Farms.com Home   News

Farmers’ Market Events promoted by OPMA

The Ontario Produce Marketing Association (OPMA) is offering turn-key, pop-up farmers’ market events to encourage the purchase and consumption of Ontario produce and other local foods through sampling. A team of trained brand ambassadors will engage with the public outside of a select retail banner targeting customers at the point of purchase and directly impacting sales.
This program allows companies to sample and test new or existing products in key markets for a fraction of the cost.

The event will be fun, eye-catching and will provide a greater ROI than an in-store sampling program alone. It is executed by a team of experienced marketing professionals and well-trained brand ambassadors – all food handling certified.

From working with the participating stores and category managers, ensuring the product is in stock before events, and following up with post-visit reports, OPMA can offer a seamless program to members and interested commodity groups looking to maximize their marketing dollars.

Source : The Grower

Trending Video

Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.