Regional Innovations Awarded In Ancaster

The following are Regional Award winners of the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence:

Hamilton Region

Brenn-B Farms Limited - Waterdown

Brenn-B Farms  have modernized their potato packing system - saving them time, energy and money. They've updated their power source and developed a new barrel washing system that decreases water usage by one-third, increasing capacity by as much as 75 percent.  Production has doubled and potatoes and profits are rolling. These changes will also help them start exporting their potatoes to the U.S. market.

Cranston Farms - Ancaster

When Doug and Joan Cranston wanted to expand their dairy herd, they put in place an innovation that is saving money and energy, protecting the environment and increasing their cows' comfort all at the same time. First, they built a new compost pack barn that is the first of its kind, which can be used not only to house cattle, but also as a manure storage and compost facility. Then, they began using construction by-products including reclaimed drywall crumbles and plywood shavings as bedding for the cows. The system has proved popular - the bedding is cheaper, can be sold to other farmers and reduces health problems in the cattle. The Cranstons have noted improvements in milk quality and quantity and labour efficiencies. They have shown the system to many interested students, farmers and companies from across Canada and around the world. 

Halton Region

Ontario Beekeepers' Association Technology Transfer Program - Milton

Ontario's beekeeping industry is recognized internationally as a leader in honey bee disease detection and prevention. Since the early 1990's, the Ontario Beekeepers' Association Technology Transfer program has been embraced by bee breeders in the province. They have participated in testing and worked closely with the technology transfer team to improve hive health. The program has played a key role in the selection of honey bee stock for disease resistance characteristics. The program has succeeded on its team efforts - and is yielding sweet results.

Toronto

100 km Foods Inc. and The New Farm - Toronto

The people involved in these two organizations really know how to provide quality local food products and services on multiple levels. First, the 100 km staff provide gathering and distribution services to connect local farmer suppliers and high-end restaurant buyers.  Second, weekly food boxes including meat, cheeses and pantry products along with the traditional fresh fruits and vegetables are provided directly to Toronto consumers from the local producers. Finally, some of the high quality organic products from the same suppliers are given to a Toronto food bank. Donations from the network of downtown clients are used to pay the farmers for the food. It's a win-win-win, since the farmers are increasing their revenues exponentially, the distributor is so busy that it's hiring more employees, and the food bank clients have fresher local food to keep them healthy.

Niagara Region

Riverbend Farm Inc. - Niagara-on-the-Lake

Cherries are one of nature's sweetest gifts - so are birds and rain - but these two can rob an orchard of its fruit. Over the last three years, the high density dwarf cherry trees on Riverbend Farm have been protected by plastic, greenhouse-like tunnels that hide the fruit from winged cherry-pickers and damaging rain and hail. As a result, the farm produces sweeter, larger cherries since they stay on the trees much longer. The need for fungicide and insecticide spraying has dropped about 40 per cent - and workers enjoy harvesting cherries in the pouring rain without getting wet. This family farm is among the first in Ontario to use tunnel coverage to help grow their sweet cherries.

Tigchelaar Berry Farms Inc. - Vineland

Dan and Jeff Tigchelaar are helping consumers "fall" in love with Ontario strawberries. Following successful trials in 2006, this farm adopted the concept of planting day neutral strawberries in the fall, rather than traditional spring planting dates. Their production system involves the use of floating row covers to promote late plant development and flower bud initiation for an early spring harvest. By integrating this new production system with an already existing day-neutral and traditional June-bearing strawberry operation, these growers are able to provide Ontario wholesalers and retailers a constant supply of fresh, local, high quality strawberries from May until late October.

Tigchelaar Berry Farms is also the recipient of the $50,000 Minister's Award under the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence program.

About the Awards Program

Awards - The five-year, $2.5-million Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence program is now in its fourth year. There can be up to 55 regional award winners chosen annually, with a cash prize of $5,000 each. From these winners, a Minister's Award of up to $50,000 and a Premier's Award of up to $100,000 are selected.

Who is eligible? - A farmer, primary producer, groups of farmers, combination of agri-food businesses, or an agri-food related organization are all eligible for recognition under this initiative. A farmer must be one of the applicants of any group. This program is not intended for the research community as there are other government recognition programs available to this sector. Applicants/nominees must reside in Ontario and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Ontario Public Service staff and immediate family are not eligible to apply for this program.

Types of eligible innovations - Examples of innovations for this program include (but are not limited to) improved farm practices, responding to consumer demands, environmental stewardship, health and safety on the farm, energy innovations, education and marketing of agriculture to society, local food, and traceability initiatives.