2024 Excellence in Agriculture Awards recipients
Overview
The Excellence in Agriculture Awards recognizes excellence in the agriculture and food industry. It’s purpose is to:
- honour and encourage outstanding efforts that drive the agriculture and food sector forward
- raise awareness of Ontario’s $50.7 billion agri-food sector that employs over 871,000 people and its enormous impacts on the province’s economy
Recipients receive engraved glass awards for their efforts, while honourable mentions receive certificates. Both gain access to a wordmark that can be used for promotional purposes.
Minister’s Award
Award recipient: Farm & Food Care Ontario — Guelph
Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) partners with multiple organizations to help raise awareness, appreciation, and access to reliable information about food and farming in Ontario. The organization fosters meaningful connections through campaigns and events such as The Real Dirt on Farming, Breakfast on the Farm and other farm tours. FFCO provides training to develop strong agricultural ambassadors who are eager to share and educate non-farming neighbours on where food comes from.
Research and Innovation Excellence
Demonstrating excellence in research and innovation and how those efforts are supporting the efficiency and/or effectiveness of Ontario’s primary production or processing/manufacturing agriculture and food sector.
Award recipient: Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, Brock University — Niagara
This internationally recognized Institute enhances Ontario’s grape and wine supply chain through research expertise, providing innovative solutions that boost crop yields, reduce costs, and improve wine quality. Additionally, the institute offers micro-credential training to almost 400 people annually, strengthening the industry across Canada.
Honourable mention: Croptracker — Kingston
Croptracker Inc. designs software to help Ontario apple and tender fruit growers and associations make informed decisions that enhance the productivity, safety and profitability of Ontario’s fruit industry.
Honourable mention: Dr. David Liscombe, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC) — Niagara
Dr. David Liscombe's work to establish the metabolomics service at VRIC has laid the foundation for sustainable practices, enhanced food security, expanded market opportunities and shaped research agendas and agricultural innovations.
Food Processing Excellence
Demonstrating excellence in food processing and how those efforts are supporting the efficiency and/or effectiveness of the Ontario agriculture and food processing sector.
Award recipient: Conestoga Meats — Waterloo
Conestoga Meats is a uniquely integrated processor of premium quality pork, operating in Waterloo Region since 1982. It is owned and supplied by 157 Ontario farmers. Through the latest technologies, Conestoga Meats shares data with the individual producer so they can make production improvements at the farm level. The company also promotes a zero-waste policy for optimal production and minimal by-products. Conestoga Meats has also supported community initiatives and donated to the Waterloo Region Food Bank.
Honourable Mention: Jakeman’s Maple Products — Oxford
A fifth-generation family business processing and selling maple syrup, candies, cookies and other treats, Jakeman’s built a large processing plant in 2020 which processes maple syrup from over 200 Ontario maple producers.
Education Excellence
Demonstrating excellence in awareness-building, innovation, training and/or skills development and how those efforts support growth in Ontario’s agri-food sector.
Award recipient: Foodpreneur Lab — Toronto
Foodpreneur Lab supports Ontario's agriculture and food sector by addressing systemic barriers and aiding market development for emerging and underrepresented communities. This Black woman-founded and led not-for-profit organization offers mentor-based training empowering food entrepreneurs to leverage their cultural insights in product innovation. Their approach has facilitated 200 new food producer businesses to be created in Ontario.
Honourable mention: Dr. Amy Proulx, Niagara College — Niagara
Dr. Amy Proulx is an educator promoting youth leadership in food manufacturing. She has been pivotal in establishing Niagara College’s Culinary Innovation and Food Technology Program and Food and Beverage Innovation Centre.
Honourable mention: Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) — Wellington
AALP has provided training for agri-food sector leaders for 40 years. This Rural Ontario Institute program aims to positively impact Ontario’s agriculture and food sectors.
Promotional Excellence
Demonstrating excellence in promotional activities and how those efforts encourage consumers to buy Ontario grown and made agriculture and food products.
Award recipient: Bite of Brant — Brant
Bite of Brant, now in its 29th year, is an educational event for Grade 5 youth featuring 20 interactive stations on regional agriculture, from grinding wheat to make flour, pressing apples to make cider, understanding soil health, and milking a life-size model cow. It supports agriculture careers, skills development, and aligns with the Ontario education curriculum, fostering passion for local food.
Award winner: Farm & Food Care Ontario — Guelph
Farm & Food Care Ontario partners with multiple organizations to help raise awareness and provide reliable information about food and farming. Through campaigns, events and resources like The Real Dirt on Farming, Breakfast on the Farm, they train agricultural ambassadors to educate the public about where food comes from and foster meaningful community connections.
Honourable mention: Toronto Garlic Festival — Toronto
The Toronto Garlic Festival brings the community, local farmers and agri-food businesses together to celebrate garlic, contributing to a 30% rise in Ontario garlic sales since 2021.
Supply Chain Excellence
Demonstrating excellence in managing the journey from farm to fork and how those efforts strengthen and provide improved stability to Ontario’s agriculture and food supply chain.
Award recipient: Second Harvest — Toronto
Second Harvest works with agriculture and food businesses along the food chain to redirect extra food supply to feed communities. In the last three years the organization has rescued over 102 million pounds of food from the landfill, averted over 342 million pounds of greenhouse gas equivalent emissions from entering the atmosphere, and redistributed more than 88 million pounds of food. This rescued food, with a value of more than $300 million, has supported people experiencing food insecurity in their daily lives and involved more than 21,000 non-profit organizations in the province.
Honourable mention: Sheldon Creek Dairy — Simcoe
Sheldon Creek Dairy is a producer, retailer and distributor of safe, quality dairy products with direct-to-consumer sales. As a distributor, Sheldon Creek Dairy partners with other producers to offer a variety of Ontario-made products to their retailers.
Workforce Excellence
Demonstrating excellence in workforce attraction, growth and retention and how those efforts are supporting the growth and development of Ontario’s agriculture and food sector workforce.
Award recipient: Operation Grow — Simcoe
Operation Grow is a social enterprise operated by Huronia Transition Homes, aims to increase community connections, decrease poverty and support food security for women with experiences of violence as they transition into the workforce. Operation Grow combines a state-of-the art hydroponic farm, retail store, training centre and inspected kitchen, along with a self-employment program to foster entrepreneurship among women.
Honourable mention: CareersNOW! Food and Beverage Ontario — Niagara
CareersNOW! is a workforce initiative created by Food and Beverage Ontario. The initiative has helped more than 22,000 participants learn more about the industry and find rewarding careers in food and beverage companies.
Urban Agriculture Excellence
Demonstrating excellence in bringing the farm to the city and how those efforts are adapting agriculture technology to an urban setting, increasing access to local food and increasing urban participation and support for Ontario’s agriculture and food sector.
Award recipient: ZipGrow Inc. — Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
ZipGrow is advancing urban agriculture by supporting local community projects and in-home grown produce via their ZipGrow Hydroponics technologies. ZipGrow equipment can be installed in non-conventional spaces, encouraging young and new farmers to enter into agriculture. ZipGrow provides support, training and tech transfer to their clients.
Honourable mention: Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, Durham College — Durham
The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture engages youth, students and the community through an urban agriculture curriculum and tours of the Ajax Urban Farm.
Honourable mention: Wiijindamaan Indigenous Land Futurity and Gdoo-naaganinaa Garden, Conestoga College — Waterloo
The Wiijindamaan Indigenous Land Futurity, Gdoo-naaganinaa Garden and associated research introduces Conestoga students and the Waterloo community to Indigenous agricultural practices and aims to reduce food insecurity.
Northern Business Excellence
Demonstrating leadership and excellence and how those efforts are supporting the growth and development of Ontario’s agriculture and food sector. The business must be located in Northern Ontario.
Award recipient: Bujold Farms — Rainy River District
Bujold Farms is improving beef cattle genetics in the Rainy River District. Aaron Bujold has improved beef genetics in the region by advocating for and providing opportunities to use technologies such as embryo transfer and artificial insemination. While increasing the quality of his own herd, he has also increased the number of animals he raises, in turn increasing the profitability of the animals and his operation.
Honourable mention: Mattagami Heights Farm — Timmins
Noella and Dan Farrell own Mattagami Heights Farm are agricultural advocates in their community and promote the importance of locally grown food. Noella is a founding member of the Timmins Farmer's Market where they sell their farm’s beef products.
Women’s Excellence
Demonstrating leadership and/or excellence and how those efforts are supporting the growth and development of Ontario’s agriculture and food sector.
Award recipient: Jenny Carnaghan, Carncroft Farms — Durham
Jenny Carnaghan is a founding member of the Trillium Lamb Marketing Group, which collectively markets lambs directly to an abattoir. This provides a consistent supply and quality of lambs for the packer at a competitive price. The group recently expanded to include sheep farms beyond central Ontario. Jenny promotes sheep farming and agriculture through her volunteer work with Durham Farm Connections, 4-H, Ontario Sheep Farmers, local fairs, schools, and other groups.
Honourable mention: Split Rail Brewing Co. — Manitoulin
Split Rail Brewing, founded by Andrea Smith and Eleanor Charlton, is Ontario's only fully women-owned brewery. This Manitoulin Island brewery has partnered with farms and other groups to help grow the craft beer sector.
Honourable mention: Energrow Inc. — Perth
Energrow, led by Jasmin Hofer, developed an automated on-farm pressing system to create an affordable feed option for livestock farmers. Energrow locally manufactures all-electric, automated soybean presses used to create freshly pelleted high protein meal and value-added oil.
Youth Excellence
Demonstrating leadership and/or excellence and how those efforts are supporting the growth and development of Ontario’s agriculture and food sector. The applicant/nominee must be 28 years old and younger.
Award recipient: Beck’s Broth — Waterloo
Beck's Broth, founded by Beckie Prime and Domenique Mastronardi, is a thriving retail and wholesale food business, recognized for its strong social media presence, community engagement, and commitment to sustainability. Sourcing over 75% of ingredients locally, they support Ontario agriculture, educate the public on small-batch, foods, and aim for national expansion while inspiring women and youth in the industry.
Honourable mention: Mighty Harvest Produce Inc. — Durham
Derrik Stevenson founded Mighty Harvest at the age of 23. This vertical produce farm grows leafy greens, herbs and microgreens. Derrik actively contributes to urban agriculture education and local agricultural policies.
Honourable mention: Remix Snacks Inc. — York
Isabelle Lam, co-founder of Remix Snacks, aims to make beans fun and accessible through snacks. What started as an undergrad competition idea has grown into a thriving business with product in over 700 Canadian stores.
Farm Family Excellence
Demonstrating leadership and excellence and how those efforts are supporting the growth and development of Ontario’s agriculture and food sector.
Award recipient — North: ELD Farms — Kenora
The Debney family operates ELD Farm in Minnitaki, Ontario, one of the largest farms in the Kenora district. They raise beef cattle, chicken, and lamb, supplying sustainable high quality, locally grown and processed foods. They operate an on-farm store selling their meat products, along with goods they produce and items from local vendors.
Award recipient — West: Schooley Orchards Ltd. & Apple Hill Lavender — Norfolk
This fourth-generation farm in Norfolk County produces and adds value to apples, lavender and medicinal herbs. They promote Ontario's agriculture and food sectors through agritourism and media and have been instrumental in initiating and advancing agriculture and food organizations such as the Ontario Lavender Association and Canadian Good Agricultural Collections and Practices program.
Honourable mention — West: Sunningdale Farms — Simcoe
Owners John Hemsted and Josephine Martensson Hemsted, are advocates for Ontario's agriculture sector and environmental stewardship. They provided leadership to Simcoe County Sheep Association, Ontario Sheep Farmers Canadian Sheep Codes of Practice and South Georgian Bay Lake Simcoe Source Protection Committee.
Contact us
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at excellenceinagriculture@ontario.ca.