Ontario Pork Headquarters - Guelph, Ontario

History

Ontario Pork represents the 1700 producers who market hogs in the province of Ontario. The Ontario Pork Producers’ Marketing Board (OPPMB) was formed in 1946. A producer vote held in 1945 showed there was an overwhelming majority of hog producers in Ontario who favoured a producer-controlled organization. The provincial government enacted the Ontario Hog Marketing Scheme - 1946 under the Farm Products Control Act.

This legislation, now called the Farm Products Marketing Act, provides the legal authority for hog producers to organize and control their own affairs through the Ontario Pork Producers’ Marketing Board. The Act and accompanying regulations empowers the Board to market hogs. It spells out how the Board can go about its business, including elections. (Legislation).

On May 13th, 2010 the Honourable Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs delivered her decision to give producers choice in their hog marketing options.  Effective December 4th, 2010 Ontario Pork is no longer the sole marketer of hogs in the province of Ontario.  Producers can choose to sell their hogs directly to buyers or through an intermediary, such as the Ontario Pork Marketing Division, that will still offer marketing services to producers and processors.  Ontario Pork separated its services into two divisions - Ontario Pork Universal Services and Ontario Pork Marketing Division.

Universal Services are those programs, activities and initiatives that not only benefit the individual producer, but contribute to the betterment of the Ontario hog industry overall. These are services that require interaction with government, processors, retailers, other industry associations, rural and urban neighbourhoods and the general public.

Purpose

Ontario Pork represents pork producers in many areas, including hog marketing, consumer education, research, government representation, environmental issues, animal care and food quality assurance. The organization is also responsible for arranging for payment of hogs and, working cooperatively with the processors, arranging the trucking. Ontario Pork acts as the official spokes-group for the industry and is a source of information about the industry.

Vision

Distinction and Excellence in Pork.

Mission

To foster a vibrant business environment for producers  

Strategies 

 

• Be the preferred conduit of knowledge for pork producers

• Provide advocacy that improves the business environment for producers

• Leverage and enhance mutually beneficial industry relationships

• Drive innovative pig and pork product development

Values

Ontario Pork supports an ongoing commitment to:

• Excellence, in service and performance;

• Leadership, within the industry;

• Accountability, for all our actions;

• Working in partnership, with producers, and stakeholders within the industry;

• Open communications, with producers, government, stakeholders, and staff; and

• Integrity, Trust, Respect, and Honesty, in all we do.