Essex County tomato processor swings deal to sell Ontario-grown tomatoes in Nigeria Friday, April 25, 2014 by MATT MCINTOSH Some Essex County tomato growers that lost their contracts to produce tomatoes for the Leamington Heinz plant might have a newfound buyer in Thomas Canning Ltd., a Maidstone-based tomato processor that recently signed a $25 million per year trade deal to sell Ontario tomatoes in Nigeria. According to an official press release from Thomas Canning, the deal, announced on April 22, allows the company to sell its Utopia brand tomatoes in Nigeria at the rate of 2.2 million cases per year. Tracey Coleman, food safety and quality control supervisor for Thomas Canning, says the company’s headway into the Nigerian market means it will require more, and larger growers next year. “We have seven growers that we use consistently,” she says. “Some of those growers will increase their acreage for us next year, but we will be adding some growers too.” Coleman says she does not know exactly how many growers Thomas Canning plans to add. Bill Thomas, CEO of the company’s Utopia brand, could not be reached for comment. Of the 42 growers that used to produce tomatoes for the H.J. Heinz Company of Canada before its closure of its Leamington processing facility, Tom Keller, a director on the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers Board, says only 10 continue to have contracts with Highbury Canco Corporation, the company that acquired the facility earlier this year. “If Thomas Canning can really develop the Nigeria market, that will be good for growers,” he says, although he notes the number of farmers currently growing for that company “is small.” Coleman says Thomas Canning exported the first shipment to Nigeria in March; the Festrut Group International Ltd., Thomas Canning’s Nigerian partner in the trade deal, will launch the Ontario-made product in May. BF Chicken Farmers of Ontario seeks kosher processor Standardbred horse breeders say they have no choice but to sue the province
Cdn. farmers can win a chance to brew their own beer Wednesday, October 30, 2024 A contest is giving Canadian farmers a chance to brew their own beer. Bayer and Origin Brewing & Malting Co., out of Strathmore, Alta., have teamed up for the FieldBrew contest. The contest is open to farmers from B.C. to Ontario who are at least 19 years old. Participants can earn... Read this article online
Farmers and small businesses worried about Federal Debt Crisis Wednesday, October 30, 2024 Nearly 74% of Canadian small businesses express concern over the federal government’s lack of a concrete plan to balance the budget, as deficits and federal debt continue to rise, reports the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). These sentiments are also held by many growers... Read this article online
Setting the record straight on Bill C-282 and what it means for Canada Tuesday, October 29, 2024 An op-ed from Egg Farmers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada, and the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers. Canada is an attractive trading partner for many nations. Arguing that countries would abandon trade talks simply because we... Read this article online
Massey Ferguson introduces six new tractors Tuesday, October 29, 2024 Massey Ferguson has debuted its new of tractors, what the company calls a line-up of versatile and powerful machines designed to meet the needs of modern farmers. This series includes six new models, each tailored to different farming requirements and preferences. MF... Read this article online
Ontario Pork Congress Annual Meeting report Tuesday, October 29, 2024 The Ontario Pork Congress was held on October 22, 2024, at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, Ontario, with over 35 people attending. At the event, the association revealed the winner of its —Tara Terpstra, a Huron County pork producer who is currently Chair of Ontario Pork. The... Read this article online