Celebrating both agriculture and co-ops in October!

We are very early into the fall harvest season, but the month of October is already brimming with activities to help us celebrate our co-operative heritage and our agricultural roots.

This week is Agriculture Week in Ontario which leads in nicely to Thanksgiving this weekend. During agriculture week, people are encouraged to visit local farmer markets in their communities. 

The agri-food industry is a significant driver of the province's economy, contributing $34 billion annually, including $12.5 billion in exports, and employing more than 780,000 individuals.

Next week is Co-op week in Canada where more than seven million members of co-operatives throughout Canada will hopefully take part in celebrating and educating others on the significant contributions co-ops bring to the economy and communities in which they thrive. Just this fall, new findings were announced through research done by Measuring the Co-operative Difference Research Network that shows co-ops in Canada contribute more than $50 billion to the Canadian economy and support over 600,000 jobs. 

In the  United States, our colleagues are enjoying the full month of October to celebrate co-op history during Co-op month.

Next week, Ontario GROWMARK employees will take part in a number of fundraising events to provide support for the Co-operative Development Foundation. CDF is a registered charity organization that works with the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and other partners to undertake co-operative development projects in Canada and around the world.

Employees will have the opportunity to attend a lunch-and-learn session to hear from a CDF volunteer who recently traveled to a developing country to see first-hand the positive impact the Co-operative Development Foundation has made for so many people. 

October is a great time to enjoy the blessings that come with living in this great country, our passion for agriculture and our co-operative heritage. Let's take it all in!