November 16, 2020

Feed Ontario has selected Ontario Pork as the recipient of the Paul Mistele Memorial Award for 2020. The award, presented to Ontario Pork by Feed Ontario's Executive Director Carolyn Stewart Saturday, November 14 at Farm and Food Care's virtual Harvest Gala, is in recognition of contributions and support from across the pork sector, including local associations, processors and industry partners. 

Fundraising efforts from the sector reached new heights this year thanks in part to the Pork Industry Gratitude Project. This grassroots fundraising initiative was launched by hog farmers in Perth County, looking to make a positive impact in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis. 

Even as farmers themselves struggled with on-farm challenges and supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, the gratitude project organizers used the funds raised to help make things better for others by;
Increasing support for the Feed Ontario, through the Ontario Pork Friends of the Foodbank Program; more than 200,000 servings of fresh ground pork went to help feed Ontario families in need this year
Providing additional funds for community-based food giving by local pork associations
Hosting Farmer-to-Frontline Worker Appreciation Box Lunches for employees at Ontario's two largest processing plants

Named for the late farm leader who founded Ontario Pork's Donate-A-Hog program in 1998, the Paul Mistele Memorial Award recognizes agricultural partners who have shown a significant and enduring commitment to ending hunger in Ontario.

"I am impressed by how our industry came together to have a positive impact during some challenging times that affected all of us," said Eric Schwindt, Ontario Pork Board Chair," in a prerecorded video. 

"No matter what challenges our members were facing on other fronts, the farmers, farm groups and businesses stepped up to help others. That's the spirit that makes me proud to be the chair of this board and a pork producer."