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  • FFCO's Gala in a Box - November 14, 2020
  • Wellington Federation of Agriculture trail sign project
  • RAWF Food & Nutrition Forum - November 10, 2020
  • FFCO Speak Up training available online
  • Faces Behind Food continues to grow
  • Two FFCO projects finalists in CAMA Awards
  • Meet a Member - Ontario Apple Growers
Fifth edition coming...
NOVEMBER 14
2020
Program registration still open for FFCO's Gala in a Box

Farm & Food Care Ontario's annual Gala will be held virtually on November 14, 2020.

While boxes are officially sold out, guests can still register, at no charge, to attend the evening's program which will feature presentation of the FFCO Champion Award, Feed Ontario's Paul Mistele Award, a live Ontario tourism auction and an unveiling of The Real Dirt on Farming.

To register or learn more, click here.
FFCO and Wellington F of A cooperate on trail sign project

Farm & Food Care Ontario is pleased to have assisted the Wellington Federation of Agriculture in the recent development of a set of five signs to be put up on walking trails in the area including the Kissing Bridge section of the Guelph to Goderich (G2G) trail. Trail associations will be able to order the set of five signs, including mounting posts, at a cost subsidized by the WFA.

The project updates a 2006 initiative by FFCO’s predecessor group, AGCare, with funding from the Greenbelt Foundation and many conservation partners which saw a series of interpretive signs go up along hiking trails across the Greenbelt through a project called Agriculture Hits the Trails. Many of those signs are still in place.

The new signs explain different aspects of farming and feature profiles on Wellington County farmers including the Israel family (pigs), the Schill family (sheep) and the Harrop family (dairy). The signs also explain types of crops grown on farms in the area and explain things that people might see when they’re driving in the area – like Environmental Farm Plan signs or the Wellington County Rural Water Quality Program.

OFA’s Proud to Lead program and Farm Credit Canada assisted the WFA with funding for this project. Farm & Food Care donated time to lead the design work.

Any Farm & Food Care member groups/county organizations in other parts of the province interested in designing locally-focused signs for trails in their area should contact info@farmfoodcare.org.
One of the trail signs featuring the Schill family.
One of the trail signs featuring the Israel family.
2020 Virtual Food & Nutrition Forum

The three Farm & Food Care organizations across Canada (Saskatchewan, Ontario and Prince Edward Island) will be partnering with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) to host a virtual Food & Nutrition Forum on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern.

Registration is free of charge to attend, thanks to the support of partners including Canada Beef, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Mushrooms Canada, Canola Eat Well and Grain Farmers of Ontario.

Annually, the event held at the RAWF attracts Professional Home Economists, Registered Dietitians, dietetic instructors, nutritionists, chefs, culinary instructors, other health professionals and more. This year's conference has been designed to appeal to a national audience of attendees across all time zones.

The four keynote presentations include:

  • Dr. Sara Place, Chief Sustainability Officer for Elanco Animal Health on the topic: The Real Impact of Livestock Farming on the Environment;

  • Chicago-based, award winning Registered Dietitian Melissa Joy Dobbin talking about "From Science to Soundbites - Connecting the Dots and Communicating the Facts". Dobbin is best known for her Sound Bites® Podcast and her media training workshops for dietitians and other health professionals. Presented by Egg Farmers of Ontario

  • A cross-Canada farmer panel answering delegates' questions about food and farming in their part of the country

  • A release of the 2020 Public Trust Research Data from the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity. CEO John Jamieson will focus on how Canadians really feel about the food they eat and those who provide it; how public opinion has been impacted by COVID-19 and whether those views have changed compared to last year.


Registration is now open on the RAWF website at www.royalfair.org/virtual. Select The Royal Food & Nutrition Forum on the registration page and a confirmation and calendar invitation will be emailed to you. 

Keynote Speakers
Dr. Sara Place
Chief Sustainability Officer for Elanco Animal Health

What’s the real impact of livestock farming on the environment?
Melissa Joy Dobbins
"The Guilt Free RD" and host of the Sound Bites® podcast

"Because food shouldn't make you feel bad!"
John Jamieson
President and CEO, Canadian Centre for Food Integrity

Release of the 2020 Canadian Public Trust Research
Speak Up training available online

Wednesday, November 25, 7 to 9 p.m. (Via Webinar)

The Speak Up team concept was developed more than 15 years ago and has now expanded across the country.

This condensed, online two-hour workshop will help give participants confidence to tell their stories, in an easy-to-understand and compelling manner. This could be of use in media interviews, in tours of ranches or farms, at council meetings, to service club members, to school groups and more. In this session, you’ll learn about the average Canadian including how much they know and want to know about where their food comes from. You’ll also learn ways to use social media to tell your story.

Space is limited to 25 participants. The cost is $25.
Faces Behind Food project continues to grow

Photography work for @FacesBehindFood, an online initiative hosted on Instagram and Facebook, has been ongoing through the summer of 2020 with photo shoots scheduled in Barrie, Chatham, Leamington and Niagara. Future shoots are being planned for other parts of the province and submitted photos are also always welcome.

Growing in exposure since its launch in 2019, this project is now attracting more than 100 new followers each month and, since July, has had 224,186 impressions on social media. A profile on livestock transporter, Ben, was one of the top profiles of the last season, with 41,268 impressions. A new series of stories is profiling Temporary Foreign Workers and Seasonal Agricultural Workers in their jobs on Ontario farms and greenhouses.

Diversity in agriculture is key to the success of this project. If you have story that you think should be told or a person you think we should profile, email info@farmfoodcare.org

In 2021, the project will grow to include video components and a new Ask-a-Question "Speakers Corner" type of kiosk that can be taken to agricultural outreach events across Ontario.

This project is funded, in part, through the AgriCompetitiveness program of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.
Ben, Ontario Livestock Transporter
Pieces, Seasonal Agricultural Worker on an Ontario fruit farm
Finalists in two CAMA categories
Farm & Food Care Ontario is a finalist in two categories for the 2020 Best of CAMA awards hosted by the Canadian Agri Marketing Association.

The FarmFood360 Virtual Reality tour project, a partnership of Ontario Pork and FFCO in 2019 and filmed by Farm Boy Productions, is a finalist in the category of "Company or Industry-Funded Public Relations Tactic Directed at the General Public".

The Faces Behind Food campaign is a finalist in the category "Social Media Campaign Directed at the General Public".

Farm & Food Care was also recognized for its Farm to Facebook online farm tour initiative in a special category called "Covid-19 Response". That category is for projects generated or implemented because of the pandemic.

Awards will be handed out in a virtual ceremony on November 19, 2020.
Meet a member - Ontario Apple Growers

Ontario Apple Growers has over 200 grower-members farming apples on 15,000 acres across the province. Since 2004, our association advocates on behalf of Ontario apple growers and connects with consumers to share information about the variety, availability and versatility of Ontario apples and build trust in our local food system. Our invaluable partnership with Farm and Food Care Ontario (FFCO) is key to our collective efforts. 

The team of dedicated staff at FFCO have championed the agricultural industry for nearly ten years. Initiatives such as their Dietitian & Food Influencer Farm Tours and other events (we love “Breakfast on the Farm”!) resonate with us, our growers and our consumers. 

The Real Dirt On Farming, FarmFood360 videos and their Faces Behind Food posts educate consumers on the truth in agriculture and helps to dispel misconceptions surrounding the agriculture industry. We greatly appreciate their efforts and the work is so vital.

Awareness of ‘where food comes from’ could not be more relevant during these challenging times. We are grateful that an association like FFCO exists to support our members so they can continue to provide Ontarians with a safe, reliable food source for years to come.