(RoyalFair.org video screengrab via YouTube)

AgriCommunication plan to seek farmer-consumer dialogue

Ag exhibitions among expected beneficiaries

The federal government has put up new funding toward improving consumers’ awareness of the “strengths” of Canada’s ag sector — and to improve farmer awareness of what those consumers want and expect. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Thursday announced an $8 million, three-year funding envelope for the first of two streams of what’s now called



dairy cows feeding

The lessons of ‘Buttergate’

A Canadian had a front-row seat for both Buttergate and New Zealand controversies Social media conversations about food can go from benign to trending in a matter of hours or days. That became painfully obvious to Canadian dairy farmers during the so-called “Buttergate” controversy earlier this year. The same thing happened five years ago to

(Romaset/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. FTC votes to make ‘right to repair’ a priority

Commission also drops 1995 merger policy

Washington | Reuters — The U.S Federal Trade Commission voted Wednesday to make it a priority to address the issue of manufacturers pushing consumers to use licensed dealers to repair items ranging from smartphones to farm equipment, a practice that critics call anti-competitive. The five commissioners, three Democrats and two Republicans, voted unanimously to approve


Collaborative marketing can make customers part of something bigger

Collaborative marketing can make customers part of something bigger

Teaming up with other growers can widen a customer base, create more convenience, and give new farmers a leg up

Collaborating with other farmers to direct market food can show customers that they are part of a larger community, says one direct-market farmer. And, unlike organics or environment-friendly farming practices, community doesn’t scale up to Walmart size. “(The local food movement) succeeded in creating an awareness that food is a purchase that has a serious

John Cross, who now ranches with daughter Tanis, began using regenerative ag practices when he took over A7 Ranche 35 years ago. But it’s an ongoing and evolving process, they say.

Regenerative agriculture is becoming the next big thing for consumers

As interest in how food is produced increases, regenerative ag is a trend to watch

Consumers have latched on to a new-to-them concept that puts soil health front and centre — regenerative agriculture. “For farmers, (regenerative agriculture) is nothing new, but now we’re starting to see consumers use the term,” said Jo-Ann McArthur, president of Nourish Food Marketing in Toronto. “When we look at it, we see it potentially becoming


U.S.-based Impossible Foods, whose Impossible Burger is shown here on display at U.S. grocery chain Wegmans, launched the product at Canadian retail in late October 2020, selling exclusively at Sobeys stores until February 2021. (ImpossibleFoods.com)

CFIA to consult on new near-meat, non-meat guidelines

Clarity for labels, promotion, composition to be considered

“Greater clarity” in federal guidelines for the makeup and labels of “simulated” meat and poultry products is the end zone for a new round of consultations underway for the next month. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Tuesday announced the launch for the public consultation, which includes an online survey and runs until Dec. 3.

‘Undermining food manufacturing is to deny the agri-food sector its strategic foothold. Innovating and growing an economy, especially in rural communities, becomes more challenging.’ – Sylvain Charlebois.

Comment: Walmart flexes its muscles and food processors suffer

Canadian food manufacturing has lost 12 jobs a day everyday since 2012 and a July announcement by Walmart Canada won’t help

Consumers got a glimpse of how food supply chains work — or don’t — at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now Walmart is giving them a chilling new perspective. During the panic-buying phase in the early spring, few experts in the food industry would have predicted the unprecedented levels of vertical co-ordination and incredible