Ask a Farmer Canadian Food Focus

One of the biggest risks in producing food is the weather. Uncertainty around rain, heat, frost, wind and other weather-related disasters results in a lot of sleepless nights for farmers and ranchers in this country. But what if we take the largest risk out of the equation? Vertical farming has been developing throughout Canada as a method to reduce risk and provide a localized food option for certain products. Alida Burke from Growcer, a Canadian start up modular, vertical farming company, w...

With increases in food costs in recent years and the desire to eat healthier, canning foods to preserve them is a topic of interest for Canadians. People want to understand what is in the food they eat and where their food comes from. This podcast explores the topic of canning and the safety and science behind it as well as best practices for making canning at home a safe and successful experience. Connor Flynn and Martha Rogers, both Certified Master Food Preservers, provide their input to h...

Canadians have continued to move further and further away from food production. We can see this in our expanding urban centers and less individuals growing the food we consume. This has led to more discussions about consuming food that is more sustainable. Not only sustainable environmentally, but also economically and socially. The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan, was tasked in 2022 with understanding agriculture’s contributions to improved sustain...

Eggs are an excellent source of high-quality protein. In Canada, when we go to the grocery store there are so many different egg options available. We get a choice when it comes to egg size, egg colour, eggs based on different housing system, certified organic eggs, eggs enriched with Omega 3 or enriched with Vitamin D. In today's podcast, we will break down the different options available and talk about egg nutrition with Registered Dietitian Rosie Schwartz. Host: Clinton Monchuk&...

There is a widening disconnect between those who grow food and those who consume food in Canada. To better communicate to Canadians, we must understand what their perceptions are of the food industry. Each year the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity performs a country wide survey to get a gauge on what Canadian consumers think about our food system and farming in general. Ashley Bruner from the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity has been part of this survey for year and will give us insight i...

The agriculture industry is not dissimilar from other industries in Canada. We produce many different products but through the production of food, there is often some form of inorganic waste that is generated. To protect the environment and manage different aspects of primary production, we currently use plastics, and lots of them. Barry Friesen is the Executive Director of Cleanfarms who provides solutions to some of these challenges and how this is improving the environmental sustaina...