A challenge identified by Food and Beverage Ontario CEO Chris Conway is that food processing is not considered manufacturing. As a result, food processing tends to fall out of the conversation when governments and society talks about economic recovery.

Is processing at a tipping point?

Labour, capacity and access to capital make Ontario processing a challenge

The inability to achieve production-line capacity was cited for the recent closure of two Canadian-owned food processing facilities serving the country’s densest population centres. The closures, combined with soon-to-take-effect closures of two further-processing pork factories in Quebec, leave primary producers of both vegetables and livestock hoping this isn’t a sign of things to come. Pickle […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

TruHarvest closes doors on beef processing plant

Plant was one of only three federally inspected options for Ontario producers

TruHarvest Meats, one of three federally inspected beef processing facilities in Ontario, has closed its doors, citing a continued inability to achieve financial goals. “Unfortunately, the ownership paused operation at the end of January for financial reasons,” said TruHarvest vice-president Chuck Oulton, when contacted at the Toronto plant in early March. “It’s tough. The team […] Read more

File photo of the produce section at a Canadian grocery store. (FatCamera/E+/Getty Images)

Industry-led code of conduct for food retailers on horizon

Fees create 'uncertainty' for producers, processors

A report from a federal-provincial working group says the retail sector has levied an increasing number of fees on suppliers, and is proposing the formation of a code of conduct as a potential solution. Canada’s agriculture ministers are now calling on industry to lead the process. They had formed the working group to study the […] Read more

Canada/U.S. border signage in downtown Detroit. (RiverNorthPhotography/Getty Images)

U.S. requests CUSMA dispute panel on Canadian dairy quotas

TRQs improperly allocated, USTR alleges

Washington | Reuters — The Biden administration on Tuesday escalated a simmering trade dispute with Canada over dairy import quotas, requesting that the first dispute settlement panel under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement be formed to review the matter. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office said its complaint alleges that Canada was improperly allocating CUSMA tariff-rate import quotas […] Read more

Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland appears at a news conference in Ottawa on Sept. 24, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)

CFA seeks continued ag support in next federal budget

Federation also presses for Buy Canadian campaign, processing support

Federal budget consultations are underway, with agricultural groups lobbying the government to support the industry further in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Jan. 25 launched pre-budget consultations and since then, her schedule has involved several meetings with stakeholders. “We want to hear ideas from Canadians, from all walks of […] Read more


A farmer prays to mark the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru and founder of Sikh faith, at Singhu border near Delhi on Nov. 30, 2020, at the site of a protest against newly passed farm bills. (Photo: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

India offers to suspend farm reforms

Farmers may call off protests

New Delhi | Reuters — India’s government on Wednesday offered to suspend implementation of three new farm laws that have triggered the biggest farmers’ protests in years, which farm union leaders said they would now consider calling off. The cornerstone of the reform, introduced in September, allows private buyers to deal directly with farmers. Angry […] Read more

CBOT January 2021 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Bullish crush data sparks rally in soybeans

CBOT corn, wheat futures firm

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rallied on Tuesday, supported by a report showing processors were busier than expected during November, adding further pressure to a tight supply base, traders said. The strength in soybeans pulled corn higher, which closed in positive territory after trading lower for much of the session. Wheat futures also […] Read more

Canola seed, oil and meal. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

October crush numbers up, canola record set

MarketsFarm — Canadian oilseed processors crushed a record amount of canola during October 2020, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. Increases were reported throughout the canola and soybean crushes when comparing this October with October 2019. October 2020 saw 931,060 tonnes of canola crushed, which bested the previous record of 899,331 tonnes set […] Read more



Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council chair and Exceldor vice-president Joel Cormier addresses the Commons standing committee on agriculture on May 29. (Video screengrab from Parl.gc.ca)

COVID concerns weigh on chicken farmers, processors

Sales crashed on lack of foodservice business

Ottawa — Chicken Farmers of Canada say they’ve faced a “sharp decline” in sales as a result of a significant drop in food services, which represents roughly 40 per cent of their market. CFC chair Benoît Fontaine warned federal MPs as much during a virtual meeting of the Commons standing committee on agriculture and agri-food […] Read more