Canadian Food Safety and Quality Program: Food Safety Initiative
Traceability Pilot Project

Traceability Pilot Project

OMAFRA is pleased to announce the successful implementation of facility level traceability systems in seventeen (17) pilot facilities across Ontario. The seventeen pilot facilities selected were representative of Ontario's agri-food sectors (8 from the on-farm sector, and 9 from the processing sector). The traceability pilot project was carried out from July 2006 to March 2007.

The systems implemented by these pilot sites demonstrate the breadth and scope of available systems that successfully met the needs of each of these individual businesses. All of these pilot operations found operational and economic benefit from implementing a traceability system, including reduced impact of product recall, improved business performance, reduced waste and spoilage, and increased inventory management.

The Traceability Pilot Project was a shared venture between the pilot facility, OMAFRA and an independent consultant contracted to assist in the design and implementation of the traceability system. Funding for the Food Safety Initiative Traceability Grant Program and Pilot Project was provided under the Agriculture Policy framework, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

The following facilities took part in the Traceability Pilot Project. Click on available links to review a profile of their traceability systems.

On-Farm Facilities

Consultants: Ag2Networks Ltd.

• Bear Creak Farm, Sarnia, ON (cattle & calves)
• Sun Parlor Honey Ltd., Cottam, ON (honey)
• Cedar Beach Acres Ltd., Kingsville, ON (greenhouse packhouse)
• Amco Produce Ltd., Leamington, ON (greenhouse packhouse)
• Brenn-B Farms Ltd., Waterdown, ON (potatoes)
• Doug Calhoun, Dobbinton, ON (beef feedlot)
• Van Mar Farms Ltd., Chatham, ON (cattle & calves)
• Hillside Gardens Ltd., Bradford, ON (vegetables):
  Congratulations to Hillside Gardens, recipient of the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence

Processing Facilities

Consultants: eBiz Professionals Inc.

• Sunshine Pickles, Thamesville, ON (pickling vegetables & asparagus)
• Black River Cheese Co. Ltd., Millford, ON (cheese)
• GTA Meat Supply Inc., Mississauga, ON (meat)
• Weil's Food Processing Ltd., Wheatley, ON (tomato & potato canning)
• Buster Rhino's Inc., Whitby, ON (meat)
• Flat Rock Cellars, Jordan, ON (winery)
• Pine River Cheese & Butter, Kincardine, ON (cheese)
• Newmarket Meat Packers, Newmarket, ON (abattoir)
• T&R Sargent Farms Ltd., Milton, ON (poultry slaughter)
  

Related Links:

• Food Safety and Traceability Initiative funding

For more information:
Toll Free: 1-866-641-3663
E-mail: advantage@ontario.ca