Whether its Brussels sprouts or black coffee, odds are you simply haven’t given it enough of a chance. “Most adults who drink their coffee still find it bitter,” says science writer Bob Holmes, in this episode of Food Bubble with Andrew Campbell, adding it’s a “horrible, horrible drink” but over time, we learn to enjoy it… Read More
In August of last year Art Shaap’s life and livelihood changed in a heart beat. It was then that the owner of Highland Dairy in Clovis, New Mexico, started dumping 15,000 gallons of milk each day because his animals and seven of his 13 wells had been contaminated with runoff from the nearby Cannon Air… Read More
They’re the generation we love to hate: Millennials. Often called entitled and lazy (largely by Baby Boomers who can’t open a PDF), Millennials are the next huge generation both in numbers and influence. And because of that sway and market power, David Coletto, of Abacus Data, warns that any industry that ignores their preferences, interests,… Read More
Oleen Smethurst doesn’t choose what food trend consumers should hop on, but in her quest to provide new flavours and convenience for Costco’s Canadian customers, she’s inadvertently part of the push. Smethurst is assistant vice president, buying and operations — produce for Costco Wholesale Canada, based in Ottawa. Leading a team of nearly 30, it’s… Read More
It need only take one word to find its way onto product labels, spark mass debate, and inspire the creation of entire organizations. Take, for example, the word ‘sustainable.’ It’s appearing on food labels everywhere, and everyone seems to have their take on it. We’ve heard consumers’ thoughts on the matter, but what about people… Read More
In a recent proof-of-concept field trial, the Canadian Sheep Federation partnered with SheepChain LLC to demonstrate how the Canadian sheep industry can capitalize on blockchain-based traceability to add value to Canadian lamb. Canada is the first sheep industry to manage the technology in a real-world setting, tracking lamb from pasture to plate, according to the… Read More
Canadians are set to celebrate Canada’s Agriculture Day February 12, with gatherings, conferences, celebrations, and sharing what’s happening on the farm. The day is all part of the “share our story” philosophy — that agriculture’s customers have simply lost touch with how food is grown and produced, and that if farmers share more, they’ll earn back… Read More
A four-legged friend is being commended for her perfect sniffing skills at the Ottawa airport. Lacy the detector dog sniffed out undeclared pork products from a traveller who came from a region that is high risk for African Swine Fever (ASF). Veterinary councillor for the Canadian Pork Council, Egan Brockhoff, says the actions taken by… Read More
Though it could boast the earliest mention of wine grape cultivation in Canada (we’re talking the 1600s), Nova Scotia has only recently become renowned for its picturesque vineyards and world-class wines. So how does a region make such a dramatic leap into a niche market, and actually succeed? That’s the question Fresh Air Media’s inaugural… Read More
If you ask consumers, our food system is bad and getting worse. But if you look back and compare to say the 1980s, we’re actually doing a much better job on many things, such as water and fertiizer efficiency, pesticide use, and more. It’s all a matter of perspective – things are getting better, but are… Read More
By Jeff English Canada’s Food Guide was updated this week and, not unlike anything done by government, it was met with a mixed reaction. The changes were not so big. We’ve gone from four food groups down to three. Given the year they’ve had on the trade front, it is easy to forgive our dairy… Read More
Within an hour of its release, those representing certain sectors of agriculture had their statements prepared and sent out to various media organizations. Their opinion of Canada’s Food Guide was largely determined by where their commodity ended up on the new plate. Dairy industry Although Health Canada made it clear dairy was “still on the… Read More
Canadians have a brand new food guide to help them make decisions when it comes to their nutrition plan, and it’s a large departure from the rainbow of four food groups most have come to recognize. Visualized as a dinner plate, Health Canada’s new offering has plant-based protein and vegetables front and centre. Meat, eggs,… Read More
By Sylvain Charlebois Say goodbye to the four food groups; they are now gone. Almost 12 years after the launch of the previous version, the new food guide celebrates food by displaying a plate filled with greens, fruits, plant proteins and grains. And if you look very carefully, you’ll see a cup of yogurt, alongside… Read More
The Canadian Sheep Federation and the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) recently reached an agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities of each group in delivery of the Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP). As part of the agreement, the per tag fee of $0.23 currently collected to fund the program will increase to $0.59/tag by the… Read More