FarmStart

The recent explosion of immigrant populations in Ontario has had a tremendous effect on the demand for ethnic foods and produce. Opportunities have become available for farmers to increase their income by becoming involved in the production of ethno-cultural food. If farmers are able to capture this niche marketing opportunity there is great potential for profit in an otherwise highly competitive industry.

When new immigrants arrive in Canada, they seek things that remind them of home. Food is more than a source of energy and nutrients; it is a reflection of cultural values. Market research has shown that there is a shortage of supply for these vegetables owing to a dramatic increase in transportation costs both in North America and internationally. Producers in Ontario should take advantage of this opportunity and provide fresh, high quality vegetables for ethnic residents. This practice will also tie into the local food movement, as farmers will supply a wide variety of produce that is appealing to ethnic consumers.

Please click here to see the full article. This study is led by the University of Guelph with a number of collaborators including FarmStart.

Diverse harvest for budding farmers

Immigrants learn basics of growing crops here; others benefit with fresh callaloo, okra, garlic

Nicole Baute, TORONTO STAR
Oct 13, 2008 

Anan Lololi shows off rows of callaloo growing in a Brampton field. The plants are closely shorn, with leaves that look like spinach, but bigger.

“They call it pigweed … but it is one of the most popular foods in the Caribbean,” Lololi says, still incredulous at the inglorious name after living in Canada for almost 30 years.

Lololi, who is originally from Guyana, likes to sauté his callaloo in garlic and olive oil.

“There definitely is a market for it, you know? We’re importing callaloo from Jamaica and the Philippines and it grows wild here.”

Callaloo is just one of the crops being grown by the non-profit Afri-Can FoodBasket and other groups at the McVean Farm. The new 35-acre incubator farm is owned by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and rented to a Guelph-based not-for-profit organization called FarmStart, which teaches new farmers the agricultural basics and rents them land and equipment at steep discounts

Continue reading…  

Update: The workshop will take place at the McVean Incubator Farm in Brampton.

The farm is located on the West side of McVean Dr,, between Queen St. E and Castlemore Rd.  A map is available here.

From CBC’s The Sunday Edition, May 4, 2008:

Here’s one picture of a farmer: tough, weatherbeaten, pitchfork in hand, a bit grim, proud member of a vanishing breed. Here’s another picture of a farmer: Thirty years old, five foot two, fresh-faced, female, city-bred. Meet Tarrah Young, proud and very determined member of a NEW breed. Tarrah – and people like her – are real risk takers. They’re not starry-eyed back-to-the landers, and they know know what they’re up against. Across Canada, the number of farmers under thirty-five has declined by more than 50% in the last ten years. For those who want to loosen the grip of the agribusiness giants, to spurn cheap pesticide-laden imports, and to eat local – this is really bad news. And we all have enough of that! So venture out with a few of agriculture’s young pioneers. Frank Faulk’s documentary is called “Down to Earth”

Click on the M4A icon below to listen to “Down to Earth”.

 

 'Down to Earth' Documentary: Play Now | Download

FarmStart Program Coordinator, Patrick Habamenshi, will be spending a lot of time at the CBC over the coming week. Patrick has an interview, a panel discussion, and a town hall speaking engagement scheduled over the next few days. Friends of FarmStart can tune in on Thursday and Friday at the following times to hear Patrick speak on the topic of diversity.

Thursday March 6^th 2008:

• CBC Radio Canada 7:30 am (French): “Il y a pas deux matins pareils”; SUJET: la diversité torontoise et ces défis.

• CBC Radio One, 7:30 pm: Town Hall on diversity with Andy Barrie. The event will be held at the Glenn Gould Studio, CBC Broadcastng Centre, 250 Front St. West. The event will begin at 7:30, doors open at 6:45. Other panelists will include:
  • Uzma Shakir, community activist, recently named Economic Justice Fellow by the Atkinson Charitable Foundation.
  • Raheel Raza, writer and diversity consultant and interfaith advocate.

Friday March 7^th 2008:

• Téléjournal de 18h00 (French); Other guests : Marc Lesage (sociologist) and Mohamed Boudjenan (director Fédération Canado-Arabe).

FarmStart is currently accepting applications for the following position:

Project Animator and Farm Manager

The Newcomers FarmStart-Up Project is a new initiative that will provide training programs and support services to help newcomers to Canada start new agricultural enterprises in near urban areas to meet the growing demand for locally grown, directly marketed and culturally appropriate fresh produce in Southern Ontario.

The Animator will be responsible for developing and managing the New Canadians FarmStart-Up Project as well as FarmStart’s Brampton Incubator Farm Facility. The Animator will report to the New Canadians, New Farmers Initiatives Coordinator and liaising with FarmStart’s Program Manager. S/he will also liaise with other FarmStart staff to integrate the project with ongoing FarmStart programs and services

Closing date: March 3, 2008

Intended start date: March, 2008

Please visit our Employment page for more details.

Three programs serving new immigrant farmers in and around Minnesota’s Twin Cities help agricultural entrepreneurs obtain the financing and knowledge they need to run a successful farm.

A full article describing these exciting programs is available via the New Immigrant Farm Initiative.

FarmStart is currently accepting applications for a full-time Agronomist and Extension Coordinator.

In 2007, FarmStart initiated research into the markets and production capacity for world food crops that can be grown in Ontario. The aim is to identify, share and develop knowledge and opportunities for world crops in our climate and markets in connection with private, not-for-profit and public sector partners, the food and agriculture industry, OMAFRA, research institutions and farmers.

The Agronomist and Extension Coordinator will be responsible for the development of our World Crops Research and Extension Project. The position will involve broad based and detailed research, the development of communication materials (such as publications, web and print articles, presentations etc.) and the development and coordination of select new crop trials.

The position will largely be based at our Training and Research Farm in Brampton and our farm facility in Guelph, with travel to other farms and a facility in Ajax to carry out research activities, including crop trials.

Closing date: February 15, 2008

Intended start date: March, 2008

Please see the job description for full details and contact information.

Guru asks why our ethnic diversity hasn’t prompted local farmers to grow the world’s most savoured grasses

By WAYNE ROBERTS
NOW Toronto

I’m sitting in Addis Ababa, an Ethiopian restaurant on Queen West, trying to do a selling job on an ethnic farming specialist.

Try this, I tell Rutgers University’s Bill Sciarappa, offering him a piece of injera, the tart flatbead served with beans, veggies and meat. I’m hoping to convince him that teff, the grain from which it is made, could be grown in Ontario instead of imported, as it almost all is, from Idaho.

“Oh, you mean Ethiopian lovegrass,” he says, as he and the owner joke about the fact that the grass is treated as a weed in New Jersey and fed to livestock.

Sciarappa’s business is repositioning ethnic food as what he likes to call “world food.” That’s why FarmStart, an org promoting the needs of immigrants who want a career in food production, invited him in the last week of November to address three southern Ontario workshops in Toronto, Guelph and Durham Region.

Sciarappa, who wants to let a thousand bitter melons bloom, likes to tell farmers in New Jersey, the Garden State, to “get progressive or get out.” The phrase is a jab at the infamous slogan of 1950s agribusiness: “Get big or get out.” His mission is to help local farmers start serving an untapped billion-dollar market for “ethnic” fruit and veggies.

Read the Full Story

There was a “Meeting of the Minds” at the Royal Winter Fair on Tuesday Nov 6. FarmStart and the Centre for Land and Water Stewardship helped bring together members of the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association with new Canadians from Africa, South America, China and South Asia. They had a chance to get to know one another and to start to build understanding and possible profitable relationships around new crops and new market opportunities.

About 35 people attended the meeting starting with a tour of the Royal, dinner together, and then round table discussion, ranging broadly from the challenges of early years as a new Canadian, to the challenges facing agriculture today, to the opportunities that lie ahead as a result of new relationships and new partnerships.

The gathering was supported by the Greenbelt Foundation, with arrangements made by Karen Daynard, program coordinator for the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Cathy Bartolic, Executive Director of the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association and Peter Mitchell from Farmstart and CLAWS at The University of Guelph.

Guests were addressed by Bill Duron, General Manager of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Dr. Rob McLaughlin, President of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and Burkhard Mausberg, President of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

ossible new crops were discussed. In particular: Chinese eggplant, edamame, chard, okra and naranjilla. And to be sure farm tours and visits will be happening in the spring.

To learn more and get involved please contact us.

In the fall, Patrick was on CBC’s The Current talking about the FarmStart New Canadians, New Farmers Program.

Patrick runs the New Canadians, New Farmers Program for FarmStart. Patrick holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, Senegal (he loves horses and wildlife) and a Master of Arts in Economics from University of Toronto (he loves numbers).

Patrick is an outspoken advocate for minorities’ rights, the integration of immigrants in the Canadian society and the economic empowerment of African-Canadians. He also counts agriculture, economic development and food security in his areas of expertise. Patrick recently returned from his native Rwanda, where he worked as a visiting lecturer at the National University and occupied senior positions in the Government including being the Minister of Agriculture.

 

 Patrick Habamenshi on The Current: Play Now | Download

Patrick Habamenshi, who runs FarmStart’s New Canadians New Farmers Program, was recently interview on Radio Canada International’s The Link.

You can listen to the complete interview below.

About Patrick:

Patrick holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, Senegal (he loves horses and wildlife) and a Master of Arts in Economics from University of Toronto (he loves numbers).

Patrick is an outspoken advocate for minorities’ rights, the integration of immigrants in the Canadian society and the economic empowerment of African-Canadians. He also counts agriculture, economic development and food security in his areas of expertise. Patrick recently returned from his native Rwanda, where he worked as a visiting lecturer at the National University and occupied senior positions in the Government.

Currently, Patrick is consulting for the International Federation of Agricultural Development (IFAD). Alongside this position, Patrick is working with FarmStart to identify the needs of New Canadian farmers.

About the Link:

The Link is a two-hour daily radio show aimed at connecting new immigrants to Canada and Canada to the world. Plug in to our show for immigration news and stories. Find out what’s new and exciting on Canada’s cultural landscape. And get the pulse on what’s happening in Canada today. Whether you live inside or outside the country, just click on The Link and get connected.

 

 Patrick Habamenshi on The Link: Play Now | Download

Immigrant farmers face steep learning curve, many barriers to working the land in Canada

Sep 07, 2007 04:30 AM

Catherine Porter
Environment Reporter
You’ve heard about the Indian doctor driving a cab in Toronto. But how about the Indian farmer making ends meet as a lawyer?

When Lakwinder Gill came to Canada 11 years ago, he was both a qualified lawyer and farmer. Amazingly, he found it easier to navigate his way into the Canadian legal system than work the land as a farmer.

“There is no way to get into it, unless you’re a millionaire. I couldn’t find anyone to guide me,” Gill said yesterday.

That’s about to change. Two new training farms will open soon in Greater Toronto to help immigrant farmers. Yesterday, the non-profit Greenbelt Foundation announced a $400,000 grant to start one in Ajax. And in Brampton, two non-profit organizations are negotiating to lease a 20-hectare piece of land.

Come next spring, both farms will be opened for immigrant farmers to learn about the Canadian climate and growing season, and try their hand at growing crops indigenous to their home countries.

Full Article

The Rodale Institute’s New Farm website has some great stories. One in particular is written by a fellow who was full time organic dairy farming for two years…and then had to cut his losses and sell everything. It is a great account of some of the pitfalls facing new farmers and the lessons to be learned.

Follow the link below to read ‘The End of Farming For Me, For Now” by Mark Lichtenstein:

http://www.newfarm.org/features/2007/0807/endoffarming/lichtenstein.shtml

For those of you that speak french – here is a link to a radio interview with Patrick Habemenshi who is working on FarmStart’s New Canadians, New Farmers Program on Radio Canada International.

To listen select the first hour of the show. Patrick’s interview starts near 45 minutes into the hour. He will also be doing an English interview which we will add to FarmStart News once it is aired.

The Toronto Star farm series looks at how migrant and immigrant labour gets local produce to market and includes information about FarmStart.

Full Story from The Toronto Star

“Farms near Andrews are selling for $50,000 an acre – the down payment on one of the new homes replacing it in the area. You can rent land for as cheap as $30 an acre, but then there’s still the infrastructure costs for irrigation pipes, seeds, fertilizer, tractors.

FarmStart, a Guelph-area non-profit organization, is launching a program to bridge the gap. It’s already rented 38 acres of land from the Toronto Region Conservation Authority. Starting next year, it will bring aspiring immigrant farmers there for a subsidized, five-year program. They’ll learn about local farm conditions and till small plots with specialty crops from their home countries. They’ll also be linked to established farmers in a mentorship program.

“We have to rethink how we do agriculture in Canada – from a production perspective and an economic perspective,” says Christie Young, FarmStart’s director. “We can learn a lot from farmers from other parts of the world.”

Full Story from The Toronto Star

[tag] FarmStart, New Canadians New Farmers, farming[/tag]

Mike Shook, FarmStart’s Program Manager, was recently a guest on CBC’s Ontario Today. You can listen to the clip and then please come back and add your comments below.

• What are your views on local food?
• What do we need to do to ensure more local production?
• What crops would you like see grown locally?

Add your 2 cents to the mix. Just click on ‘Comments’ below to get started.

Click on ‘Listen to the Clip’ above and it will open in Real Player. Don’t have Real Player? Click Here

We would really like to hear what you have to say about the New Canadians, New Farmers Program.

There are many many people from farmers, to retailers, to consumers that will have great ideas about how to improve opportunities in the agricultural sector.

This is our chance to hear from you. Please add your 2 cents below.

If you would rather sent us a message directly contact us.