FARM TO FOOD

From record-breaking national crop predictions to localized hail storms and pumpkin patches, the 2026 fall harvest has been anything but simple! In this episode, host Hugh Maynard and The Gleaner’s news editor Sarah Rennie unpack the highs, lows, and unexpected weather swings of this year’s growing season across Canada and right here in the Chateauguay Valley.  What we cover in this episode: Natio...

In this episode, host Hugh Maynard is joined by The Gleaner’s news editor Sarah Rennie , alongside regional UPA representative Jérémie Letellier and local producers Jason Erskine and Ian Ward , to unpack the growing role of politics in Quebec agriculture ahead of the upcoming election. Hugh also talks policy and politics with Tyler McCann , who is both a policy analyst and a beef farmer in Shawvil...

Season 2 of the Farm to Food podcast is officially here!  In this special season opener, host Hugh Maynard is joined by The Gleaner's executive editor Jackie Rourke and news editor Sarah Rennie, and Farmer Phil from Quinn Farm to give you an exclusive preview of everything coming your way this season.  This episode provides an overview and sneak peek at the core themes we’ll be dissecting in...

As Season One comes to a close, host Hugh Maynard brings together The Gleaner’s Jackie Rourke, Sarah Rennie, and Callan Forrester, along with Farmer Phil Quinn of Quinn Farm in Île-Perrot, for a round-table look back at the themes, conversations, and challenges that defined the past year in Chateauguay Valley agriculture. The discussion moves from the realities of a difficult cropping season — a c...

Welcome to the Farm to Food podcast, the theme of this episode is agritourism, an exploration of the farm, the food it produces and direct interaction with those who buy and consume what’s on offer. It’s also about the experience - connecting with tradition, tasting new delights and learning about farming and food. Host Hugh Maynard speaks with Lisa Chase , an Extension Professor at the University...

The theme of this episode is “Agriculture Without Borders”, a world tour. Agriculture may be local, but the forces shaping farming today are increasingly global — from trade and climate pressures to food security, politics and consumer expectations.  In this Farm to Food episode, we bring together agricultural journalists from Canada, Ireland and Jordan for a global roundtable on what’s happening...

In this episode of the Farm to Food podcast, we explore the essential role bees and pollinators play in agriculture across Quebec and why their future matters to farmers, food production, and biodiversity. From honeybees working vast crop fields to native pollinators thriving in wild spaces, we look at how pollination supports everything from berries and apples to vegetables and seed production. W...

In this episode of our Farm to Food podcast, we dig into the realities behind organic farming, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, consumer trust, the use of pesticides in organic production, and the labelling of organic products. In This Episode What defines an organic farm in Canada The difference between conventional and organic pesticides Why some pesticides are still permitted in...

Thank you for joining us for this latest episode of the Farm  to Food podcast, presented to you by Desjardins. Global disruption is hitting close to home. In this episode, we look at how climate shifts, geopolitics, volatile markets, and new technologies are reshaping day-to-day decisions on small and mid-sized farms across rural Quebec. From rising input costs to changing consumer habits, local f...

Farm succession - la relève - is one of the biggest challenges facing agriculture in Quebec today. With thousands of farmers approaching retirement age and farmland prices rising, the question of who will take over the next generation of farms has become one of the defining issues for agriculture. Without successful succession, farms risk being consolidated, sold, or lost altogether. Supporting la...

Maple syrup tapping in Quebec, which produces over 70% of the world's supply, has evolved from Indigenous V-notch methods in the 16th century to modern vacuum-sealed tubing systems. Quebec, where le temps des sucres is a cultural cornerstone, currently uses over 46 million taps, with production strictly regulated by the PPAQ to ensure sustainability. Each spring in Quebec, as the days warm an...

Mental Health & Farming Farming is more than an occupation - it’s a culture, a heritage, and often a family legacy passed down through generations. But behind the beauty of rural life, many farmers face intense mental health pressures that are too often hidden or unspoken. In this episode, we explore the realities of mental health in Canadian agricultural communities - from financial stress an...

Farm animals and their products are the biggest segment of Canadian agriculture, and certainly a big part of the food chain downstream in supermarkets, restaurants, and on consumers’ kitchen tables. With the rise of large farms and mass production techniques, animal well-being has become an issue not only for consumers, but also for farmers who depend on the well-being of their livestock in order...

Grab a glass and settle in. Hosted by Hugh Maynard , this podcast dives into the world of microbreweries, distilleries, and cideries, spotlighting the makers shaping today’s craft beverage scene. We celebrate small producers, regional ingredients, and the communities that support independent craft beverages. Through candid conversations, we uncover the challenges, creativity, and character behind...

From barnyards to boardrooms, the dairy industry in Quebec is evolving fast. Hosted by Hugh Maynard, in this episode, we explore the dairy industry - from prices to trade deals to climate debates, dairy always seems to be in the headlines. But what’s actually true? What’s noise? And what should Canadians really know? We also explore how modern pressures are transforming family farms across the pro...

From seeds to soil to global trade, cash crops are changing - and farmers are growing with them.  In this episode of the Farm to Food podcast, we explore the shifting economics, technologies, climate pressures, and market forces shaping today’s cash crop farms.   Hosted by Hugh Maynard, in this episode we talk with growers, researchers, and industry leaders about what’s changing and what it means...

Weather has always been one of the biggest variables in farming — too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry — and now, extreme weather events are becoming an even greater challenge. In this episode, we dig into how farmers are coping with and adapting to a changing climate. Host Hugh Maynard sits down with Dr. Hugh Henry , professor at Western University and expert in plant ecology, biogeochemistry, and...

This week on Farm to Food , we dig into the delicious intersection between farms and restaurants — where collaboration, creativity, and community come together. From growers to chefs, we explore how partnerships shape what ends up on our plates and how they’re helping build a more sustainable future. Hosted by Hugh Maynard , this episode features conversations with farmers, food producers, and che...

Focusing on the preservation of traditional farming methods, crops, and livestock passed down through generations, this episode features segments on heirloom fruits and vegetables, heritage buildings, antique machinery, and heritage livestock, along with Farmer Phil and news briefs on Quebec’s agri-food sector. Enjoy the show! Hosted by Hugh Maynard, this episode features segments on: Heirloom fru...

The 2025 growing season had farmers across Quebec struggling to deal with weather extremes - a long, wet spring then a record-breaking hot and dry summer. How did it affect humans, plants and animals? We find out. Thank you for listening to this episode of the Farm to Food podcast. We’d like to thank our sponsors for helping bring this initiative to life: Desjardins , the Livestock Breeders’ Assoc...