Happy Earth Day! Here's some food & farming news from the Golden Horseshoe

Food and Farming across the Golden Horseshoe

The Art of Almost-Ready-To-Eat

Matt DuPerrouzel and Ezio Bondi have found success in salad kits.

“They were ripe for disruption,” says DuPerrouzel in this recent Canadian Grocer article, which goes on to explain that most salad kits are made by international companies using imported produce. Bondi and DuPerrouzel wanted to use local suppliers, with in-season produce.

“For a portion of the year, we can help our local farmers get to a segment of the grocery store they didn’t really have access to,” DuPerrouzel explains.

Read the full article here, and learn how they grew and adapted to eventually bring the salad kits into hundreds of stores in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic region!

Learn more

Hamilton dairy farmer Ben Loewith is among the first farmers to start genetically breeding cows to produce less methane, the greenhouse gas produced when cows burp.

The BBC recently featured Ben in a short video, check it out here!

“The thing about selective breeding is that there’s a cumulative effect," Ben explains in the video, "every generation that you continue to select for that trait, you’ll end up with animals that are producing less methane.”

A Food System Report Card for Durham Region

The Durham Food Policy Council has launched a Durham Food System Report Card, a comprehensive report that uses a Food Sovereignty framework to compile key metrics for success across all sectors of Durham’s local food system.

The Report Card may be used to track and promote the health of the Durham Region food system over time by:

reflecting priority action areas
drawing attention to gaps in available data
pointing to areas for further research and examination
informing the development of a food system strategy for Durham Region

Learn mor e.

Soil Health Testing

The Greenbelt Foundation is offering free soil health testing to eligible farmers in Niagara, York and Durham who grow grains or oilseeds. Each field sampled will receive a comprehensive soil health report including raw data values and interpretations for organic matter, aggregate stability, microbial respiration, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, among other metrics. The report also includes a customized management plan with recommendations and links to cost shared programs for practices that can help increase soil health on that field.

This is a great opportunity to uncover the health of your soil and take steps to improve it. To learn more and sign up, visit the Greenbelt Foundation's website here.

A National School Food Program for Canada

The Government of Canada has announced an investment of $1 billion over five years for a National School Food Program. Read the news release here.

The historic announcement has received lots of news coverage. The GHFFA, like many others, will stay tuned for details — we hope this investment helps bring more local food into our schools!

Documentary Series on Local Farms

Get to know some of our local farmers in the National Farmers Union (NFU)'s new documentary series, Depth of Field: Films About Farming!

Depth of Field is a collection of short films featuring 40 farms across Canada committed to sustainable practices, including 9 in Ontario.

Learn more and access the films on the NFU website.

OMAFRA Webinar

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is hosting a webinar on April 25th that will provide insights into the various services that they offer for food and beverage companies, including information sharing, available resources, programming and opportunities for building connections.

Brock U receives $3.5 Million

Brock University’s cutting-edge research that advances Canada’s grape and wine industry is expanding thanks to a $3.5-million grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation!

The funding will include the establishment of a Brock-led research farm where scientists from Brock, other institutions and industry will develop agricultural innovations.

Learn more here.

Some more food news to chew on...

In a new report, researchers at Ivey Business School offer evidence-based research, best practices and critical recommendations for Advancing Regenerative Agriculture in Canada

Ever tried python meat? Some scientists say it could be a sustainable, nutritious food source

After 20 years with Conservation Halton, Hassaan Basit reflects on Doug Ford’s cuts and how to enable development while protecting nature and future generations

Are you in or around Vaughan? Check out these five culinary gems

When Aaron Oosterhoff took over his uncle’s quail farm in Niagara, he set out to make quail eggs widely available on grocery store shelves

Check out these nine companies that have been chosen for IGA’s Local Accelerator program

As the Newmarket Farmers’ Market gets ready to launch its 25th season, the market has been named the best in Ontario by Farmers Market Ontario

Farm Credit Canada looks at how generative AI can play a role in your farm

Want to learn about the circularity and sustainability of plastics? Check out this new free eBook

Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance

www.FoodandFarming.ca