MEETING TO DISCUSS SEED SAVING . . . SWINE TRACEABILITY PROGRAM RECEIVES FEDERAL BOOST . . . GARDENER’S TWOFER: FIRST KETCHUP ‘N’ FRIES PLANT HITS U.S. MARKET . . . CANADIAN GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN FOOD PROCESSING . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

MEETING TO DISCUSS SEED SAVING
Source: Island Farmer
The P.E.I. Food Security Network and the Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network (ACORN) are joining forces to build a cooperative seed growers network. A meeting is planned for February 18 starting at noon and those interested are asked to take a survey prior to the meeting to determine whether they are organic (certified or non-certified), and how much experience with seed saving they have. This event is open to small farmers who grow organically (certified or noncertified) who want to:(a) be part of a cooperative seed-grower’s network; (b) increase knowledge and skills related to producing high quality vegetable seed and (c) produce and sell seed that is open pollinated, sustainably grown, non-GMO, and high quality. (read more)

SWINE TRACEABILITY PROGRAM RECEIVES FEDERAL BOOST
Source: Pembina Valley online
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced Thursday that nearly $2 million will be invested to strengthen traceability and biosecurity in Canada’s pork industry. He made the announcement at the Canada Pork International Annual Meeting in Toronto. The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) will receive up to $1.6 million towards the ongoing maintenance and implementation of PigTrace Canada, an industry-led national swine traceability system. “Today’s announcement will go a long way in helping the pork industry continue its implementation of a world class traceability system and making traceability a feasible and valuable tool for Canadian producers,” noted CPC’s Traceability Implementation Committee Chair Normand Martineau. (read more)

GARDENER’S TWOFER: FIRST KETCHUP ‘N’ FRIES PLANT HITS U.S. MARKET
Source: NPR
Love growing potatoes and tomatoes? This spring, gardeners in the U.S. (and Europe) will be able to get both tuber and fruit from a single plant. It even has a catchy name: Ketchup ‘n’ Fries. “It's like a science project,” says Alice Doyle of SuperNaturals Grafted Vegetables, the company that’s licensing the variety for U.S. markets from the UK company that developed it. “It’s something that is really bizarre, but it’s going to be fun (for gardeners) to measure and see how it grows.” This isn't a genetically modified organism but a plant of two different nightshades: the top of a Cherry tomato grafted on to a white potato. (read more)

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN FOOD PROCESSING
Source: The Meat Site
The Canadian government is to invest C$3 million to support a new research cluster led by the Canadian Food Innovators (CFI). This investment will help the food and beverage processing industry in developing new processes that enhance quality while managing food safety risks, as well as new products that deliver health and wellness attributes marketed to health-conscious consumers. The research activities will focus on eggs, meat, fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Established in 2013, the Canadian Food Innovators serves the Canadian Council of Food Processors (CCFP), which represents seven regional food processing trade associations across Canada. (read more)