We’re number one in food

Chatham-Kent will have plenty to brag about when it hosts the regional Agricultural Economic Development Forum October 28 and 29 at the John D. Bradley Centre.

Kim Cooper, an economic development officer specializing in agriculture for the municipality of Chatham-Kent, released information that
this community is the number one producer of six crops in all of Canada.

“We’re the number one producer of tomatoes, carrots, seed corn, cucumbers, black tobacco, and pumpkins,” he said.

We’re number one in Canada in quail production and we have the number one fresh water commercial fishing port in the world,” he continued.

Chatham-Kent ranks number two nationally in production of sugar beets and brussel sprouts.

It also ranks first in the production of green peas and is number two in the production of field peppers and asparagus in Ontario.

The production side of agriculture alone accounts for $3 billion dollars locally.

One aspect of the event of which Cooper is proud is the planned “Chatham-Kent meal” that will have all of its ingredients grown right here.

“Since we live here, we take it for granted that we plant something and it grows,” he said. “For most of the world that’s not the case. We’re so fortunate but so close that we don’t see it.”

The event will bring together members of the agriculture industry to celebrate their successes, address their challenges and plan for the future.

“We’ll have a tremendous amount of talent at the conference and we’ll see some very cutting edge ideas.”