Changes for Ontarian & Canadian Chicken
Posted: June 20, 2014
Categories: Food in the News / GoodFoodBites
The chicken industry in Ontario–and across Canada– is undergoing some interesting changes. From changing supplies, to specialty breed allocation, to a made-in-Canada chicken label, you’ll likely notice more Canadian (and Ontarian) chicken in the poultry section on your next shopping trip.
Ontario Chicken Industry Growth
In Ontario, chicken has experienced an increase in demand, price, and growth in the past several months. Beef and pork shortages in the province partly explain some of the growth and subsequent price increases.
The quota for Ontario chicken has also increased. The A-126 quota period (from September 7th to November 1st) has increased by about two million more kilograms.
Ask and you shall receive
In addition to this increase, the Chicken Farmers of Canada have also approved an additional allocation for two specialty breeds, Frey’s Special Dual Purpose and Silkies, to keep up with the demand of specialty world foods.
Mike Dungate, the executive director of Chicken Farmers of Ontario, says “Ontario was the only province that got a specialty allocation because they were the only one that asked.”
This highlights the importance of engaging with actors all along the supply chain to create more opportunities for Ontario farmers– something that Sustain strives to do with its Flocking Options campaign.
Canadian Chicken Label
Across the country, you will soon be able to identify chicken “raised by a Canadian farmer” in your grocery aisle.
The Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) are hoping that third time’s a charm for their new labelling project, as this is the third time they have tried to institute it.Informed by market data that suggests that Canadians prefer to buy Canadian chickens; however, the CFC is confident in the project’s success.
In their recent press release, CFC Chair, David Janzen, said “Consumers increasingly want to know the story behind their food. Our research tells us that we can best tell that story through a distinct brand…Moreover, our research shows that the majority of Canadians would trust a national brand if it came from a farmers’ group, rather than from a retailer or processor.”
Food Processing Deficit
The “Canadian raised” label is initially for use on fresh chicken, as opposed to its processed and frozen counterparts, many of which come from overseas. This is in line with the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute’s recent report, which explains that Canada’s food processing sector is experiencing a $6.8 billion deficit. This means that Canada is importing much more processed foods than it is exporting, largely due to outsourcing trends and associated plant closures. An extension of the Canadian chicken label to processed chicken would likely necessitate more chicken processing plants in the country.
What do you think about the newest trends in the chicken industry? Are they in line with the creation of a healthy and sustainable food system? Tells us your thoughts.