Innovative Ideas Thrive In Southwestern Ontario

News

Ontario’s rural communities are growing innovative ideas that drive the local economy and advance Ontario’s agri-food industry.

These ideas were celebrated today at a ceremony in Wingham honouring regional winners of the Premier’s Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. Local recipients are:

• Advanced Agricultural Testing Inc., Baden (Waterloo Region)
• Global Fruit, Clarksburg (Grey)
• Homegrown Ontario, Guelph (Wellington)
• Kraayenbrink Farms Limited, Moorefield (Wellington)
• Lewis Land & Stock, Holstein (Grey)
• 100 Mile Market Inc., Kitchener (Waterloo Region)
• Smiths’ Apples and Farm Market, Port Elgin (Bruce)
• Spirit Tree Estate Cidery, Caledon (Peel)
• Strom’s Farm, Guelph (Wellington)
• Taste of Huron, (Huron)
• Wintermar Farms, West Montrose (Waterloo)

These awards are part of a $2.5-million, five-year program established to recognize innovators who contribute to the success of Ontario’s agri-food sector.  

Quotes

“Ontario’s farmers, agri-food business and rural communities continue to show outstanding leadership when it comes to innovation. Their vision and hard work remind us how our agricultural innovations help to build an Open Ontario and create opportunities for our rural communities. I am proud to recognize their outstanding creativity and contributions to the good things that grow in Ontario.”
– Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Quick Facts

• Ontario’s agri-food sector is one of the province’s leading industries, contributing more than $33 billion to the economy every year.
• There are 55 regional award winners across the province — each receiving $5,000 for their innovations. 
• The Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence program has attracted more than 700 applications highlighting on-farm innovations since 2007.  

Learn more

Backgrounder: Regional Innovations Awarded in Wingham

See other award winning innovation success stories and discover the variety of past award-winning on-farm innovations at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs website.

Find out how other government programs support innovation in Ontario by visiting the Ministry of Research and Innovation website.