The Ontario Regional Award for innovation excellence of $5,000 each
were given to the following county groups:

• County Roots - Food Focus Program, Prince Edward Collegiate
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• The County Cider Company
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• Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company
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• Vickie's Veggies
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The main Award was:

Premier's Award Recipient of $100,000

Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company - Picton, Prince Edward County
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You could say it's the 'big cheese.' Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company is the largest artisan cheese manufacturing facility in Eastern Ontario to process goat and sheep milk. It's also Canada's only certified Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Dairy.

This state-of-the-art facility's solar, wind and geothermal technologies have helped reduce its energy consumption by 60 per cent. The dairy's sustainability theme is carried throughout the entire enterprise, from environmentally friendly waste processing to green cleaning agents and biodegradable packaging. The facility has received awards for both its product and its green buildings. The dairy has even built subterranean
caves for aging cheese that provide a cool environment with little energy input.

Whoever researched the article on "The Future of Food" must live in a laboratory somewhere far, far away from real food and seems to buy into the idea that just because science "can" means that people will.

By choosing to look at only food science as the determinant of what we will eat in the future, the author completely missed an opportunity to provide readers with a more fulsome, balanced outlook. For example, one of the most significant ideas shaping the future of food is the mainstreaming of the concept of eco-gastronomy. This idea along with co-emerging political and social value shifts serve as the real architects of a real and economically palpable shift in what people choose to eat and purchase. If you want to see how these ideas are manifesting, just check out growth in the global SLOW FOOD movement whose mantra is "GOOD, CLEAN, and FAIR food", the growth city based farmer's markets, what the culinary arts intelligentsia are promoting (local producers), and the huge amount of provincial monies going into improving local producer's direct access to consumer markets.

Food is a hot topic. In fact, there are 2.5 times more books published annually on food, food politics and food preparation than books published on sex AND climate change combined. (Yes I can prove it!)

This article purports to highlight 28 significant food trends.  But what it really does is highlight only food SCIENCE trends. Science can create all kinds of things--but that doesn't mean its outcomes will be adopted (Just consider for a moment how GMO foods or how stem cell research has played out around the world. Social values have impact).

The article should have looked at the broader picture. Social, economic, and political trends and ideas in the end will likely have more impact than food science initiatives focused on test tube meat. (YUCK!)

Read the original ROB (Report on Business) Article

Petra Cooper
Founder, CEO Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company
Slow Food Convivium Chair, Prince Edward County
Chair, Ontario Cheese Society

Karin and Michael Potters are proud to present
their brand-new gourmet food shop

PINCH GOURMET

7 Elizabeth Street
Just around the corner from Buddha Dog.
Lots of free parking in the Mary Street lot

613.476.4404

Fresh Fish & Seafood • Fresh Meat • Artisanal Cheese
Local Veggies • Charcuterie • Fresh Bread
Rotisserie Chickens • Fresh Salads • Oils & Spices