Learn more about opportunities in Sarnia-Lambtn for the food processing industry. Click on the icon below to download an overview of food processing sites in Sarnia-Lambton

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With 589,407 acres of farmland, agriculture is a significant contributor to the economy of Sarnia-
Lambton, and its second largest sector (surpassed only by refining and chemical). Production
includes Ontario's largest acreages of soybeans and wheat, also corn, specialty crops of tomatoes, bell peppers, and many varieties of fruits and vegetables. There is also a wide range of livestock, including beef and dairy cattle, pigs and poultry.

Envirofresh Produce Inc. recently announcer plans to construct and operate greenhouses in Sarnia-
Lambton. Envirofresh will locate on land owned by Terra International (Canada) Inc. and use surplus
heat and carbon dioxide from Terra in the production of sweet bell peppers for the North American
market. The company plans to begin construction of the greenhouses in 2008. Another Sarnia-Lambton example of state of the art greenhouse operations is the Enniskillen Pepper Co. Ltd.

Sarnia-Lambton's agriculture industry is technologically progressive and export-savvy, with more
than half of the region's beef production and more than a third of its pork production shipped out
of the country, as are many of the crops in varying proportions.
 

Sarnia-Lambton's Award-Winning Agricultural Sector
 

In May, 2008, seven of  Sarnia-Lambton's agricultural businesses were announced as recipients of The Premier's Agri-Food Innovation Excellence awards. These awards are presented to Ontario farmers whose innovations contribute to the success of Ontario's agri-food sector.

• Brier Run Alpacas and Edy's Mills Fine Fibres have created a new measure of productivity on the farm - the number of socks per acre. This value-added partnership raises alpacas, harvests their fibre and turns it into a wide range of consumer products - from cones and skeins of fibre to batting and felt, to finished consumer goods. Teamwork means that Norris McAuslan earns a living from his alpaca operation and Heather Blanchard maximizes her investment in mill equipment by using it every day.
   
• John Noorloos of Char-Creek Farms is always busy creating or modifying farm equipment to improve his farm practice. One of his innovations is a tracked manure spreader that has twice the capacity of a conventional solid manure spreader. It includes a hydraulic system with a short (four foot) section of a conventional chain-driven system. His invention is environmentally friendly and reduces soil compaction.
   
• George Cornelissen, of Cornelissen Farms Inc. in Watford, knows how to keep his chickens cozy. He developed a geothermal broiler barn, where the water used for heating the building is preheated in piping located underground in an adjacent field. This innovation is environmentally friendly and has reduced the farm's energy costs by 30 per cent. It has also improved production since the farm is able to monitor and fine-tune heat flow, with temperatures controlled at bird level. The farm is one of the first in Ontario to apply an innovative heating system on a large agricultural scale.
   
• Mark and Anne-Marie Lumley, of Fairwind Farms, Sarnia,  came up with one sweet idea when they developed a way to field pile sugar beets on the headlands, which can then be transferred at a later date. This North American first allows the Lumleys to clean enough soil off the sugar beets to transport them for processing directly from the field. Their method of readying sugar beets for export involves less labour, contributes to the sustainability of the farm, and boosts the bottom line. It allows harvesting to be uninterrupted and provides greater flexibility for trucking logistics. This innovative approach to harvesting sugar beets has been adopted by four other sugar beet harvesting groups in the county and has attracted groups from the United States to Fairwind Farms.
   
• Fields Farm Ltd. of Petrolia is the first large hog operation in Ontario to earn its certification from the Humane Farm Animal Care organization. Anton Felder made changes to his production practices by adopting new technology, introducing a new feeding approach and enhancing housing facilities for his animals. Looking out for his livestock has consumers looking out for his pork products.
   
• How do you take one of nature's oldest gifts and make it a modern experience? Twin Pines Orchards, of Thedford in the municipality of Lambton Shores, found a way to grow their apples and profits by creating value-added products and expanding their farm to include a variety of event-themed experiences. Mark and Mike Vansteenkiste's innovative products include different packed apples, preserves, organic products, wines and ciders, which they sell on site and at local restaurants and shops. The farm also conducts art and science camps, an apple festival,and school tours. Twin Pines Orchards' innovative efforts has created a positive destination for consumers who value the 'total experience' as well as the product.
   
• The VanEngelens, of Lambton County, have become partners in power. Ed, John and Mike VanEngelen, of VanEngelen Dairy Farms and Hog Tied Farms, also in Thedford,  installed Ontario's first on-farm 250 KW windmill to supply power for a dairy and a hog farm. The close proximity of the farms and the strong working relationship among the three men helped move this innovation forward. The large tower and wind generator provide a highly visible example for other farm operators interested in installing an alternative energy source.