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Ontario government rewards on-farm innovation

April 17, 2008, Toronto, Ont. – Two Ontario farmers are receiving the province’s top agri-food innovation awards.

April 17, 2008, Toronto, Ont. – Two Ontario farmers are receiving the province’s top agri-food innovation awards.

The recipients are being recognized under the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence, a $2.5-million, five-year program (now in its second year) established to recognize innovators who contribute to the success of Ontario’s agri-food sector.

The recipients for 2007 are:

William Nightingale, of B & C Nightingale Farms (LaSalatte, Ont.), is the recipient of the Premier’s Award of $100,000. He was recognized for his work in improving Ontario's fresh vegetable yields by pioneering the use of high tunnels over vegetable field crops.

David Freeman, of Freeman Farms (Meaford, Ont.), received the Minister’s Award of $50,000 for his innovation in developing freeze-dry technology and building a state-of-the-art processing plant equipped to process botanicals for use in nutraceuticals and whole foods.