Top Ontario Farms Win 2025 Excellence Awards

Province honours agri food innovators and community leaders

The Ontario government celebrated the 2025 Excellence in Agriculture Awards, recognizing 12 outstanding winners and seven honourable mentions whose work strengthens the province’s $51 billion agri-food industry. These awards highlight leadership, innovation, and sustainability across farming, food production, and agri-business. 

“I’m proud to recognize the winners and honourable mentions of the 2025 Excellence in Agriculture Awards for their hard work and commitment to building a stronger, more competitive agri-food sector,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Their contributions drive the success of our sector and pave the way for the the next generation, ensuring Ontario agriculture continues to thrive.” 

The Minister’s Award was presented to Growing Chefs! Ontario of Middlesex County, a food literacy charity that connects chefs, growers, and educators to inspire healthy eating and agricultural awareness. Their programs have engaged more than 5,000 students through food education, community gardens, and nutrition initiatives. 

This year’s awards recognized excellence in the following categories: 

• Research and Innovation Excellence: Haven Greens (York Region) and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Niagara Region) 

• Food Processing Excellence: BMKC Canada Inc. (Bruce County) 

• Education Excellence: Growing Chefs! Ontario (Middlesex County) and Hillmanor Holsteins (Perth County) 

• Promotional Excellence: Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (Essex County) 

• Supply Chain Excellence: Stone Bridge Flour (Bruce County) 

• Indigenous, Métis or Inuit-owned Businesses or Community Excellence: Alexiou Farms (Simcoe County) 

• Farm Family Excellence: The Fifty Acre Garden (Simcoe County) 

• Women’s Excellence: Canadian Women in Food (City of Toronto) 

• Youth Excellence: Konrad Borowski, Beekon (Waterloo Region) 

• Northern Business Excellence: Northern Wildflowers (Greater Sudbury) 

Honourable Mentions (2025): 

• Food Processing Excellence: Stone Bridge Flour (Bruce County) 

• Education Excellence: Ontario Farmland Trust and the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (University of Guelph, Wellington County) 

• Supply Chain Excellence: Guelph Poultry Veterinary Services (Wellington County) 

• Farm Family Excellence: Goldsmith’s Farm Market and Bakery (Grey County) 

• Women’s Excellence: Donna Small (Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, Chatham-Kent) and Hereward Farms (Dufferin County) 

• Northern Business Excellence: Cornell Farms (Rainy River District) 

“The entire Growing Chefs! Ontario team is incredibly honoured to be chosen as the Minister’s Award recipient in the 2025 Excellence in Agriculture Awards,” said Jennifer Wyant, Executive Administrator. “For 18 years, Growing Chefs! has worked to establish ourselves as a provincial leader in food literacy and agri-education programming. On behalf of our staff, board and dedicated team of volunteers and supporters, thank you for recognizing the positive impact we are making in our community. 

With more than 867,000 people employed in Ontario’s agri-food industry, programs like the Grow Ontario Strategy continue to support farmers and food businesses focused on innovation, sustainability, and community growth.