Merit Functional Foods has started commissioning its $150 million pea and canola protein facility at Winnipeg, Man. Construction on the 94-thousand square foot plant on the west side of the city started in the fall of 2019. “This is a momentous step for us,” says Merit’s co-CEO Ryan Bracken, highlighting the completion of construction in… Read More
Since 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UN) decided to dedicate a day to celebrate all things pulses: World Pulses Day! The goal of the day — which falls annually on February 10 — is to increase awareness of the global food and its role in sustainable food production. The theme for World Pulses Day… Read More
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has determined that today — February 9, 2021 — is the day a Canadian household of average income will have earned enough to pay their entire year’s grocery bill. The annual event is known as “Food Freedom Day.” Each year, CFA examines the proportion of income that Canadians spend… Read More
Protein Industries Canada (PIC) has announced a co-investment into the development of a plant-based protein blend designed to meet the protein needs of hospitalized and outpatient individuals, as well as highly active athletic consumers. The $2.2. million co-investment will be led by Enhanced Medical Nutrition (EMN) and Infinit Nutrition Canada (INC). The partners are focusing… Read More
Italian pasta giant Barilla says it has closed its acquisition of Ebro Foods’ Catelli dry pasta business in Canada as of January 29. The deal, which values the Catelli business at C$165 million, includes the Catelli, Lancia, and Splendor brands, and a pasta plant in Montreal, Que. “In Barilla, we’re leading the charge in transforming… Read More
The federal government has announced $162.6 million in additional funding for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) over the next five years, and $40 million per year in added funding for the agency on an ongoing basis after that. The funding boost, announced by Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, and Health Minister Patty Hajdu on Friday, follows… Read More
Frontline essential workers, including those in the food processing sector, will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in the next round of immunizations, says Ontario’s premier Doug Ford. In late December, Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) and the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association along with the Canadian Meat Council, Meat and Poultry Ontario, Food and Beverage Ontario, Ontario… Read More
What is an authentic conversation, and why is it important we focus on having them with consumers at this point in time? Crystal Mackay of Loft32 says that an authentic conversation is focused around the point that we are all real people — no matter our position, job title, or industry. Even more importantly, it’s… Read More
EMERGE Commerce Ltd. has closed a $16.8 million acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of truLOCAL Inc., a direct-to-consumer, locally sourced meat subscription service in Canada. The company was recently ranked as Canada’s 14th fastest growing company for 2017-2019 by the Globe and Mail, and is expanding into the U.S Ghassan Halazon, EMERGE founder and… Read More
COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns, distancing, and cancelled learning events have had a profound impact on so many. Our food systems, food processing, and focus on local economy may be forever changed by this pandemic. Marty Seymour, director of industry and stakeholder relations with Farm Credit Canada, joins our host Kara Oosterhuis for today’s LIVE!… Read More
As planned, Cargill has begun the “measured” re-opening of its Better Beef plant at Guelph, Ont. The plant originally closed December 17, 2020, due to over 60 positive COVID-19 cases within its workforce, and increasing community cases. A spokesperson for Cargill says that the plant has begun the process of re-opening as of December 29th,… Read More
Updated story: Details of the program are now listed on Agricorp’s website The governments of Canada and Ontario have committed $5 million in immediate, emergency assistance for the province’s beef farmers through funding for feeding costs associated with market-ready cattle that must be set-aside due to COVID-19-related processing disruptions. Last Thursday, Cargill’s Better Beef plant… Read More
Two of the largest dairy processors in Canada have announced a deal that will see several yogurt brands change hands. Lactalis Canada, the company formerly known as Parmalat, has signed an agreement to acquire Agropur Cooperative’s Canadian yogurt business, which includes the Iögo and Iögo Nanö yogourt brands, as well as the Olympic yogurt, sour… Read More
Cargill has announced it has begun the process to temporarily idle its Guelph protein processing facility, due to “community-wide” impacts of COVID-19. The plant will close end of day December 17 for an undisclosed amount of time. Currently, the plant has had 68 employees test positive for the virus out of 1,000 employees. A spokesperson… Read More
Scientists from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Western University have teamed up with PlantForm Corporation to develop an edible antibody therapeutic that will protect human and animal health by preventing E.coli 0157 infection in pigs. The $150,000, two-year project is supported by OMAFRA through the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative, which is fed by the five-year,… Read More