In This Issue

• Breakfast on the Farm in Ottawa, June 22, 2024
• Local Food Week, June 3-9, 2024
• Virtual field trips for Local Food Week
• ICYMI: The Real Dirt on Farming Educators' Guide available now
• Now available: The Real Dirt on Farming digest version
• FarmPhotos.ca update
• Proudly Presenting Agriculture booklet now online
• Order your "Life is Better on the Farm" T-Shirt
• Member Accolades
• Gold member testimonial: Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario

Three weeks remain until FFCO's second Breakfast on the Farm of the year. The Ruiter family of Blackrapids farm in Ottawa will welcome guests and volunteers to their dairy farm on June 22, 2024. The event is rapidly coming together, with more than 20 planned on-site activations and booths put on by incredible partners.

With the farm's proximity to Ottawa, FFCO anticipates a record number of guests attending this family-friendly event. Guests will tour the barn (home to 110 animals), and witness robotic milking and feeding while engaging with and learning from the farm family, many farmer volunteers, and cross-commodity agri-food partners.

FFCO will be shuttling guests to and from the farm from a nearby car park. Farmer hosts will be on each shuttle bus to welcome guests, share their agricultural expertise, and answer any questions, providing a unique opportunity for direct interaction.

FFCO looks forward to welcoming BOTF visitors who will experience Canadian farming firsthand, see animals, equipment, and crops up close, and enjoy a delicious all-Ontario breakfast!

The countdown is on!

If you interested in being a part of this event, please reach out to events@farmfoodcare.org

Local Food Week, June 3-9, 2024

Local Food Week is June 3-9, 2024 and we're here to celebrate the amazing farmers and food processors who work hard to produce fresh, healthy food every day right here in Ontario! From farm to table, let's support our Ontario food industry.

Show your love for Ontario food using #loveONTfood all week long on various social media channels.

Virtual field trips for Local Food Week

FFCO, in partnership with AgScape, will celebrate Local Food Week by hosting three virtual food & farm field trips this week at 10 a.m. EST. 

Tuesday, June 4: Onion & Herb farm, hosted by Brenn-B Farms.

Thursday, June 6: Feed mill, hosted by Wallenstein Feed & Supply Ltd.

Friday, June 7: Cheese production, hosted by Summit Station Dairy.

The tours will be live on Facebook and YouTube for all to watch.

In case you missed it: The Real Dirt on Farming Educators' Guide now available

Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and Farm & Food Care (FFC) are pleased to release the next edition of The Real Dirt on Farming in the Classroom e-learning resource. This innovative partnership aims to provide Grade 7-12 students across Canada with the opportunity to explore key topics related to the agriculture and food industry.

Designed as a comprehensive educational tool, The Real Dirt on Farming in the Classroom offers students the chance to engage with a wide range of topics, including the diverse individuals working in the agriculture and food industry, sustainable farming practices, the impact of climate change on agriculture, innovations in the field, animal welfare and much more.

Now available: The Real Dirt on Farming digest version

With more than five million copies of The Real Dirt on Farming distributed across Canada since 2006, there is no question that this is an important agricultural information sharing resource.

This is why Farm & Food Care now offers the publication as both a full and condensed “digest version”. The Real Dirt on Farming Digest is now available. It can be ordered in both English and French and can be purchased in larger quantities (500/box) to make distributing it at your event easy. This version condenses much of the important information in the full publication into a shortened 12 page format, it also includes two brand new careers profiles.

The Real Dirt on Farming Digest can be ordered through the resource catalogue found under the resources tab on our website or by clicking the button below.

Let's work together to educate and inspire others about the amazing world of agriculture.

Email info@farmfoodcare.org for more information.

New photos added to FarmPhotos.ca

FarmPhotos.ca is a resource that provides those in agriculture education, teachers, students, and media with an opportunity to access accurate, up-to-date photographs of agriculture for non commercial purposes. In the library, you will find pictures of Canadian farm animals, farm families, field crops, vegetables, orchards, fruits, animal care and handling practices, modern barns, environmental initiatives, and food processing plants.

New website additions include photos of ginseng, onions, asparagus, berries, and many other subjects, as well as content from recent FFCO projects, including Faces Behind Food, More than a Migrant Worker (In collaboration with OFVGA), and FarmFood360 shoots.

FarmPhotos.ca is a collaborative resource from Farm & Food Care Ontario and Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan.



Visit www.FarmPhotos.ca to access the entire photo library.

Proudly Presenting Agriculture booklet now online

Farm & Food Care Ontario is a firm believer in showing up, speaking up and representing agriculture to the best of our abilities. We share the good news of agriculture through written work, presentations, media appearances and more. We want our partners, members and colleagues to feel confident when they do the same.

This booklet is designed to provide helpful tips on how to talk about agriculture.

This Proudly Present Agriculture booklet is now available on the FFCO website as an Ag-Ambassador resource.

If you are interested in further honing your skills, FFCO offers Speak Up and Media training sessions that build on the tips outlined in the booklet and allows participants to practice and hone their skills in a group setting.



For more information on these training sessions or our Proudly Presenting Agriculture booklet please contact info@farmfoodcare.org. 

Order your "Life is Better on the Farm" T-Shirt

"Life is Better on the Farm" t-shirts, designed for FFCO, are now available to order for $20.00.

Show your love for the farm life and your support for FFCO with these stylish and comfy tees. Order now and feel the farm vibes wherever you go!

Member accolades:

Conestoga Meats named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for a fifth consecutive year

Congratulations to Conestoga Meats on being named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for a 5th straight year, certifying their Gold Standard.

Burnbrae Farms, Maple Lodge Farms Ltd. named Platinum Club members of Canada's Best Managed Companies

Congratulations to Burnbrae Farms and Maple Lodge Farms Ltd. on being named a Platinum Club member of Canada's Best Managed Companies. Both companies have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more.

Gay Lea Foods named Large Business of the Year by Mississauga Board of Trade

Gay Lea Foods was proud to be named Large Business of the Year at the Mississauga Board of Trade’s (MBOT) annual Business Awards of Excellence ceremony. Gay Lea Foods was recognized for its strong fiscal performance, an increase in its charitable investment in Canadian communities, steady progress in environmental sustainability, and continued strong team member engagement.

L to R: Matt Barrett, Operations Director; Sanjay Tandan, Operations Manager; Suzanna Dalrymple, President & CEO; Sara Abe, Vice President, Commercial Capabilities & Marketing; Anne Hogue, Operations Manager; Osmond Mortley, Operations Manager; Robin Redstone, Senior Manager, Communications & Community Investment

Semex is celebrating 50 years

Congratulations to Semex on reaching the incredible milestone of 50 years. Since its founding on May 8, 1970, Semex has been a leader in the agricultural industry. From humble beginnings to global success, they continue to lead the way in bovine genetics.

Meet a Gold Member: Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario

On behalf of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO), we are delighted to partner Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO). We express our heartfelt appreciation for the incredible work that FCCO undertakes on behalf of Ontario farmers. We are proud to stand in support of your shared mission; to build public trust in food and farming across the province.

CFFO represents over 4,000 farm families across Ontario, who are dedicated producers of food, livestock, grain, pigs, flowers, vegetables, fruits, bees, eggs, dairy, beef, goats, sheep, chicken, veal, and more, deeply value the advocacy and educational efforts championed by FFCO. Our members are committed to the highest standards of agricultural excellence and are passionate about the crucial role they play in feeding Ontario and beyond. It is through partnerships like this - that we can effectively advocate for these hardworking individuals and promote a positive, informed perspective on agriculture.

We also believe in the importance of educating the public and supporting agricultural advocacy across Ontario. FFCO’s programs, such as Faces of Food and Farming, have been instrumental in showcasing the diverse and dedicated individuals behind Ontario’s agricultural sector, including CFFO members. We are excited to participate in these initiatives and are looking forward to attending our first Breakfast on the Farm event in Ottawa, ON June 2024.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication and for the positive impact you have on Ontario’s farming landscape. We look forward to continuing our work together to advocate for and support the people who produce the food we all depend on.

Tom Tavani, General Manager, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario 

Left to Right: Francis Pitkin, Paul Bootsma, Tom Tavani, Suzanne Armstrong, Mackenna Roth, and Jackie Rombouts. 

Become a Member

Did you know?

• You, your farm or your business can become a member of FFCO
• Your support in membership makes FFCO's work possible
• Corporate members ($1800+) can access free training and workshops

Not a member yet? Learn why others have joined FFCO.