RAIN Agri-Food Forum

Join the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) for an evening of insightful discussions on the latest advancements in agricultural technology and sustainable farming practices. When: February 28th, at 7:00 pm (doors open 6:45 pm)Where: Join us in-person or OnlineIn-Person – Johnson Township Community Centre (Desbarats Arena) 1 Cameron Ave., Desbarats ON.Online – Join by Zoom (Register here for the Zoom link …

Wholesale Connections Webinar – Essential Takeaways for Northern Producers 

On Thursday, April 6, we partnered with the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy to host a webinar discussing strategies for building wholesale relationships with retailers and institutions from the perspective of Northern Ontario farmers.  Our three presenters, each operating different farm businesses, shared insights about their experiences in wholesale markets. They all began through direct marketing to customers and …

Canning 101 with Master Chef Emerie Brine

Come join Master Chef Emerie Brine as he demonstrates the ins and outs of safe home canning practices. Three workshops are being offered in collaboration with the Rural Agri-Innovation Network and the Lake Superior Living Labs Network. Events are being hosted with Johnson Township, the North Channel Food Co-op, St. Joseph Island Community Garden, and St. Joseph Island Horticultural Society. …

Hot Pepper Variety Trail 2022

2022 is the second year for the hot pepper variety trial, with purpose to diversify the local horticulture market. The peppers are being grown in the same location as last year, due to the continuation of collaboration with the growers as well as two new locations in Sault Ste. Marie. The six varieties, with Scoville heat units (SHU) are as …

Interseeding early cover crops into corn demonstration

Due to the short growing season and colder temperatures in northern Ontario, cover crops are not always an option. Cover crop is defined as ‘a crop grown for the protection and enrichment of the soil’. Normally, the underseeded/interseeded crop gets started, is established with good roots, then goes dormant, while the cash crop (corn) shades them. Once the cash crop …

Hot Pepper Variety Trial-2021

In 2021, a variety trail was developed to look at five different varieties of hot peppers in two different locations in Algoma. These locations were chosen due to the availability of greenhouse space. The five varieties, with Scoville heat units (SHU) are as follows: Devil Serrano- 6,000 SHU Fresno 3429- 10,000 SHU Primero Red Habanero- 100,000+ SHU Helios Habanero- 75,000 …

Northern producers exhibiting at food show

Six Northern Ontario agri-food producers will be representing the North during the Restaurant Canada Show 2020 in Toronto this March. Led by Sault Ste. Marie’s Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN), the delegation will include Boreal Berry Farm & Winery of Warren, Fromagerie Kapuskoise of Kapuskasing, Mountain Maple Products of St. Joseph Island, Penokean Hills Farms of the Algoma District, Purvis Fisheries of Manitoulin Island, and Quinta Quinoa, which is headquartered in southern …

Buy Algoma Buy Local

The Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN), an initiative of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, has developed a buy local branding initiative: Buy Algoma Buy Local. Buy Algoma Buy Local connects people with local food, drinks, products and experiences to build stronger communities. We do this by bringing together our local producers, processors, farmers’ markets, restaurants and retailers to support buying …

Introducing RAIN’s- Malting Barley Variety Trial

In recent years there has been a large increase in the number of craft breweries in Ontario, and as such the demand for malting barley in the country has increased. Currently the majority of the malted barley used in Ontario is being produced in Western Canada but recently the Canadian Malting Company has been taking interest in Northern Ontario’s grain …