Canada Prepares For M-COOL

[Oldtimer]

Beef Producers Need To Start Preparing for COOL



CKNX AM920 - Canada

1/16/2008



The Vice-President of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association says we've got to start using the systems we've got in place - in order to be ready for country of origin labelling.



Brad Wildeman says if we don't do anything - COOL could effect the prices we are getting in the US.



But Wildeman notes that there are Americans who do want our product because its a bit leaner and has a bit of a different taste.



That's why if we can use age verification, and on-farm food safety programs that don't costs a lot -- we could see a big benefit.

 

[Oldtimer]

I found this article about these eastern Canadian cattlemen quite interesting--not only are they progressive enough to see the benefits of COUNTRY of Origin Labeling- they can see they could better market with PROVINCE of origin Labeling--which must be making some of the old status quo supporting Packer puppets of CCA/ABP go into ventricular fib ;-) :lol:

Canada needs to identify their product- and start testing ALL to regain the Japanese, Korean, and other Asian markets that the US lost and that want tested beef- which the US government (Big Packer controlled USDA) won't allow US producers/packers to supply them with....

Break the hold on the US teat!!!!

Local Cattle Groups Talk Crisis - Perth Group Changes Name



cknx am920 canada

1/18/2008



This regions cattle industry say they are tired of being in crisis, and want some solutions now.



The Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth, and Wellington cattle groups all held their annual meetings this week - with no shortage of ideas in how to fix the mess.



Bruce - for example - passed 22 resolutions - all with different ideas.



Brian Dudgeon is the new President of the Bruce Cattlemen and says their group thinks marketing is one of the ways out of this.



He says consumers want to buy Ontario product - so it's about time that every single grocery store had clearly marked Ontario beef.


Now fixing this crisis wasn't the only thing discussed at some of these meetings.



In Perth for example - they have changed their name - and instead of the Perth County Cattlemen -- are now known as the Perth County Beef Farmers Association.



President Bill Jeffray says its all about getting the consumer to better understand the group.



Now all of these resolutions and discussions will go up to the provincial level to be discussed at the OCA annual meeting next month.



But ahead of that -- Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth and Middlesex cattle groups all want to get together to talk strategy.



There is interest in going to the OCA meeting with a united front from the top beef producing areas of the province.



A meeting to talk about that is expected once they can get a hand on all the resolutions that are expected to be brought up at the provincial level.



am920.ca

 

[Oldtimer]

Heres another group of progressive Canadian producers that can now see the value in identifying their product- truthfully labeling it for the consumers- and marketing and promoting it...

Telling the consumers the truth on the country of origin of their food products should be an "automatic" in every country of the world- while only the US and Canada don't have it (the US will at the end of this year) - and only a few old Canucks who think they can go back to the "status quo" of 2003 are fighting it....

And they're too dumb/bullheaded to see that it ain't gonna happen--2003 will not exist again....And in the very near future, when the Packers flood their country with cheap imported beef from Argentina or Brazil- they will be wishing they had acted to get an M-COOL.....

Farmers seek clear definition of 'Canadian'

Last Updated: Thursday, January 24, 2008 | 5:06 PM AT

CBC News - Canada



Labelling on packaged foods will be on the minds of farmers at P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture meetings Friday in Summerside.



Executive director Ian MacIsaac told CBC News Thursday that members will vote on a number of resolutions concerning foreign competition, including asking the government for clear labelling of what is Canadian and what is not.


"We want a better definition of what is product of Canada," said MacIsaac.



"We want it to say, 'Grown in Canada,' and we want it to say 100 per cent of that product that is in the can or in the package was actually grown in Canada."



Currently, product of Canada labelling refers to the value of what is in the package, and because packages can sometimes be more valuable than the produce, a label reading product of Canada can be affixed to food grown in other countries.


The federation will also discuss levelling the field with respect to foreign competition when it comes to food safety standards.



"We want the government to realize, either we are able to use the same production techniques as people outside Canada, or those products aren't allowed in our grocery store shelves," said MacIsaac.



Given hard times for many traditional Island farm products, the meeting will also focus on new opportunities for producers, including new crops such as canola, soybeans or growing sugar beets to be used for producing ethanol.



MacIssac said there are also resolutions calling for more government assistance to help farmers through the current financial crisis.



cbc.ca