A positive sign of the growing relationship between Farm & Food Care and the Canadian food industry was evident recently when, for the first time, the farming community was represented at the Tim Hortons annual meeting in Toronto on May 10.

In Canada, Tim Hortons and other food companies have been targeted by activist groups, most notably the Humane Society of the United States. Activists are pressuring companies with environmental or animal welfare related demands, most often related to hen and sow housing to date. Tim Hortons has been very responsible on animal welfare related questions and has been investing considerable time and resources working with their suppliers and industry partners over the past two years and continuing open dialogue for the future.

Carolynne Griffith, an egg farmer and past chair of Egg Farmers of Ontario spoke passionately to company shareholders about Canadian farmers' commitment to animal welfare. Said Griffith, "I'd like to congratulate Tim Hortons for your responsible approach to farm animal welfare, which is so important to Canadian farmers. Animal welfare isn't just a slogan or a campaign for farmers. Caring for animals is what I do and have always done, 365 days a year. Except for days like today of course when I come to Toronto to make sure the farmers' voice is heard on these very important topics that affect all our businesses."

Tim Hortons issued a press release on May 4, 2012 strengthening its commitment to animal welfare including a goal of purchasing 10% of its eggs from enriched cages, asking for an end to gestation stalls, investing in animal welfare research and hosting a North American summit for restaurant industry leaders on these topics. References to animal welfare are part of the company's larger commitment to sustainability, which is profiled in their corporate social responsibility report. The report can be viewed online at www.timhortons.com or view the video on YouTube by searching "Tim Hortons animal welfare".

Farm & Food Care recently issued a statement on the Tim Hortons' commitment and approach. "We appreciate that Tim Hortons is proactively working with farmers and suppliers to develop plans for the future," said John Maaskant, chicken farmer and Farm & Food Care board member.

Farm & Food Care believes a sustainable food supply needs to be built on five core pillars: animal welfare, environment, food safety, human health and economics.   Each of these pillars is a complex topic that needs to be examined with a multi-disciplinary and long term approach.   
 

Farm & Food Care will host the third "Farming & the Food Industry Forum" for restaurant and grocery executives later this year. These sessions are an important way to continue building relationships and important dialogue between farmers and food industry partners.

Farm & Food Care held its inaugural board meeting and elected its first executive at a meeting in Guelph on May 11th.

 John Maaskant will serve as the first chairman of Farm & Food Care. John is the Chicken Farmers of Ontario representative and the past Chair of the Ontario Farm Animal Council. He and his family farm near Clinton, Ontario.

Larry Lynn, representing Grain Farmers of Ontario, has been chosen as the organization's Vice Chair. Rounding out the executive is Treasurer Joe Hickson representing the Ontario Seed Growers' Association and Executive member at large Heather Copland representing Grober Inc.

All four executive members formerly sat on either the board of directors of the Ontario Farm Animal Council or AGCare - Agricultural Groups Concerned About Resources and the Environment. The organizations amalgamated to become Farm & Food Care Ontario in January which has been operating with an interim board of directors until this meeting.