The province has recognized four Northern Ontario businesses for their innovation in the agri-food industry.
On Nov. 10, regional recipients received the 2015 Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence for their contributions to the creation of new products, adding value to existing products, supporting a sustainable environment, helping support job creation, and boosting economic growth in Ontario.
Winners include:
-Mill Market, a farmers market in Sault Ste. Marie that sells locally grown food;
-Poschaven Farms, which produces grains and related products in Kenabeek;
-Slate River Dairy in Neebing, which produces milk products; and
-Valley Growers Inc., a potato farmer in Blezard Valley that recently branched out into producing French fries.
In 2015, 50 award recipients will be recognized, including the top Premier’s Award, Minister’s Award, and three Leaders in Innovation award winners.
Since 2007, a total of 425 producers, processors and agri-food organizations have received a Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.
Ontario’s agri-food sector supports more than 780,000 jobs and contributes more than $34 billion towards the province’s GDP.
Ontario is home to Canada’s largest food processing sector, accounting for 3,300 businesses that employ over 95,000 people across the province.
