Agrifood producers in British Columbia who promote their wares using the word “organic” will soon have to show certification to back up the claim. The province on Thursday announced new regulations under its Food and Agricultural Products Classification Act that will allow for the term to be used “only if and when specific certification standards […] Read more
B.C. foods to require certification for organic claims
Switzerland to recognize Canada’s organic wine, processed foods
Canada and Switzerland have reached a deal to recognize each other’s organic certifications on wine and “multi-ingredient” foods. The two countries on Thursday announced expansions of their previous organic arrangement, which deems their respective certification systems to be equivalent for organic ag commodities and agrifood products. The amended deal takes effect Saturday (Oct. 1). The […] Read more
Top Canadian mushroom grower buys westward expansion
Canada’s biggest producer of mushrooms has expanded its reach into Western Canada with the purchase of one of the region’s biggest producers. Highline Produce announced Thursday it has bought Langley, B.C.-based organic mushroom producer All Seasons Mushrooms. According to Irish tropical fruit marketing giant Fyffes, which has owned Highline since April, it will pay $59.1 […] Read more
SunOpta pressured by shareholders after sluggish sales
Reuters – Canadian organic food company SunOpta Inc, already under pressure from U.S. hedge fund Tourbillon Capital Partners LP, is being prodded by a second activist shareholder to explore the sale of all or part of the company, according to sources familiar with the matter. Canadian hedge fund West Face Capital, which pushed SNC-Lavalin to sell […] Read more
Danone to buy U.S. organic foods group WhiteWave
Paris | Reuters — France’s Danone said on Thursday it would double the size of its U.S. business by buying organic foods producer WhiteWave Foods in a deal worth US$12.5 billion, including some $2.1 billion of debt and “other” liabilities. The purchase will help the French company to pursue affluent consumers by adding WhiteWave’s popular […] Read more
Wine, foreign content now covered in organic pact with EU
The deal that clears Canadian-certified organic food for sale as organic in the European Union is now expanded to cover Canadian-processed products with some imported ingredients — and to include organic wine. Canada’s Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan on Thursday confirmed the expansion of scope for the EU-Canada Organic Equivalence […] Read more
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to organic crop rotations
Three organic producers share their top tips for building a sustainable crop rotation — no matter what kind of operation you have
Reading Time: 4 minutes Organic crop rotations are “a real ball of wax to deal with,” says veteran organic grower Steven Snider. “There’s so many options out there. I think people would like for me to just tell them what to put in, and that would be nice and simple,” said Snider, who runs an organic grain operation near […] Read more
The 2016 edition of Alberta Farm Fresh School ready to roll
Event runs from Feb. 25-26 on the Olds College campus
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Farm Fresh School 2016 is coming up and commercial horticulture specialist Rob Spencer says it’s the perfect place to learn more about production and marketing. “This year’s event is being offered jointly by Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association and Organic Alberta,” said Spencer. “As a result, there will be sessions for organic grain […] Read more
McDonald’s to offer first-ever organic burger, in Germany
Reuters — McDonald’s will offer its first-ever 100 per cent organic beef hamburger for a limited time in Germany, as a growing number of global diners demand food that is more natural and less processed. From Oct. 1 to Nov. 18 McDonald’s will offer “McB” burgers, made with organic beef sourced from organic farms in […] Read more
Organic Beef Mentorship program taking applications
Reading Time: < 1 minute The 2015 Organic Beef Mentorship program is open for applications. “Organic Alberta offered the program last year with four pairs of mentors and mentees,” said Melisa Zapisocky, livestock manager with Organic Alberta. “The program was a big success and we’ve decided to offer it again this year.” Under the program, selected transitioning producers, including those […] Read more
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