For immediate release: Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Celebrating Canadian Trailblazers of Organic Innovation
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, (April 3, 2024). The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) held its annual 2024 Organic Leadership Awards and evening gala, honouring pioneers and visionaries of the organic industry. Set against the scenic backdrop of Seasons in the Park, attendees came together to applaud organic achievements, savour local cuisine, and acknowledge the champions driving innovation in the organic sector. This marked the 9th consecutive year that COTA celebrated these prestigious awards shining the light on Canadian trailblazers who are propelling the country's organic sector to unprecedented levels of success.
"Every year, we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to pay tribute to the remarkable organic leaders who have significantly advanced the organic sector. We take immense pride in acknowledging these trailblazers and draw inspiration from their unwavering commitment to organic progress. Their achievements are truly worth celebrating." Tia Loftsgard, Executive Director, COTA
The 2024 awards and gala evening were generously sponsored by Nature’s Path Foods, Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd., Riverside Natural Foods, SIAL Canada, ECOCERT Canada and Renewal Partners. As esteemed members of COTA, these organizations have demonstrated steadfast dedication to fostering the growth of the organic industry over the years.
Congratulations to the award recipients:
Organic Champion of the Year – Salt Spring Coffee
Organic Supplier of the Year – Barentz
Outstanding Leadership in Organic Science – Derek Lynch, PhD, PAg
Organic Retailer of the Year – Healthy Planet
Organic Innovator of the Year – Greenhouse
Organic Farming Award – Prairie Heritage Seeds, PHS Organics
Distinguished Organic Supporter of the Year – MP Alistair MacGregor
Organic Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Leader of the Year Award – Nuts For Cheese
The Organic Champion of the Year was proudly presented to Salt Spring Coffee. Salt Spring Coffee was founded on Salt Spring Island in 1996 by Mickey McLeod and Robbyn Scott with a mission to change the world for the better through coffee.
“I'm honoured to be recognized for the years we've dedicated to the organic movement at Salt Spring Coffee. I'm proud of our team and what they've accomplished in furthering the mission Robbyn and I started almost 30 years ago. Our commitment to maintaining organic and fairtrade partnerships with coffee producers is central to our business and our values, and we're excited to be the first in Canada to offer Regenerative Organic Certified coffee.” Mickey McLeod, CEO & Founder, Salt Spring Coffee.
Barentz was awarded the Organic Supplier of the Year Award. Barentz is a leading global life science ingredients distributor. They source branded specialty ingredients from leading manufacturers worldwide and its ingredient experts provide value-added technical support.
“Barentz is honoured to be recognized by the organic sector in Canada as a leading organic supplier. This recognition not only acknowledges Barentz’ efforts but showcases our commitment for continued support in education and research for organics in Canada.” Mike Emrich, President Human Nutrition, North America.
Derek Lynch was honoured with the award of Outstanding Leadership in Organic Science. Derek Lynch is a professor of Agronomy and Agroecology at Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture teaching soil science, organic field crop management and urban agriculture. Over the past twenty years, Derek’s research tackled production challenges for organic producers, while documenting how organic farming systems are distinct with respect to vegetation, nutrient intensity, soil health and soil biota composition and functioning.
“I am very honoured to have been nominated for and to receive this award from the Canada Organic Trade Association. It has been my privilege to undertake research, often directly on organic farms, to document the sustainability of this branded low-input farming system; research is made possible through support provided by organic producer organizations, funders and my Canada Research Chair in Organic Agriculture position, and the innovative teamwork of many farmers, collaborators and graduate students.” Derek Lynch, PhD, PAg.
Healthy Planet was awarded the Organic Retailer of the Year. A lot has changed since 1995 from a small kiosk in a strip mall on Danforth Avenue in Toronto. What remains the same is the selection and providing exceptional customer service, and above all, commitment to providing the lowest prices and building life-long relationships with customers.
“It was such an honour to attend COTA’s Organic Gala & Leadership Awards. I was so happy and honoured to receive the Organic Retailer of the Year Award on behalf of Healthy Planet. With now 35 stores across the length and breadth of Ontario, Healthy Planet prides itself on fulfilling its vision to help people live life healthy one day at a time.” Monica Walker, Head of Food & Grocery.
Greenhouse was the proud recipient of the Organic Innovator of the Year Award. Since its inception in 2014, Greenhouse has been a trailblazer in the organic beverage industry, becoming a leader in organic consumer packaged goods (CPG) innovation. Looking ahead to 2024, Greenhouse is excited to introduce more than 20 new organic products, reinforcing its commitment to setting the standard for organic excellence in the beverage sector.
"Greenhouse's commitment to organic has been foundational to our values, rooted in the inextricable connection between the health of our customers and the planet. We're truly humbled by COTA’s recognition of our organic innovation—a meaningful honour as we celebrate our 10th anniversary. We want to thank COTA for their outstanding advocacy toward the organic movement and the hard work, creativity and courage of the Greenhouse team.” Emma Knight, Hana James and Anthony Green, Greenhouse co-founders.
Prairie Heritage Seeds Inc. - PHS Organics was honoured with the Organic Farming Award. Prairie Heritage Seeds is a 3rd generational family-owned agricultural company since 1980. To meet the ever-growing demand for organics, they started to work with like-minded farmers. The agricultural business was a family farm that grew to encompass contracts with growers that still to this day produce quality grain. Prairie Heritage Seeds has the same commitment and passion: to produce a real difference in their communities by creating employment and offering a reputable place to do business. They continue to strive to produce delicious healthy food through a sustainable and transparent food chain.
“Receiving this award and joining the esteemed company of past recipients is truly an honor. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our mentors, especially the late Alvin Scheresky, whose guidance has been invaluable. Our gratitude also goes to our parents for their unwavering support and to our dedicated team of producers who have played a vital role in the growth of our grain. I want to express appreciation to all the knowledgeable individuals we've had the privilege to collaborate with on various boards and projects, contributing to the advancement of our industry. Supporting organic farming isn't just a commitment for us; it's a belief that by doing so, we can significantly reduce pesticide usage and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Together, we are making a difference, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of this meaningful journey.” Alex Galarneau, Prairie Heritage Seeds Inc.
Member of Parliament Alistair MacGregor was honoured with the Distinguished Organic Supporter of the Year Award. This award recognizes individuals and organizations who have helped to advance the cause of organic in political and bureaucratic realms, both domestically and internationally. Alistair MacGregor’s strong support for the organic sector and his support for a bold Canada Organic Action Plan have been recognized.
“I’ve always admired the organic sector’s leadership in Canadian agriculture. That leadership has inspired me in my own work as the NDP’s Agriculture Critic for the last 6 years, whether it’s on soil health, farm resilience, or seeing agriculture as one of our greatest tools in the fight against climate change. This award is an incredible honour for me, and I look forward to many more years of collaboration with Canada’s Organic Sector.” Alistair MacGregor, Member of Parliament, Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, British Columbia.
The Canada Organic Trade Association is proud to announce the new Organic Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Leader of the Year Award. This award recognizes individuals and organizations in the organic sector that demonstrate exemplary best practices in advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within their workplace and/or network to drive change. This individual or organization is dedicated to empowering the capacity to create space for and work alongside underrepresented communities by working to dismantle barriers, allocate resources, explore barriers to opportunities, and foster a sense of belonging.
This year’s Organic JEDI award winner is Nuts For Cheese. Margaret Coons is the Founder & CEO of Nuts For Cheese, a London, Ontario-based manufacturer of 100% organic, dairy-free cheeses, cream cheeses, and butters. Since launching at a farmer's market stand in 2015, Nuts For Cheese has grown into a category leader in organic, plant-based dairy innovation, manufacturing, and exporting, with products sold across Canada and the US.
“As a 2SLGBTQ+ business owner and organic food manufacturer, I am honoured to receive the 2024 COTA Organic JEDI Award! We are a proud Rainbow Registered and Living Wage Certified business, meaning diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of all that we do at Nuts For Cheese. I am incredibly grateful for my team and our loyal consumers that help us in our mission of making delicious, organic, dairy-free products more widely available across Canada and the US." Margaret Coons, CEO & Founder, Nuts For Cheese.
COTA’s Annual Organic Leadership Awards were established in 2016. Recipients of these awards are nominated by their peers and chosen by the COTA Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.
To learn more about the awards and view past recipients, visit https://canada-organic.ca/en/who-we-are/organic-leadership
For media inquiries, please contact Sophie Marvell, Communications Coordinator, Canada Organic Trade Association, communications@canada-organic.ca, 4 Florence Street, Suite 210, Ottawa, ON K2P 0W7, 613-482-1717, ext 206.
ABOUT CANADA ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION (COTA). COTA is a membership-based association for organic agriculture and products in Canada, promoting and protecting the organic sector and encouraging the universal adoption of organic. As a registered lobbyist for organic practices and standards, through leadership and member collaboration, COTA provides a strong voice for organic in Canada. To learn more about COTA, visit their website at https://canada-organic.ca/en/organic
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