In 2008, British scientists developed a purple tomato with high levels of anthocyanins, which are beneficial antioxidants. It took more than 14 years for the tomato to receive regulatory approval. In early September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the purple tomato can be safely grown and used for breeding in the United States.

U.S. gives green light to purple tomatoes

Purple tomato varieties already exist, but antioxidant levels are low because the colour is only in the skin of the fruit

Glacier FarmMedia – There are a surprising number of purple foods. There are purple potatoes, eggplants, grapes, cabbages, carrots, saskatoons and blackberries, though the latter may be more black than purple. Next year, another food can be added to the list — purple tomatoes. In early September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said a […] Read more

Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow speaks Nov. 24, 2021 in the House of Commons. (Screengrab from supplied video)

Barlow remains ag critic in Conservatives’ new shadow cabinet

Poilievre also names two associate critics for ag file

The federal Conservatives’ point person on agriculture will remain at that post under the party’s new leader. John Barlow, MP for the southwestern Alberta riding of Foothills, was named Wednesday as the Conservatives’ “shadow minister” for agriculture, agri-food and food security. Pierre Poilievre, who was named Sept. 10 as the official opposition party’s new leader, […] Read more

With six generations of family quilts surrounding her, the latest from her nine-year-old granddaughter, Renske Helmuth’s confident quilting is not a dying, but rather evolving art form seeing a resurgence. While hand-stitching may become a rare skill, she’s confident, like any art, advancements in the craft will reveal new techniques and styles.

Award-winning quilter’s exhibit raises funds to tackle global hunger

Renske Helmuth’s quilts have raised more than $100,000 for relief charities

Renske Helmuth is matter-of-fact and somewhat dismissive about her quilting legacy and contribution to the Canadian quilting scene. “I don’t consider myself an artist. An artist is somebody who breathes their art, lives their art,” said the Moorefield resident. “I don’t. Quilting is just something I do. It’s not (my) only passion.”  Helmuth has ridden […] Read more

Quebec’s Agriculture Minister Andre Lamontagne speaks to the CAQ’s annual meeting in Drummondville in late May 2022. (Andre Lamontagne video screengrab via Facebook)

Quebec ag minister cruises to re-election

Legault's CAQ scores bigger second majority

Quebec’s incumbent agriculture, food and fisheries minister will be returning to the province’s legislature as part of an even larger government caucus. Preliminary results in Monday’s provincial election put Francois Legault’s Coalition avenir Quebec (CAQ) in a solid majority government position with 90 of 125 seats, followed by Dominique Anglade’s Liberals, remaining in official opposition […] Read more

A container terminal at the Port of Vancouver. (FangXiaNuo/E+/Canada)

U.K. is asked to reconsider ag tariff in Trans-Pacific talks

Tokyo | Reuters — Japan, Australia and other members of a trans-Pacific trade pact have asked Britain to reconsider tariff conditions in its entry negotiation talks, Jiji news reported on Monday. Britain has opposed expanding the target of tariff-free items, particularly among agricultural products, to near 100 per cent as set by the Comprehensive and […] Read more


Wrecked structures float in the water in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona at Rose Blanche, N.L., about 45 km east of Port aux Basques, on Sept. 25, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/John Morris)

Cleanup work begins for Eastern Canada after Fiona

Five provinces assessing damage from 'unprecedented' storm

Port aux Basques | Reuters — It will take several months for Canada to restore critical infrastructure after the powerful storm Fiona left an “unprecedented” trail of destruction, officials said on Sunday, as crews fanned out in five provinces to restore power and clean up fallen trees and debris. One 73-year-old woman died during the […] Read more

A composite satellite view of Hurricane Fiona nearing Nova Scotia at about 6 p.m. local time on Sept. 23, 2022. (U.S. National Hurricane Center image, NOAA.gov)

Fiona pounds Bermuda as Canada braces for major jolt

Up to eight inches of rain expected along path

Hamilton, Bermuda/Halifax, N.S. | Reuters — Hurricane Fiona pounded the Atlantic island of Bermuda with heavy rain and winds on Friday as it tracked northward toward Eastern Canada, where it threatens to become one of the most severe storms in Canadian history. Fiona had already battered a series of Caribbean islands earlier in the week, […] Read more

File photo of wild horses running on grasslands in Nova Scotia’s remote Sable Island National Park Reserve. (Photo by Sarah Medill/Parks Canada/Handout via Reuters)

Wild horses face unruly storms as Fiona nears East Coast

Damages feared to buildings, utilities, crops

Ottawa | Reuters — Shaggy, long-maned wild horses grazing freely on the sandy grasslands of the crescent-shaped Sable Island in the North Atlantic are expected to come under the swipe of a powerful storm forecast to hit Eastern Canada this weekend. Hurricane Fiona, tracking northward after carving a destructive path through the Dominican Republic and […] Read more


A man stands inside his destroyed house in the rural zone of Cuey, in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, in El Seibo in the Dominican Republic on Sept. 20, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Ricardo Rojas)

Atlantic Canada on Hurricane Fiona’s path, broad impact expected

Parts of Nova Scotia more vulnerable to flooding

Reuters — Hurricane Fiona is headed toward Eastern Canada and is expected to reach its Atlantic region by Friday in what could be a severe weather event as the storm continues to gain strength, Canadian meteorologists said Wednesday. Fiona powered up to a Category 4 storm on Wednesday, packing winds as high as 215 km/h, […] Read more

Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature anomalies (in degrees Celsius) for the week centred on Sept. 14, 2022. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

La Nina set to continue for third year

Other weather patterns may override temporarily

MarketsFarm — With fall soon upon North America, there’s nothing overly unusual with the continuation of La Nina, according to Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc. at Overland Park, Kansas. Going into its third year, some people might think this is the third consecutive La Nina — but Lerner said it’s the same one, […] Read more