Ontario’s 450-odd processing vegetable growers have put up just three people to fill four open spots on the board of their marketing organization. The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG) on Friday announced the results from an election meeting for two District 1 directors, held Thursday evening in Chatham. Tomato and bean grower David Epp of […] Read more
Few stand for Ontario vegetable board elections
Chair, directors named for Ontario vegetable board
The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission has named a new chair and four directors for the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers board, with another four directors to be elected by growers this week. Suzanne van Bommel, a farm co-owner with a long history of work in the agriculture sector, has been appointed chair. The province dismissed […] Read more
Deal off for Imvescor’s veggie meals business
The Montreal parent firm for the Pizza Delight, Baton Rouge, Toujours Mikes and Scores restaurant chains will be hanging onto its prepared meals business for now. Imvescor Restaurant Group announced Friday it has terminated a deal it announced back in March to sell its Groupe Commensal subsidiary to an arm of processor Pasta Romana Foods […] Read more
Some Ontario farms could get minimum wage support, Wynne says
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne opened the door to potential support for some farming businesses during a rapid increase to a $15 minimum wage by 2019. Wynne spoke to reporters on the opening day of the International Plowing Match in Walton Ont., and refused to move on the aggressive timeline for the adoption of a $15 […] Read more
Alberta, feds back Lethbridge potato processing plant
The federal and Alberta governments are set to cover over $22 million in costs related to the construction of Cavendish Farms’ new potato processing plant at Lethbridge. The two levels of government on Monday announced $20 million for the City of Lethbridge for related municipal infrastructure developments, through the federal/provincial Clean Water and Wastewater Fund […] Read more
Mexico considers pork in response to NAFTA produce proposal
Mexico City | Reuters — Mexican negotiators are working on a response to informal U.S. proposals to include protections for fresh produce in the re-negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), two people briefed on the proposals said. U.S., Canadian and Mexican delegations finished a second round of talks last week to renegotiate […] Read more
U.S. retail, dining, ag sectors rip NAFTA produce proposal
Washington | Reuters — U.S. retail, restaurant and agriculture groups have weighed in against proposals regarding fresh produce put forward by U.S. negotiators as part of an effort to renegotiate NAFTA, according to letters sent to U.S. officials. Talks to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement resume this weekend in Mexico, the second round […] Read more
‘Natural’ food firm to buy cold-pressed juice maker
The owner of Life Choices Natural Foods and Rolling Meadow Dairy is set to expand its share of the Canadian juice market with a deal for the Toronto maker of Cedar organic and cold-pressed juices. GreenSpace Brands announced Thursday it has signed a cash-and-stock deal by buy the Cold Press Corp. for between $5.385 million […] Read more
Plant-based meats whet U.S. summer grilling appetites
Chicago/Reuters – Burgers made from plants instead of animals are capturing more space on U.S. barbecue grills this summer, fueling sales in the niche products that could reach $5 billion globally by 2020. Plant-based meat foods are now available that include beet juice for color and canola oil to simulate fat. These changes are not […] Read more
B.C. NDP’s ag critic named ag minister
The agriculture critic for British Columbia’s opposition New Democrats will be the minister of agriculture as the party takes the governing reins. Lana Popham, the MLA for the Vancouver Island riding of Saanich South, was named Tuesday as ag minister in Premier John Horgan’s cabinet. Horgan took over as premier after Christy Clark’s Liberals, who […] Read more
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