Group proposes national collaboration to coordinate nutritional programs Thursday, March 15, 2012 by SUSAN MANNThe horticulture industry has an idea on how to reign in Canada’s ballooning healthcare spending crisis.In Canada, “we’re very lucky that we can grow a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables,” says Alison Robertson, chair of Hort4Health, a working group of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Horticulture Value Chain Round Table. The group is made up of farmers, retailers, food processors and input suppliers. But all Canadians must have access to the great produce farmers are growing and that’s why the working group is urging industry and government coordination and collaboration.Robertson says there are many individual or local nutrition programs and educational activities but there isn’t a national collaborative initiative. The working group is calling on provincial and federal ministries to work more collaboratively with each other along with farmers and non-government organizations active in the food and nutrition field.“Everybody’s working away at this but nobody seems to know fully what everybody else is doing,” she says. By working together “we can understand what everybody is doing and help them better than reinventing the wheel over and over.”Hort4Health delivered its message at a networking reception it hosted on Parliament Hill on March 12. More than 100 Members of Parliament, including Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, government staff plus agriculture and food representatives attended.Increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy diet and an active lifestyle may reduce the risk of some types of chronic diseases, promote healthier body weights and help improve the well being of Canadians.The government is already working to educate Canadians on healthy diets and lifestyles, she says, and involving industry could help their dollars go further. BF Normal Farm Practices Protection Board chair steps down Canadian Grain Commission weighs office move
The Ontario region names its provincial Outstanding Young Farmers of 2024 Friday, August 30, 2024 Image supplied by Outstanding Young Farmers Partners DJ Wassenaar and Matt Bergman of Haybury Farms Inc., located at Jarvis, were named for 2024 at their regional event held near Guelph on August 22, 2024. Matt Bergman grew up on a dairy farm and started farming for himself at the... Read this article online
Easy and Convenient Organization – Wherever You Go Friday, August 30, 2024 Byline: Nevan Hagarty and Braxten Breen It’s hard enough to maintain good organization on the farm, but when it comes to your tool bench, that’s where the real challenge begins. Not knowing where tools are, misplacing small fasteners and fittings, and forgetting that one specific... Read this article online
Agri-Tech innovation gets $22.6M boost in Ontario Friday, August 30, 2024 Investments in everything from electric sprayer for its field nursery crops to reverse osmosis equipment Ontario and Canada have jointly invested up to $22.6 million to support businesses in adopting innovative technologies and practices. The investments are to enhance the efficiency and... Read this article online
Ecorobotix appoints CEO for Swiss company’s NA division Thursday, August 29, 2024 Image supplied by Ecorobotix Inc. Ecorobotix Inc., the North American division of the Swiss ag tech and AI company, Ecorobotix SA, has appointed Cameron Holbrook as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ecorobotix Inc., established in 2023 and based in Salinas, California, brings the... Read this article online
OFA asking farmers to take Cultivating Local survey Thursday, August 29, 2024 The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is asking farmers to complete a survey about local selling opportunities. The organization is giving producers until Sept. 16 to fill out the Cultivating Local survey. “We’re looking to better understand farmers that are already or who want... Read this article online