken by lower prices paid to suppliers, i.e. farmers, who do a lot more work to get a premium price for their products.In its last fiscal year, Whole Foods reported sales of US$14 billion from 421 stores in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. According to its website, there are six Whole Foods stores in Ontario. BF Judge says Chinese ownership irrelevant Behind the Lines - October 2015
First Northern Cohort Joins Ontario Vet Program Thursday, September 4, 2025 This September, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph welcomed its inaugural Northern Cohort of 20 students through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP). This initiative, created in partnership with Lakehead University, marks a milestone... Read this article online
Manitoba Farmers Defend Their Whisky Roots Amid Ontario Backlash Thursday, September 4, 2025 As most reader will know by now, on August 28, beverage alcohol giant Diageo announced it will be closing its Amherstburg, Ontario bottling plant. Located just 25 kilometres from the nearest U.S. border crossing, the company says the decision is part of a strategy to streamline its supply... Read this article online
Global grain trade gets a shake-up: What it means for Canadian farmers Tuesday, September 2, 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
Canadian Farmers Face Weaker Soybean Yields Ahead Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Statistics Canada forecasts that Canadian soybean production will decline in 2025, reflecting weaker yields across major producing provinces. Nationally, output is projected to fall by 7.3% year over year to 7.0 million tonnes. The decline is linked to a drop in yields, which are expected... Read this article online
Canadian Corn Outlook Shows Mixed Regional Trends Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Statistics Canada projects Canadian corn-for-grain production to grow slightly in 2025, despite drier-than-normal weather and high temperatures that have pressured yields. National production is forecast to rise 1.4% year over year to 15.6 million tonnes. This gain comes from higher... Read this article online