Growing Chefs! Ontario has won the top prize in the annual Excellence in Agriculture Awards competition organized by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
In addition to the Minister’s Award, it won in the Education Excellence category as did Hilmanor Holsteins of Perth County,
Growing Chefs! Ontario is in Middlesex County and is a registered charity advancing food literacy by connecting chefs, growers, educators, and community members through hands-on food education projects.
Its school programming has reached more than 5,000 students and contributed to provincial curriculum development.
It supports food access through community gardens, nutrition programs and food box distribution, while fostering partnerships that strengthen local food systems across Ontario.
The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers marketing board was the winner in the Promotional Excellence Category.
Haven Greens of York Region and Vineland Research of Niagara Region won for research and innovation.
BMKC Canada Inc. of Bruce County won for food processing excellence.
Stone Bridge Flour of Ripley in Bruce County won the award for supply chain excellence.
Alexiou Farms of Simcoe County won the Indigenous, Metis of Inuit-owned Business or Community Excellence award.
Alexiou Farms, owned and operated by first-generation potato grower John Alexiou, integrates knowledge on Indigenous agriculture principles including crop rotation and soil stewardship to provide fresh potatoes to local consumers and regularly donates to food banks and churches. Through social media, John shares the process of potato production, providing education and awareness of the Ontario agri-food sector.
The Fifty Acre Garden of Coldwater in Simcoe County won the Farm Family Excellence award, Canadian Women in Food of Toronto won the Women’s Excellence award and Konrad Borowski of Beeton in Waterloo Region the Youth Excellence award He is 23 and founded Beekon which uses technology to address pollinator health.
Beekon’s recyclable, buoyant beehives adapt to flooding and support pollination in wetlands and has a pilot project underway in Malawi, Africa.
Northern Wildflowers of Lively in the Greater Sudbury municipality the Northern Business Excellence Award.
