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Frequently Asked Questions

Author: OMAFRA Staff
Creation Date: Not Available
Last Reviewed: 23 May 2007

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Q. Where can I find information about "Pick Your Own" farms?"
A. You can access Pick Your Own information by the Foodland Ontario Pick Your Own website by going to http://www.foodland.gov.on.ca. (Hard copies of the PYO Guide are not available)
Q. How can I find out when and where the Ontario Fall Fairs are?
A.

The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies produces a booklet called Ontario Agricultural Fairs & Exhibitions. To receive your copy of the current Ontario Agricultural Fairs & Exhibitions booklet send a 95 cent self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies
Box 189
Glencoe, Ontario
N0L 1M0

ph: 519-287-3553
fax: 519-287-2000

online at:
http://www.ontariofairs.com

This booklet is not available from OMAFRA
Q. I am trying to find information regarding courses I can take on the safe handling and the proper use of pesticides/herbicides.
A.

The Grower Pesticide Safety Course & The Pesticide Vendor Certification Course are operated by Ridgetown College, University of Guelph. These courses are prescribed by the Ontario Provincial Council of the Crop Protection Institute, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

There are about 450 grower certification courses each year. For course information call the Ridgetown College at 1-800-652-8573.. There is a $85.00 fee which covers the course and curriculum material. The fee is payable on the first day of the course.

For inquiries regarding lost wallet cards or certification numbers, to ask if your certification still is current and for general questions about pesticide regulations call Ridgetown College at 1-800-652-8573

Questions or concerns about the use of pesticides or pesticide spills should be referred to the regional office of the Ministry of the Environment. The numbers and office locations can be found in the blue pages of your telephone book.

Q.
I am interested in finding employment with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Is there somewhere that job opportunities are listed ? How do I apply?
A. Employment opportunities within the Ministry and the Ontario Government are posted on a website called GOjobs at: www.gojobs.gov.on.ca. The site provides internet users with 24 hr. access to open competitions in the OPS, as well as information about eligibility and applying.
Q. I am looking for a list of farmer's who produce a variety of crops in Ontario. I want to do some direct marketing to them. Is this type of list available from OMAFRA?
A. Lists of the names and addresses of individual producers are not available from the Ministry. Please contact the appropriate marketing board or producer association to inquire about a list. If a list is not available, you could inquire about advertising in a publication that targets the producer group. For example, the organization may have a magazine or newsletter for members. A list of marketing boards and producer associations is available on our site.
Q. I am in the food processing business located in Europe and I am looking to move into Ontario. Being new to the province, where can I get some assistance in establishing a new business? Are there tax or investment incentives that I may be eligible for?
A. The Ministry has an Investment Development Unit which provides potential investors with all the services they need to make an investment decision in Ontario. These services include providing detailed information on Ontario's investment climate, arranging appointments with potential Ontario partners and appropriate government officials, and touring Ontario to find an appropriate investment site. For more information on these and other services, please contact John Swan at john.swan@ontario.ca, at (519) 826-4447.
Q. I have some land and want to do something with it. What information do you have on starting a farm?
A. The ministry produces many publications including information on farm management, renting land, marketing and costs of production. These can be ordered online or by calling 1-888-466-2372. There are also courses at the University of Guelph Independent Study, at (519) 824-4120. You can also contact our Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or by email, where you can ask questions with regards to livestock, pest control, soil, crop and farm management. A number of agricultural associations also have packages on starting a farm in specific commodities.
Q. I receive many compliments on one of my old family recipes and wondered about producing it commercially. Do you have information on starting a food business?
A. We have a Food Industry Competitiveness Branch and they have information available that may help you. One publication that may be of assistance is Guide to Food Processing. They can be reached at 1-888-466-2372.
Q. My freezer was left open for about 12 hours. What should I do with the food? Can I refreeze it?
A. OMAFRA has a factsheet on what to do if your freezer goes off called "Take Care with Your Frozen Foods" which will give you information on what can and can't be refrozen. The "Food Handlers Storage Guide" will give you information on how long to store foods in the cupboard, freezer and fridge. These publications can be ordered online or by calling 1-888-466-2372.
Q. I've been given a bushel of tomatoes and wonder what I can do with them?
A. A helpful resource is: Publication # 708 "Preserving Ontario's Harvest". This publication can be ordered online or by calling 1-888-466-2372. The jar manufacturer, Bernardin will answer individual questions at (416) 239-7723 ext. 228 (or visit their website). Dow Chemical makes Ziploc bags and has information on freezing. Dow can be reached at 1-800-785-0000. There is also the Certo hotline run by Kraft General Foods at 1-800-268-6038.
Q. My garden didn't produce well this year. Why?
A.

A number of things could have happened. The Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. is an organization that has been established to give advice to home gardeners. They are trained volunteers who work in local groups across the province. Some of the local groups have gardening hotlines or email addresses where you can ask your questions. For more information about this organization check the website at http://www.gardenontario.org/mas/hotline.php

In addition, information on obtaining soil testing kits is available by calling the Agricultural Information Contact Centre (1-877-424-1300 or ag.info@omafra.gov.on.ca). You then send the sample (about a pound of soil in a plastic bag in a box - all supplied in the kit) to an accredited laboratory (list provided). They will analyze the soil and send you results. The cost varies from $12 - $20, depending on the type of tests and the laboratory.

Q. What is the contribution of the agriculture and food industry to the total Ontario economy?
A. One approach to this question is to consider Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced in the province. Suppose we define agri-food GDP as the sum of the GDPs for primary agriculture plus food and beverage processing. Then, expressed as a percentage of the GDP for the whole economy, this share works out to be about 4.2%. However, agriculture and food processing are goods-producing industries. So another way to look at the question would be to compare the agri-food GDP to the total GDP from goods-producing industries. In this case, the contribution is calculated to be approximately 12%. One last point to keep in mind is that neither of these calculations include the contributions from other industries directly related to agriculture and food production such as food retailing or farm inputs.

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