Food and Farming Canada » health

Bringing local farmers and food buyers together

Lilian — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:57:01 +0000

Growing mesclun mix

As an unabashed advocate for local food and farming, I was thrilled to see that here in Guelph we have an officially recognized local food champion in our midst.

Leslie Carson, of St. Joseph’s Health Centre, was honoured in the 2011 Local Food Champions Report, part of a series of initiatives by the Friends [...]

Let’s take those new year’s resolutions seriously

Lilian — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:26:41 +0000

We’re almost a month into the new year and some of us have already lost sight of the lofty exercise and weight loss goals we set for ourselves on Jan.1.

We all start the year with good intentions — overflowing parking lots at most gyms during the first few weeks of January will attest to that — [...]

Solving the peanut-free school lunch problem

Lilian — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:34:19 +0000

Over the last week or so of everyone’s back to school preparations, I’ve been noticing a lot of coverage about school lunches and the dilemna of what to send with your kids. I didn’t realize this was such a problem – I’ve been out of school myself for quite some time and don’t have any kids [...]

Weighing in on wind energy

Lilian — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:52:22 +0000

Wind farming is blowing up controversy in many parts of Ontario these days.

On the one hand, it is being promoted as a green alternative to traditional energy sources that we desperately need to lessen our dependence on less environmentally-friendly supplies we have been relying on to date. It is also credited with bringing good jobs [...]

Birds weigh in on organic question

Lilian — Fri, 21 May 2010 03:02:00 +0000

It seems even birds are weighing in on the debate over the nutritional benefits of organic food.

A newly released study by Newcastle University in the UK showed that wild garden birds preferred the more protein rich regular bird seed over that which was organically grown. Lead researcher Dr. Alisa McKenzie says this is because protein is [...]

New markets for Ontario ginseng

Lilian — Sun, 02 May 2010 00:29:19 +0000

An innovative residue extraction process for Ontario ginseng is poised to open up new market opportunities for the high value crop.

The new method allows for the removal of crop protection residues without affecting the structure and quality of the ginseng, a pilot project has shown.“Crop protection residues have been one of the main trade barrier [...]

Fruit and veg snack program a no-brainer

Lilian — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:25:13 +0000

We all know diet and nutrition are directly linked to health, and we’re often told we can help make that link by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Yet, as a population, we seem to be getting fatter and unhealthier – a trend that is most alarming in young people as we see childhood obesity rates march [...]

Loblaws chief: global trends will impact food

Lilian — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:48:20 +0000

A series of global trends will change everything about the way we eat, says the head of Canada’s largest grocery chain. And that means both adjustment and opportunity for those involved in food, Galen Weston of Loblaw Companies Limited told attendees at the Agricultural Adaptation Council’s annual meeting in Guelph recently.

“We’ve been in the business [...]

Alberta Pork’s H1N1 challenges, responses

Lilian — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:59:08 +0000

This post is a continuation from yesterday’s H1N1 topic that explored Alberta Pork’s experiences at the centre of the H1N1 media storm earlier this year. The information is based on a presentation I attended by Lee Funke of Torque Communications at the recently held Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation conference in Edmonton.

He outlined some of the challenges [...]

Inside Alberta Pork’s H1N1 war room

Lilian — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:51:17 +0000

It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be at the centre of a media firestorm unless you’ve actually experienced it. For the staff at Alberta Pork and the communications professionals working with them, the spring of 2009 provided more first-hand experience than they could have ever wished for.

Lee Funke of Alberta-based Torque Communications shared [...]