Lisa 0617
This edition is one of my favourite editions of the year!
Every summer at this time we publish the Innovation Edition, where we feature new products and gadgets, mystifying chemical compounds, and new growing techniques that we want you discover.
We like to make it both fun to read and something that shows the ground-breaking innovations being produced by the men and women of our industry. It’s an opportunity for us to stretch our minds, consider new ideas, and search for products and people who can help grow your business.
Passion, patience and pioneering are words that describe those who launch and develop their ideas. Some of Canada’s firsts are featured inside; from growing tea in the Cowichan Valley, pressing out extra virgin olive oil from 100% Canadian grown olives on Salt Spring Island, to the Young Agrarians who want to farm, provide education and who have found ways to bring new farmers into the industry.
One outstanding pioneer we’d like to recognize is winemaker Howard Soon, who advanced the growth of Calona Wines and fostered the growth of the Canadian wine industry. Turn to the back page to read our story on the retirement of BC’s longest serving winemaker from the Okanagan’s Sandhill Estate Winery.
One of our favourite sections in this edition, year by year, is the Innovation section that shows off new gadgets or systems. And this year our minds were boggled by: a laser wielding robot that scares off birds; a twist-top cork for wine bottles; and an unbelievable robotic drone that automatically sprays your crops without any human intervention.
Promoting healthy food for kids is becoming more the norm and manufacturers are designing and marketing cute kid-friendly packaging that encourages children to eat healthy. Cartoon characters from popular TV shows like, ‘Paw Patrol’ encourage small children to eat apple slices by packaging them up with their favourite characters on the container. Maybe still too much packaging, but training kids to grab a package of apples and cucumbers is better than candy or a bag of chips.
Think about how any of these ideas might enhance your crop, farm or winery?
Enjoy the magazine!