HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-07-21, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2005. PAGE 13.
Former orchard owner back and starting over
Returns
Lewis Cardiff has returned to the Brussels area after a 16-year absence and has resumed
ownership of Maitside Orchards. He stands by two of a group of 80 trees that weren’t
removed by the previous owner. He pians on using those as a base to start selling apples
again. (Jim Brown photo)
By Jim Brown
Citizen \taff
After a 16-ycar absence. Lewis
Cardiff has returned to the Brussels
area and reowns his old business.
He has taken over the Maitside
Orchards business at the west end of
the village.
There were KO ol the younger trees
remaining and he decided to plant
another five acres The rest of the
land has been rented out.
The majority of trees had been
removed by the previous owner.
Cardiff said was disappointed that
that the previous owner had removed
the mature trees.
Cardiff said he plans on opening
for business around Sept. 15. As well
as a supply of fresh apples, he will
also have apple butter for sale.
As a child, he used to help his
uncle out in the orchard after school.
"1 was around here a long time,”
he said. “It’s home.”
According to Cardiff, he bought
the orchard in 1971 and sold it in
1987, when he bought a big orchard
in the Lucan area.
. As well as planting five acres of
mixed apples at the Maitside
Orchards location, he also planted
four peach trees.
Cardiff said he missed his old
customers, and he has heard from
people that they are happy he
replanted trees in the orchard.
He will be using the produce from
the 80 trees that were remaining
when he took over the farm and will
also sell some apples and pears from
his neighbour.
He believes that if a producer
provides a good product at a
reasonable price, the people will
come.
Cardiff said he will also be open
during the Christmas season.
LIIINs topic
at county
By Keith Rouls6n
Citizen publisher
Don't expect a big input for Huron
County's political leaders in the new
Local Health Integration Networks
(LHINs) which have replaced the
district health councils.
Bluewater Councillor Bill Dowson
told Huron County council July 7
that he and Rob Morley, South
Huron councillor, had attended a
meeting at which the chair of the
LHINs had been introduced.
Morley said his impression was
that the group was trying to get the
new body up and running and then
would appoint six more members.
The requirements for those members
seemed to be more specialized than
he or Dowson could offer, he said.
“My understanding is there will be
no elected officials on the LHINs
board," said Goderich councillor
Deb Shewfelt. Municipalities are
supposed to provide money but
won’t have input, he said.
Cattle feeders
discuss CAIS
By Jim Brown
Citizen staff
After Ontario Minister of
Agriculture Leona Dombrowsky,
former minister Steve Peters and
Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell
had left the Ontario Cattle Feeders'
Association meeting in Brussels on
July 13, questions about the
Canadian Agricultural Income
Stabilization (CAIS) program were
raised.
George McCaw and Steve Duff of
AgriCorp Ontario had given a multi
media presentation on the program.
While the overall intent of the
program was liked, many producers
felt the language of the program
made it difficult for it to be
understood, not just by the farmer
but by accountants and bankers
alike.
Producers also wanted to know at
what level of equity loss the
program kicks in. It seems to be
different for each producer, even
though they may have the same
amount of loss.
The questions were not fully
answered by the two representatives
of AgriCorp.
***
James Hodges of the American
Meat Institute said the organization
has been around for 100 years and
he hopes it will be around for
another 100 years to serve the
integrated North American market.
He believes that R-CALF is
isolationist and protectionist but
does not represent the majority of
Americans. He described them as a
group of obstructionists and
protectionists.
He said since the border with
Canada has been closed, there have
been a number of packing plants in
the United States that have closed.
some permanently.
According to Hodges, some
employees of U.S.-based packing
plants are now finding it difficult to
make ends meet because they are
getting fewer hours.
Ironically, he said, some
American cattle are being shipped to
Canada for slaughter.
As a result of the closed borders.
Hodges said Canada can now go
toe-to-toe with the United States in
the production of a quality meat
product.
“We like to treat our Canadian
neighbours with as much respect as
you deserve,” he said.
To that extent they had some
black wristbands made that read
openbeefborders.com.
Even with the newest case of BSE
found in an animal in Texas, Hodges
said that consumer confidence in
beef appears to be the lone bright
spot.
“The export picture is not as
bright as Japan and other countries
have closed their borders to U.S.
beef,” he said.
He is keeping a close watch on the
circuit court in Montana and hopes
that the judge rules in favour of
opening the borders.
Kidney disease
strikes families,
not only individuals.
March is Kidney Month.
When a Kidney Foundation
volunteer knocks on your door,
please give generously.
www.kidney.ca
NC
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