OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 7, 2010) - Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn issued the following statement on the death of Claude Béchard, Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and the Canadian Francophonie, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

AYLESFORD, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 1, 2010) - The Government of Canada is investing in science and innovation to ensure the future of the horticulture industry remains profitable for Canadian growers. An investment of over $5 million will bring together expertise from academia, industry and government to address key challenges in the industry, today announced Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Member of Parliament Greg Kerr (West Nova).

TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 1, 2010) - The Government of Canada is investing in cutting-edge research to grow market opportunities and maintain a bright future for the Canadian organic industry. An investment of $6.5 million will bring together scientific expertise from academia, industry and government to develop more efficient and profitable processes for organic farmers, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and MP Scott Armstrong (Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley) announced today.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 31, 2010) - Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Member of Parliament Greg Kerr (West Nova) will be in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, September 1, to announce an investment in support of Canadian horticulture growers.

CHAMPLAIN, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 31, 2010) - The Government of Canada has invested nearly $4.4 million to help Nutra Canada develop a facility for producing fruit, vegetable and medicinal plant extracts that will benefit Canadian producers.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 31, 2010) - Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Member of Parliament Scott Armstrong (Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley) will be in Truro, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, September 1, to announce support for Canada's organic farmers.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 30, 2010) - The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture) will be in Champlain, Québec, on Tuesday, August 31, to talk about how an important Government of Canada investment in a local fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants production facility is creating opportunities for local farmers.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 25, 2010) - New Brunswick potato growers will receive up to $3 million to help offset the extra costs of cleaning and disinfecting storage facilities and disposing of ruined product after a difficult growing season in 2009. The announcement was made today by Member of Parliament Mike Allen (Tobique-Mactaquac), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, and New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture Ronald Ouellette.

KAMLOOPS, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Aug. 24, 2010) - The Government of Canada is helping the cattle industry stay ahead of the curve in the global marketplace. Member of Parliament Cathy McLeod (Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced today an investment of up to $3 million to support the beef industry by developing new marketing opportunities to help farmers and food processors boost their bottom line. This investment is in addition to the Government of British Columbia's recent $2 million investment that will fund projects recommended by BC's Ranching Task Force.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - August 23, 2010) - On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, MP Cathy McLeod (Kamloops - Thompson - Cariboo), will be in Knutsford, British Columbia on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, to make a combined federal/provincial announcement in support of the BC beef industry.

OKANAGAN CENTRE, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Aug. 20, 2010) -  The Government of Canada is investing in British Columbia wine and grape innovation to strengthen crops and improve growers' economic viability and sustainability. Today, Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced that the B.C. Wine Grape Council will receive up to $2.1 million to address challenges facing grape producers in B.C. by improving pest and disease measures and enhancing grape quality.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 20, 2010) - Canadian breeding cattle are back in Colombia after almost 10 years of trade restrictions, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced today.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 19, 2010) - Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux, on behalf of Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, will be in Kelowna, British Columbia, on Friday, August 20, to announce an investment for the British Columbia grape industry. 

SAINT-NORBERT-D'ARTHABASKA, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - August 17, 2010) - Canadian maple syrup producers will benefit from important investments in marketing and research aimed at improving the competitiveness of the sector. The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), announced today up to $4.3 million in funding to support the Canadian maple syrup industry's efforts to create new opportunities for this pure, quality product.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 16, 2010) - The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture) will be in St-Norbert d'Athabaska, Quebec on Tuesday, August 17 to announce investments that will benefit maple syrup producers.