GRAND FALLS, Sept 3, 2019 — Toner Produce Ltd. of Grand Falls, N.B., was named the 2018-2019 McCain Champion Potato Grower for Grand Falls during the 45th Annual McCain Growers’ Banquet held August 20. This year, approximately 170 guests gathered at Centre E. & P. Senechal in Grand Falls, N.B., to celebrate the top growers and to recognize their hard work over the past year.
Allison McCain, Chairman of McCain Foods Limited, Dale McCarthy, VP Integrated Supply Chain North America and Christine Wentworth, VP Agriculture North America, extended personal congratulations to Toner Produce Ltd. and all of the McCain growers.
VP Agriculture Christine Wentworth shared an optimistic outlook on what has been a rather difficult crop year, saying that “the challenging season provided an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to one another.” She also congratulated the growers for making the best of the poor season, explaining, “New Brunswick was less affected than other regions, and this is attributed to the efforts that all of you made to improve soil health, adopt regenerative growing practices, and continue the journey toward a more sustainable, resilient, and higher yielding crop.”
Chairman Allison McCain concluded the speeches with a few words of his own. “Climate change is real and, while we have to reduce our carbon emissions, we will benefit from a longer growing season. I am optimistic about the growth prospects for the local potato industry. We are seeing higher yields as a result of new practices, new technology, new varieties and, importantly, more young people coming back to the farm.”
Luc Gervais, Tommy Toner and Jessica Toner were delighted to be announced as the Champion Grower. They have been contracting with McCain for 24 years, held the top ten position 11 times, and have been named Champion Grower twice. The Toners were very proud to receive this honour in recognition of their efforts. They were looking forward to bringing the trophy to their staff the following morning to demonstrate that the hard work done by everyone on the farm does not go unnoticed.
The other growers who qualified for the top 10 roster, in order of standing were:
10. Lakeside Produce Ltd. (Jan Rademaker and his son Arno Rademaker – Grand Falls)
9. JT Toner & Sons Ltd. (Jimmy Toner and his sons, Joey and Chris Toner – Grand Falls)
8. Eagle Farms Ltd. (Gilles Godbout and his son Mathieu Godbout – St-André)
7. Les Fermes Dionne (Reginald Dionne and his son Paul Dionne – Drummond)
6. Desjardins Farms (Brothers Denis and René Dejardins – Drummond)
5. Portage Farms (Louis Laforge – Grand Falls)
4. Les Fermes Lionel & Alyre Poitras (Lionel, André, Alyre and his son Paul Poitras – Saint-André)
3. Les Fermes Luc Ouellette & Fils Inc. (Jean Luc Ouellette & Marie Fournier – Drummond)
2. Les Fermes LP Theriault (Marc Theriault – Drummond)
Back row L-R: Dale McCarthy, VP Integrated Supply Chain Norht America, Jeff DeLapp, President, Greater North America, Allison McCain, Chairman, McCain Foods Limited, David Good, Director AG Supplier Relations North America, Louis Laforge, Jimmy Toner, Chris Toner, Mario Desjardins, Field Representative, Christine Wentworth, VP Agriculture North America, Jean Thériault, Plant Manager, Josée Bernard, Field Representative, Luc Côté, Field Department Manager, Rudy Michaud, Field Representative.
Middle row L-R; René Desjardins, Denis Desjardins, Paul Dionne, Réginald Dionne, Mathieu Godbout, Gilles Godbout, Jan Rademaker, Arno Rademaker.
Front row L-R: Jean-Luc Ouellette, Marie Fournier, Marc Thériault, Jessica Toner, Tommy Toner, Luc Gervais, André Poitras, Paul Poitras, Alyre Poitras and Lionel Poitras.
About McCain Foods (Canada)
McCain Foods (Canada) is the Canadian division of McCain Foods Limited, an international leader in the frozen food industry, employing over 21,000 people and operating 53 production facilities on six continents. McCain is the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato specialties, and in Canada also produces other quality products such as pizza pockets, appetizers, desserts and authentic Chinese entrées. In Canada the company has eight production facilities, approximately 2,500 employees and is a Platinum member of Canada’s Best Managed Companies.
