Innovative Ideas Thrive In Eastern 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 Brighton honouring regional winners of the Premier’s Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. Local recipients are:

• Algoma Orchards, Clarington (Durham Region)
• Burt’s Greenhouses, Odessa (Lennox and Addington County)
• Indian River Cattle Company, Indian River (Peterborough County)
• John W. Steele and Bob Comfort, Norwood (Peterborough County)
• National Farmers Union, Local 316, New Farm Project, Gananoque (Frontenac County, Lennox and Addington and the City of Kingston)
• Pilgrim Honey House, Apple Hill (Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County)
• Stone Farms, Cobden (Renfrew County)
• Yellowlees Family Farm (Karen and Dennis Yellowlees), Nestleton (Durham Region)

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

“I am pleased to recognize these local innovators with these awards.  Their vision and hard work show us how integral our agri-food sector and our rural communities are to this province.”
– Lou Rinaldi, MPP for Northumberland-Quinte West

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 Brighton

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.