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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, February 5, 2015 | 18 Innovation is key to sustainability in agricultural market continued from p.16 But with sweet potatoes preferring the warmer climate of the southern United States, it's challenging for Ontario's farmers to successfully grow the crop and compete. The research centre conducted on-farm trials last year and subsequent taste testing in an effort to find the "Ontario sweet potato." "Screening can give us a faster way to get varieties and make them available to our growers," said Brownbridge. Another unique market showcased at the forum came in the liquid variety. The Toronto Distillery Company was on hand to talk about how it's taking Ontario-grown organic grains and distilling them into whiskey. "Growers now have the opportunity to showcase their crops in a giant marketplace like the LCBO," said Toronto Distillery Company co-founder Charles Benoit. "I just think the opportunity is really tremendous." Unlike other distilleries, the new company is labelling its bottles with specific information on the crops used to produce the whiskey. "I think we're at the beginning of something really exciting," he said. "Before, farmers didn't plug into the spirit market, but they will now." While gluten-free products are becoming common on the market, a family company in the small town of Heidelberg, Ont., has been creating these types of specialty items for decades. Kevin Stemmler, co-owner of Stemmler Meat and Cheese, told the audience how his family's business made its way into the niche market that caters to diets free of gluten, MSG, lactose, nitrates and other allergens. "This type of meat didn't exist in the '80s when we started," he said. "So how do we develop this market? Of course, we innovate." For example, he said they use turkey, beef and pork collagen instead of soy in products NOT INCLUD ED ES AX in response to soy allergies. "There are a lot of innovative things we can do to help ourselves," he remarked. Attendees also learned about the large variety of government funding opportunities available to the agricultural and food sectors through a presentation from Mentor Works, a consulting firm that assists farmers in accessing these funds. For forum guests like Meaghan Richardson, co-owner of Mabel May Farms in north Burlington, the evening proved informative. "This certainly showed us where we can go with a good idea," she said. "There are definitely niches out there that Halton farmers can fill." T Icare optIcal y 2S u B air Nly P om o fr NOT INCLUD ED ES AX 6 $1 9 leN e *Se Sto e e fr SeS re for a det T ilS 9 $9 ilorive P (No Bif lelN iNe - VALID MONDAY TO SUNDAY 7AM to 9:30AM · 2 EGGS · · ONE CHOICE OF MEAT · · OUR FAMOUS HOME FRIES · · TOAST AND JAM · Upon presentation of this coupon. Not valid on holidays.Valid from Monday to Sunday at Ben & Florentine Oakville. Expiration date : February 28th, 2015 S reSSS ) eS l g ro Se oca eye exam oN Site 905-842-2005 (@ dorval iN the toyS r uS Plaza, Next to lcBo) 300 North Service rd W. 146 Lakeshore Rd.W. · Oakville · 905.338.6333 · Is your child starting school this year? DISCOVER THE FRENCH CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEAR YOU 3 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 3 100% FRANCOPHONE ENVIRONMENT 3 HIGH-LEVEL ­ AND LASTING ­ BILINGUALISM 3 NO TUITION FEES 3 FREE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION 3 ROOTED IN CHRISTIAN VALUES Earn compulsory credits. Develop career skills. Learn outside. Build a community. Make a difference. Celebrating Over 30 Years! We're expecting you! YourFrenchSchool.ca 5 4 20 1 months credits Apply Today! new friends awesome experience Halton's Community Environmental Leadership Program OPEN HOUSE - Thursday, February 19 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Marie 336 Maurice Dr. Oakville ON L6K 2X3 905-845-4472 Wed., Feb. 18th, 2015 6:30pm Camp Sidrabene 5100 Appleby Line OPEN HOUSE Follow us on Facebook & Twitter@BronteCreeker www.brontecreekproject.org www.BronteCreekProject.org for Grade 11/12 An education that's amongst the best in Ontario!