The Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation (CFWF) announced its annual awards at a banquet in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 5. The Grower’s editor, Karen Davidson, won Farm Writer of the Year for her five entries that exhibited a strong commitment to Canadian agricultural writing focused on agronomy, ag technology, current affairs, business, people, places and daily farm life. 

The five entries were: 

The March 2023 cover story “Why more precision is required to protect apple crops” is a deep dive on how two apple growers are adapting to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s restricted uses of crop protection products. Theagronomy is complicated but necessary to understand the balance in using synthetic and biological products in micro-managed ways throughout the growing season.  

The May 2023 cover story “Heritage apples are pressed into the service of hard cider” details the sideline of husband-and-wife partners Doug Balsillie and Leslie Huffman and daughter Janelle. They have identified the genetics of bittersharp apple varietals to blend for hard cider. The Grower’s visit to their Harrow, Ontario orchard resulted in a story that mixed agronomy, business development and personality profile.

The June 2023 cover story “Why joint pain still afflicts the supply chain” is an ambitious undertaking with two sidebars: Why ports matter to Canadian horticulture” and “Ports on call on eastern seaboard.” This pan-Canadian story offers a one-stop read about complex current affairs.

The September 2023 cover story “Greenhouse technology outpaces Ontario’s infrastructure capacity” quotes Peter Quiring. The clarity of his thinking remains must-read commentary on the role of research, role of all levels of government and the will of growers to innovate. This business story starts with a Leamington-Ontario tour of blackberries grown on indoor trellis but expands to issues beyond exotic fruits grown in a greenhouse. 

The November 2023 cover story “Guatemalan workers bridge the labour gap for Québec growers” reveals how the tri-lingual executive director of FERME is using his recruiting skills to bring workers from Central America to French-speaking Québec agriculture. This current affairs story is timely with its interview of a Canadian senator who is conducting a study of migrant labour in Canada. 

Next, kudos to Montreal-based freelance photographer Michael Abril who won silver in People Photography for the November 2023 cover story depicting Québec grower Martin Gibouleau and his Guatemalan seasonal workers. And finally, congratulations to freelance photographer Glenn Lowson who won bronze in Production Photography for his action shot of Mexican seasonal workers heaving butternut squash into a tractor loader. A round of applause to all the growers who welcome The Grower and team for interviews. And congrats to all the winners and sponsors of this prestigious competition. 

Source:  Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation October 10, 2024 news release