record breaking numbers - Ontario Independent Meat Processors

[ Commodity Partners]
ONTARIO PORK MOVING AHEAD
Since Ontario Pork’s inception in 1946 it has experienced numerous changes to reflect the
continuous evolution of the pork industry
December 4, 2010 was a significant
milestone for the Ontario pork industry.
It was the first day of a deregulated
provincial hog industry. Since Ontario
Pork’s inception in 1946 it has experienced
numerous changes to reflect the continuous
evolution of the pork industry. At its
inception, the Ontario Pork Producers’
Marketing Board was mandated to market
all hogs in Ontario. The core functions were
to sell, arrange assembly, transportation
and settlement of all Ontario market hogs.
Over the years, Ontario Pork evolved
into an organization that provides overall
representation for producers and the entire
swine industry from farm to fork.
On May 13, 2010 the Honorable Carol
Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food
and Rural Affairs provided her decision
regarding Ontario Pork’s marketing
authority and governance structure and
concluded that producers can choose to
sell their hogs directly to processors or
hog marketers/brokers. She also confirmed
Ontario Pork’s powers to collect and share
price data as well as extend the power to
collect fees on all classes of swine (sows,
boars, bbq’s, feeders, weaners, etc). As
a result of the ruling, Ontario Pork split
into two separate divisions - the Ontario
Pork Marketing Division and Ontario Pork
Universal Services.
The Ontario Pork Marketing Division
operates independently from Ontario
Pork Universal Services and is available
as a selling agent for those producers that
require marketing and settlement services.
For the time being the set marketing
service fee is .65 cents, which will be
collected on every hog marketed through
the Ontario Pork Marketing Division.
Marketing services are those programs
and activities that enable an Ontario hog
producer to get their market hog from farm
to processor through the transactions of
selling, scheduling, transporting, settling,
and arranging processing.
26 BLOCKtalk January/February 2011
Ontario Pork Universal Services are
provided to all pork producers in
Ontario. License fees will be collected
on all classes of swine for the purpose
of maintaining universal services. This
fee is largely collected by the processors
who send data and fees to Ontario Pork
Universal Services; however, it is still the
responsibility of the individual producer to
ensure that their license fees are remitted.
Beginning December 4, 2010 the service fee
collected for universal services is $1.00 and
is collected on market hogs. At this point in
time the license fee for all other classes of
swine has not been determined.
Universal Services are those programs,
activities, and initiatives that not only
benefit the individual producer, but
contribute to the betterment of the Ontario
swine industry overall. These are services
that require interaction with government,
processors, retailers and other industry
associations, rural and urban neighbours
and the general public on areas including
environment, government lobbying,
consumer marketing, animal care, food
safety, agriculture education and awareness,
pork promotion, and regulatory affairs.
Ontario Pork Universal Services is dedicated
to working with all industry partners
throughout the value chain with the
common goal to increase the consumption
and value of Ontario pork products.
Recently the Ontario Pork Retailer News
was launched, the newsletter is targeted to
Ontario retailers to keep them informed
of activities, programs and initiatives that
Ontario Pork is responsible for or supports
that would benefit Ontario retailers.
The most recent newsletter had articles
featuring the Ontario Pork consumer
website, Foodland Ontario, Ontario Pork
label program, recipes and resources that
are available and a piece on how Ontario
Pork is interested in working with retailers
who are interested in developing a pork
program, event or promotional material.
Ontario’s pork producers continue to
advocate the need to promote local and
the importance of labeling. Producers,
and processors alike, are dedicated to
delivering pork products of the highest
quality and adhering to the strictest food
safety guidelines. Communicating these
messages to the consumer is critical and is
a way of differentiating our local Ontario
pork products from imports. Ontario
Pork Universal Services supports various
‘Buy Local’ initiatives, and has recently
responded with a pork label program for
three popular cuts, Grilling Chops, Pork
Oven Roast, and Pork Ribs.
“ Producers, and processors alike, are dedicated to delivering
pork products of the highest quality and adhering to the strictest
food safety guidelines.”
Ontario Pork would welcome the
opportunity to work with interested
independent meat processors in Ontario
that are interested in enhancing their pork
program, either by product innovation,
promotions, marketing programs and
events.
OIMP appreciates the strong support from our commodity partners “Working Together, Moving the Industry Forward”
Contact:
Katie Sinclair
519-767-4600, ext 1201
Katie.sinclair@ontariopork.on.ca
www.oimp.ca