Columbian ag co-operators visit the Ontario GROWMARK System

(L-R)-Back- Dalia Najera (On Co-op), Jose Luis Fonseca,
Susan Fino, Antonio Salcedo, Claude Gauthier (GROWMARK)
Lydia Makuch Phillips (CCA), Helda Ustariz, Daniel Pacheco,
Front-Jineth Marroquin, Jose Aliro Montano, Janice Johnson (GMK)

Through the Canadian Co-operative Association’s Study Mission in Columbia, an opportunity emerged for a small group of co-operators from various agriculture co-ops in Columbia to visit Canada. The group wanted to learn about agriculture co-operatives in our country, and GROWMARK was honoured to be chosen as on one of the requested destinations to visit.

On Oct. 22, our Spanish speaking guests were escorted by Lydia Makuch Phillips from the Canadian Co-operative Association and Dalia Najera, from the Ontario Co-operative Association who together performed the essential role of English/Spanish translators.

The morning began at the Kitchener Ontario region office with a presentation from Claude Gauthier, Ontario region manager on the general scope of the GROWMARK System. The group then travelled to Ayr to take a tour of the agronomy/grain site with Kevin Stumpf, FS PARTNERS branch manager and finished off with a visit to UPI Energy’s bulk fuel plant in Guelph, hosted by Bob McKenzine UPI Energy director of operations and John Canjar director of sales & marketing.

All of the Columbian co-operatives represented by the participants had identified agribusiness and marketing as key areas they would like to further develop. They want to learn about Canadian models of agribusiness and marketing and about the possibility of exporting their products to new markets. They were also interested in learning new technological developments in the field of production.

Prior to the visit to Kitchener, the group met with VinelandGrowers Co-operative (a 100 year-old co-op and member of GROWMARK) and also found some time to take in Niagara Falls.

(L-R) Daniel Pacheco, Bob McKenzie (UPI Energy)
 Jose Luis Fonseco looking at Absorbal, while discussing
Emergency Response procedures

Many commented on the beauty of our fall season.

Our international guests represented the Columbia Co-operative Association along with various agricultural co-ops such as cocoa, chicken production and other agriculture sectors.