Barn Owl Malt Receives Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence

December 6, 2017

Ontario Celebrates Local Agri-Food Innovators in Haliburton, Hastings and Northumberland Counties – Recipients Honoured at Awards Ceremony

Ontario is recognizing the work of local innovators whose ideas and passion are helping grow and strengthen the province’s agri-food sector.
Lou Rinaldi, MPP for Northumberland–Quinte West, hosted a ceremony in Port Hope today to recognize Haliburton, Hasting and Northumberland Counties recipients of this year’s Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.

The awards honour the contributions of hard-working and innovative people across the province who are creating new agri-food products, adding value to existing products, supporting job creation and building economic growth in Ontario.  The award recipients from Haliburton, Hastings and Northumberland Counties are:

• Abbey Gardens, based in Haliburton County
• Barn Owl Malt, based in Hastings County
• Potter Settlement Artisan Winery, based in Hastings County
• Quinte Immigration Services, based in Hastings County
• Kaley’s Acres Farm, based in Northumberland County

Supporting innovation in agriculture is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

Quick Facts

• This year, 50 innovators are receiving regional awards. All 50 award recipients are also eligible for the Premier’s Award, Minister’s Award and three Leaders in Innovation awards, which will be announced in December.
• Since 2007, the program has received more than 1,700 nominations, with $4.25 million distributed to 525 award-winning innovators.
• Ontario’s agri-food sector supports more than 800,000 jobs and contributes more than $37 billion towards the province’s gross domestic product

Quotes

“I am pleased to be part of today’s celebrations and to have the honour of meeting the innovative recipients of the 2017 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. These individuals are helping Ontario’s agri-food sector thrive with initiatives that not only benefit their businesses but grow their local economy.”
Lou Rinaldi
MPP for Northumberland—Quinte West

“Year after year, these awards showcase outstanding individuals across the province whose innovative ideas are helping grow Ontario’s agri-food sector for today and tomorrow. I’d like to congratulate this year’s recipients and thank them for their commitment to strengthening Ontario’s world-class agri-food sector and positioning our province for continued economic growth.”
Jeff Leal
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs