Ontario Farmers Recognized For Their Innovations

Top two winners of the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence for 2007:

Premier's Award Recipient ($100,000):
B & C Nightingale Farms Ltd. - (LaSalatte, Norfolk County)

William Nightingale travelled to Europe to research, first-hand, the benefits of covering vegetable crops with high tunnels, which are rounded, tent-like covers, designed to be set-up in tunnel or row formation on fields. When he saw 20,000 acres of fresh vegetables flourishing under canopy, he was convinced the idea would help grow a better product and greater yields back home in Ontario. He was right. The high tunnels, which were modified to withstand Ontario's climate, have extended the farm's growing season by several weeks, doubled cropping opportunities, decreased insect and disease pressures, and resulted in a quality, consistent product.

The Nightingales have pioneered a change in Ontario fresh vegetable farming - helping growers move from conventional field production to covered production, and towards organic production. Their company, Tunnel Tech, makes and markets high tunnels to other growers. The farm not only sells the system, it also provides valuable technology transfer in the form of research data on varieties, yields, use of plastics and irrigation, and demonstation days.

When it comes to enhancing Ontario's fresh vegetable growing opportunities - B & C Nightingale Farms has things covered.

Minister's Award Recipient ($50,000)
Freeman Farms - (Meaford, Grey County)

David Freeman knows how to capture value by freezing Mother Nature's gifts. Freeze-drying plant material has been shown to preserve the quantity of the active component found in plants for nutraceuticals. Freeman has worked extensively with the University of Guelph to develop freeze-dry technology, and as a result, his farm's first project is to manufacture garlic powder with allicin. (Allicin is the key ingredient responsible for the broad-spectrum of anti-bacterial activity in garlic.)

Freeman has also built a state-of-the-art large-scale, good management practice certified processing plant to freeze dry botanicals such as garlic, blueberries, herbs and other plant material. Its equipment is the first of its kind in Ontario. The plant also meets standards for processing pharmaceuticals for humans, which opens the door to exciting new opportunities for the future. The ability to produce freeze-dried fruits and vegetables of this standard can potentially enable other Ontario farmers to partner with feed and pharmaceutical companies to produce nutraceutical supplements and whole foods.