Food and Farming Canada

It’s holiday time!

Lilian — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:24:54 +0000

I’m taking a little break from food and farming blogging over the next few days. We’re heading south on a roadtrip that will take us through Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Some have already pointed out to me how crazy an undertaking that is for the middle of August given the heat and humidity in [...]

Ontario edamame ready for harvest!

Lilian — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:06:59 +0000

Back in the spring, I wrote a post about an Ontario farmer who is experimenting with growing edamame this year. Edamame is a succulent soybean that is popular in Asian cuisine. Currently virtually all edamame consumed in Canada is grown in Asia, which means there could be a market opportunity for Ontario farmers to begin [...]

Checking out the local cafe

Lilian — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:57:39 +0000

We took advantage of the recent long weekend to spend a few days in the Kawartha region of Ontario. The village of Lakefield was our principle destination – and the highlight of our weekend a visit with our friend Jennifer MacKenzie. Jen and her husband, Chef Jay Nutt, own Nuttshell Next Door, a cafe in [...]

Reports on pesticide residue may be misleading

Lilian — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:20:41 +0000

We’re in the middle of prime fruit and vegetable season. The heat and sun of the summer bring with them roadside stands, farmers markets and local food stores brimming with fresh, Ontario-grown produce. I, for one, as someone who supports local food production and values Ontario’s farmers, am in my element as I’m revelling in [...]

Chocolate as a local Ontario food?

Lilian — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:50:02 +0000

I make no secret of my love affair with chocolate. In fact, as someone born in Switzerland, I sometimes feel like it’s my cultural duty to my heritage to ensure that my blood flows as chocolate-brown as possible. So, given that background, the thought that products like Nutella and Fererro Rochers might soon be considered locally [...]

Thermal blanket helps lower greenhouse energy costs

Lilian — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:26:54 +0000

Farmers are looking at many different solutions for dealing with rising energy costs. For one greenhouse grower, the answer lies with a new technology, a thermal blanket installation, which is expected to lower his energy costs by about one-third. Gerard Schouwenaar of Orchard Park Growers, a St. Catharines-area flower producer, retrofitted a 30,000 sq ft greenhouse [...]

Weetabix mixing food, farming and art

Lilian — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:49:15 +0000

Weetabix, a global cereal brand, is sponsoring a wheat art competition for Ontario farmers this year. Sounds a little out-of-the ordinary at first glance and I must admit it is. After all, cereal, art and farming aren’t usually things I tend to link in my head. Ontario wheat farmers are encouraged to give their artistic [...]

Farmers take safe pesticide application seriously

Lilian — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:00:40 +0000

Sometimes I wonder whether we’re actually hard-wired to be instantly attracted to bad news and shocking revelations. I see negativity often dominating our 24-hour news cycle, leaving the less sensational but equally important good news to fall by the wayside. More and more people are now writing and reporting about food, farming, science and the environment. [...]

A visit to a Canadian egg farm

Lilian — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:39:02 +0000

Eggs are a Canadian breakfast staple. They’re also popular at other mealtimes and as ingredients in countless recipes. But do you ever wonder how eggs are made and where they come from? I had the chance to find out first hand a couple of weeks ago during a visit to an egg farm north of Guelph, [...]

Retailer supports sustainable farming

Lilian — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:27:37 +0000

Cows grazing on hillside pastures are a stereotypical – if often true – image of Switzerland. The Swiss are proud of their mountains and their pristine Alpine countryside. They’re also pretty serious about promoting homegrown food products. One of the country’s leading supermarket chains, Co-op, sells a line of branded Swiss food products – milk, yogurts, [...]