Prince Edward Island’s potato industry can expect a substantial blow this fall as french-fry giant McCain Foods moves to close its processing plant on the island by the end of October. The New Brunswick company, which supplies fries to both the retail grocery and restaurant and foodservice sectors, announced Thursday it will “cease operations” at […] Read more
McCain to shut P.E.I. fries plant
Feds fund poultry code updates and hort programs
The federal government has announced funding of over $2 million to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) to develop and update poultry codes and further advance best practices for the care and handling of other farm animals. The government has also announced funding of over $1.4 million for the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to […] Read more
Asparagus operation a labour of love for Innisfail growers
The tender vegetable isn’t supposed to grow in central Alberta — but that didn’t stop the Edgar family
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you asked her today, Elna Edgar would admit that the folks at Alberta Agriculture were “absolutely right” 30 years ago when they said asparagus couldn’t be grown in their little corner of central Alberta. “It’s the most quirky, odd, drive-you-crazy vegetable that you can imagine,” said Edgar, who owns and operates Edgar Farms near […] Read more
Juice maker Lassonde buys further into U.S. market
Quebec-based fruit juice processor Lassonde Industries plans to buy its way further into the U.S. juice market — this time in the branded juice business, with a play for a national-level manufacturer. Lassonde and its founding family on Thursday announced an agreement to buy privately-held Apple + Eve, LLC of Port Washington, N.Y. for $150 […] Read more
U.S. goes into battle against deadly orange disease
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday a total of US$31.5 million in funding to combat a plant disease that threatens to devastate Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry and has driven up the cost of a glass of orange juice. As many as 70 per cent of Florida’s citrus trees […] Read more
Deal sealed to save Ont. tomato processing plant
Farmers around Leamington, southwestern Ontario’s tomato-growing capital, will continue to supply tomatoes to the local 105-year-old processing plant under new management. Michael Mullen, senior vice-president of corporate and government affairs for U.S. food processing giant H.J. Heinz, confirmed Tuesday the company has completed its deal to sell the Leamington plant to Highbury Canco, a consortium […] Read more
New rules to ease seed potato exports to U.S.
New changes to the guidelines meant to keep potato cyst nematodes (PCN) in check are expected to reduce the cost and testing burden on seed potato growers exporting to the U.S. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture announced adoption of their revised guidelines Tuesday. Seed potato growers, effective immediately, can be […] Read more
Red wine a winning investment in 20th century
London | Reuters — Forget government bonds, fine art and even stamps: red wine outperformed them all over the 20th century. At least that’s what research by a team of academics from the University of Cambridge, HEC Paris and Vanderbilt University of Nashville shows. The Warren Buffetts of the fine wine world could have earned […] Read more
N.S. backs apple orchard renewal plan
Nova Scotia’s government and apple industry will put up seven figures over the next six years to update over 400 acres of the province’s apple orchards with new varieties. The apple sector will put $6.9 million into the program while the provincial ag department will put up a total of $2.2 million over six years, […] Read more
U.S. becomes world’s biggest wine market as French drinkers cut down
Paris | Reuters — The United States became the world’s biggest market for wine last year, beating France into second place for the first time as consumption slides in the country long seen as its natural home and Americans develop a greater taste for it. U.S. consumers bought 29.1 million hectolitres of wine in 2013, […] Read more
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