I live and work in 2 most dense places in Toronto and basically go from underground high rise buildings to large tower offices. I don't see much green and nature these days so I jumped at the chance to go on one of Farm & Food Care's Farm Tour's organized by the lovely Jennifer from Foodworkx. I have been on a similar bus tour once before but because I have been busy working I have missed a couple of them so this time I was determined to go. I love these farm tours because you get to see a whole other side of life and get to meet the people making your food face to face and have the opportunity to ask them questions and find out things you never knew about the food you are eating. Besides this it's just a really awesome day with fellow food industry people and eating great food too. I have been very lucky because the last time and this time the weather was spectacular and I heard I missed the 2 rainy and cold days. For once my timing was excellent. I think more people should learn what it takes to make their food because the would appreciate it and the people who make it so much more. The farming and agriculture industry is very hard, it's weather sensitive and it's a LOT of hard work. Farmer's markets where the vendor is actually the producer are great because you have a chance to thank those people for their efforts and connect to the people that you can't live without.
We started our tour at Elgersmas' Family Farm where the lovely young couple Andrew and Lindsay Elgersma gave us a tour of their egg production facility which is also where they live. They have 3 children and 10,000 hens on their family farm in the Elora area. They also have other day jobs. And you thought you were busy! Their farm is a family business that has been in Andrew's family since the 1850's but Andrew and Lindsay are taking it into the future with some modern information on how to best produce healthy hens and eggs. All of their eggs are Omega 3 eggs which means they are fed flax seeds. Their facility uses what is called an enriched housing system. It houses smaller more natural sized space with nest boxes, scratch pads and perches. They have a raised cage system so that their waste drops away under them preventing disease from contact.
Fact 1: Did you know that a hen only lays one egg a day?
Their hens produce 330 a year and in previous years it was only 175.
The eggs go from the conveyor to your store within 4-5 days. That includes packaging at Burnbrae Farms who distribute it for them.
Fact 2: Eggs are harder to peel when they are fresh so use your old eggs first if you are going to hard boil them.
Fact 3. If eggs aren't washed they can be stored at room temperature because they have a protective coating. If they are washed which is normally how they are sold in supermarkets then they need to be stored in the fridge for up to 5 weeks.
Fact 4. The color of the egg depends on the color of the hen. Hens that lay eggs are not the chickens you buy in the grocery store.
Fact 5. In Canada their are 1000 egg farmers.
We started off with a fantastic Scotch Egg and amazing bread with 6 bean hummus. There was a buffet featuring Black bean chili, Quinta quinoa salad and a Goat cheese Frittata and salad with local strawberries.
The dessert was a decadent brownie made with beans. Thanks to Chef Derek Roberts and Jackie Fraser of Fraberts Fresh Foods for the great lunch. The Museum grounds have a gorgeous garden. While enjoying our dessert we listened to Lynn Weaver from SaskCanola talk about the Canola produced in Saskatchewan and how important it is in export to other countries.
After lunch we jumped back on the bus and our last stop was at the University of Guelph's Elora Research Station. Dr. Peter Pauls gave us an information session about different beans and legumes and the their studies to produce different varieties of beans that will meet the demands of consummers.
Did you know that there is a Bean Research Program at the world renowned Elora Research Station?
Fact 6. Canada exports 80-90% of our Bean/Legume crops.
Fact 7. 97% of Canada's farms are family owned.
Fact 8. According to Statistics Canada there were 193,492 farms in 2016. That's 5.9% fewer than in 2011.
Fact 9. The average Canadian farm is around 820 acres which has increased from previous years.
Fact 10. The average age of a Canadian Farmer is 55 and 28.7 % of Canadian farmers are female.
I always learn many things when I have the opportunity to tours like this and it's why I always like to promote local and Canadian producers because besides producing food for us and other parts of the world they are also part of our local communities and they make a difference in everyone's life.
You can get a 360º view of the different types of hen housing on www. FarmFood360.ca
For more information: www.FarmFoodCare.org & www.RealDirtonFarming.ca
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