Canadian farmers and agricultural businesses are dedicated to putting quality food on our tables while protecting the environment for future generations. Taste their commitment in each bite of your food and learn how they are growing a better future for us all.
On this page:
Meet the people behind your food
Listen to Canadian farmers and agricultural business owners explain why they care about the environment, and discover how they put their sustainable practices in action.
Meet Nancy and her family
Agricultural producers, McCrea Farms, Shannon, New Brunswick – See how Nancy and her family are a perfect example of an innovative, hands-on approach to farming solar energy.
Meet Clinton (videos)
Grain and egg producer, Monchuk Farms, Lanigan, Saskatchewan – See how Clinton uses crop rotation and new technology to grow food sustainably.
Meet Jonathan
Co-founder and CEO, Still Good, Montreal, Quebec – Discover how Jonathan shows his commitment to reduce food waste.
Meet Karnail and his family (videos)
Wine producers, Kalala Organic Estate Winery, Kelowna, British Columbia – See how Karnail is proud of his family and their work on their organic farm.
Meet Tarek (videos)
Producer - Entrepreneur, ColdAcre, Whitehorse, Yukon – Discover how Tarek and his team are making a difference for the planet and for their community.
Meet Tyler (videos)
Cattle producer, Tilston, Manitoba – See how Tyler Fewings cares about healthy food production and a healthy environment.
Choose Canadian foods
When possible, support the many Canadian farmers and food and beverage processors who are committed to producing quality food while protecting the environment.
- Look for food products with claims such as Made in Canada or Product of Canada on their label.
- Buy Canadian fresh, frozen, or canned produce.
- Subscribe to a local food box program.
- Visit a farmers' market, an on-farm market or pick-your-own farm near you.
- Take a culinary tour to discover locally produced foods.
Transcript
You want to choose Canadian. But how do you know if it’s a Canadian food product? Look at the label, if you see Product of Canada or Made in Canada that’s a good start. Let’s break down what the labels mean, so you know what you're bringing home. Product of Canada means it’s all, or almost all, Canadian ingredients, and it’s prepared in Canada. Made in Canada means the food product was last significantly changed here in Canada. For example, the processing of cheese, dough, sauce and other ingredients to create a pizza. The ingredients could be imported or they could include a mix of Canadian and imported ones. When food has a Product of Canada or Made in Canada label, it must comply with Canadian food labelling rules. These regulations are enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and apply to all food sold in Canada. When you buy foods with these labels, you’re supporting Canadian food processors. If you see labels like these on food, it doesn’t mean that it comes from Canada. These labels show that the product meets specific criteria or tell you how it was produced. When the Canada Organic logo is used on an imported food, the label will also say it is imported. So, if you want to choose Canadian, check food labels to spot homegrown products and support Canadian farmers and food processors.
[Upbeat music starts]
[A red maple leaf and red text over white background appear: Choose Canada. A white snack bag slides up from below with black text: Quick labelling guide]
[Grocery store aisles are seen through the bars of a grocery cart as it movies in fast time lapse.]
[Overlaid text: Want to choose Canadian? How do you know?]
Narrator: You want to choose Canadian. But how do you know if it’s a Canadian food product? Look at the label, if you see Product of Canada or Made in Canada that’s a good start.
[A woman holding a green grocery basket takes an item from a store fridge.]
[Overlaid text: Red maple leaf above the text Product of Canada, switches to the text Made in Canada]
[A red grocery basket slides up over a white background. Four white packaged food items with red, black and white labels drop into the basket.]
Let’s break down what the labels mean, so you know what you're bringing home.
[Montage of red, black and white Product of Canada labels appear over a white background. A measuring cup fills with red liquid. A grey map of Canada appears, then red maple leaves appear over each province and territory. The text Prepared in Canada overlays the map.]
Narrator: Product of Canada means it’s all, or almost all, Canadian ingredients, and it’s prepared in Canada.
[Montage of red, black and white Made in Canada labels appear over a white background.]
[Pepperoni, a bowl of tomato sauce, a ball of pizza dough and a chunk of white cheese with a maple leaf flag appear. The items are replaced by a box with a Made in Canada label half covering a cooked pizza.]
Narrator: Made in Canada means the food product was last significantly changed here in Canada. For example, the processing of cheese, dough, sauce and other ingredients to create a pizza.
[The grey map of Canada re-appears, with a brown box labelled Imported, a + symbol and a white box with a Canada flag. The boxes are replaced with a white snack bag with the text Made in Canada with domestic and imported ingredients with a red maple leaf.]
Narrator: The ingredients could be imported or they could include a mix of Canadian and imported ones.
[Two white boxes appear, separated by the word or. The left box is labelled Product of Canada, the right one Made in Canada from domestic and imported ingredients. The boxes are replaced with a clip board and Food Labelling Rules check list. Red check marks appear in the boxes, along with Canadian Food Inspection Agency text at the bottom.]
Narrator: When food has a “Product of Canada” or “Made in Canada label”, it must comply with Canadian food labelling rules. These regulations are enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and apply to all food sold in Canada.
[A person in a blue jacket with white text Canada Inspection stands near lab equipment.]
[Text on screen: Label claims, Canned in Canada, Packaged in Canada, Prepared in Canada, Processed in Canada, above a can, a jar, a snack bag, a bottle and a carton, move conveyor-belt style from right to left along the bottom.]
Narrator: When you purchase foods with these labels, you’re are supporting Canadian food processors.
[Text on screen: Other labels, Canada Grade A, Canada Fancy, Canada Organic]
[Below the text Other labels, a package of meat labelled Canada Grade A Beef and apples labelled Canada Fancy appear. The items are replaced with a jar labelled Canada Organic.]
Narrator: If you see labels like these on food, it doesn’t mean that it comes from Canada. These labels show that the product meets specific criteria, or tell you how it was produced.
[The jar is replace with the Canada Organic label, which fades back to the jar, with the label, now with additional text Imported.
Narrator: When the Canada organic logo is used on an imported food, the label will also say it is imported.
[A couple with a grocery basket look at items in a store fridge, a child places a bunch of kale into a bag, a woman smiles leaving a store. Overlay the Product of Canada or Made in Canada graphics with red maple leaves.]
Narrator: So, if you want to choose Canadian, check food labels to spot homegrown products and support Canadian farmers and food processors.
[Music ends]
[Text on screen: Choose Canada with a red maple leaf, Learn more at: inspection.canada.ca]
[Government of Canada - Gouvernement du Canada]
[Canada wordmark]
[End]
Join their efforts for a greener future
Our food is produced through hard work and a growing sense of care for the future and the environment that surrounds us. Join the efforts made by Canadian farmers and agricultural businesses to protect the environment: take action by making food decisions with the environment in mind.
Spotlight on responsible food production
Growing a better future
Discover how Canadian farmers and agricultural businesses work hard to produce quality food, while protecting the environment for future generations.
Transcript
[A circle logo appears with a fork and a shovel in the centre. The fork and shovel swing inwards to form an X as a small plant sprouts above them.]
Text on screen: Farmers care about our future
[A colourful farm landscape appears with a house, a barn, trees, and the sun in the sky. A fence surrounds the property.]
Text on screen: They work hard
[A person driving an electric tractor appears on a yellow field and then drives off to the right.]
Text on screen: To produce quality food
[A second person appears standing in front of a large shelf with green plants growing on each level.]
Text on screen: And protect
[A third person appears with a red cap and a friendly smile. A miniature Earth hovers above their open hand. They extend their hand to the screen, and the camera zooms into the Earth.]
Text on screen: The environment
[The Earth rotates.]
Text on screen: How?
[The word "How?" appears on its own.]
Text on screen: By preserving water.
[The words "By preserving" appear on their own and stay on screen as water droplets begin falling from above to form the word "water." The words "By preserving" remain as the word "water" dissolves away.]
Text on screen: By preserving soil health
[Two hands cupping soil come into view above a grassy patch with a tiny sprout. As the words "soil health" appear, parts of the soil mixture slip through the fingers, helping the sprout grow from the healthy green soil. The words "By preserving" remain as the words "soil health" move off-screen.]
Text on screen: By preserving biodiversity
[The scene fades into a full landscape with a small river and lots of trees. The word "biodiversity" appears right before a frog jumps on top of it. A butterfly flies by, and the scene fades away.]
Text on screen: By reducing greenhouse gas emissions
[The words "By reducing" appear then reduce in size. A bar graph appears with two bars. A hand appears and presses down on the first bar, causing the words "greenhouse gas emissions" to disappear and the word "waste" to appear in its place.]
Text on screen: By reducing waste
[The hand presses down on the second bar, and the word "waste" disappears.]
Text on screen: And more!
[The words "and more!" appear on their own.]
Text on screen: Discover how our farmers
[The three people from earlier all stand proudly next to each other. The person in the middle opens their hands to reveal some soil, and a sprout begins to grow from it. The sprout grows upward to reveal a colourful landscape.]
Text on screen: Are growing a better future
[A lush landscape with mountains, trees, a river, and flowers appears.]
Text on screen: Canada.ca/Taste-the-Commitment
[The URL "Canada.ca/Taste-the-Commitment" appears on its own.]
[Music ends.]
Text on screen: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
[The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada signature appears in the centre with a Canadian flag to the left of it.]
[Government of Canada wordmark.]
[End.]
Resources for farmers and agricultural businesses
Spread the word
Use our promotional toolkit to spread the word about how Canadian farmers and agricultural businesses are growing a better future.
Find the right support
Learn more about programs and services that help farms and agricultural businesses shape a bright future for food.
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