Canadian produce industry hosts successful Farm to Plate meetings with Parliamentarians

Ottawa, Ontario — On May 7, 2019 industry leaders representing the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) and Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) met with parliamentarians and their staff in Ottawa to discuss key issues currently affecting the Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable sector, in particular: crop protection, financial protection for the fruit and vegetable industry, and the new Food Policy for Canada.

 

This was the last formal advocacy event for both CHC and CPMA prior to the 2019 federal election. The fresh fruit and vegetable industry will continue to keep issues affecting the supply chain top-of-mind as parliamentarians prepare to go back to their ridings and seek re-election.

 

After meeting with over 20 parliamentarians and other key stakeholders, including the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Dr. Siddika Mithani, President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, CHC and CPMA hosted a reception at the Metropolitan Brasserie. The evening provided all attendees a more informal environment to network and build positive relationships with over 80 decision-makers in Ottawa. CHC and CPMA are thankful to parliamentarians and their staff for their ongoing support and recognition of the critically important role the fresh fruit and vegetable industry plays in the Canadian economy and the health of Canadians.

Video: Season 6, Episode 12: Veterinarians’ Perspectives on Managing Swine Herd Health Across All Phases

Identifying challenges in swine production and turning them into solutions through research and team development is the focus of this episode. Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham of Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics shares insights on herd health, biosecurity and trial work to improve pig performance. She also discusses her team’s research philosophy, how they evaluate rate of investment and how they gather feedback from employees to address challenges and maintain herd health across all phases of production. Dr. Carlos Roudergue of Country View Family Farms discusses the growing complexity of swine production, especially as technology increases and employee interaction decreases. He also shares how their workforce is shifting toward more specialized roles to support herd health and efficiency.