Thinking about it, one of the hardest things about being a mom (or a parent, for that matter) is the responsibility to make good food choices for my family. It’s my role to ensure that my boys grow up with a variety of healthy, nutrient-dense foods that are rich in flavour and offer a variety of tastes and textures. Because, I know that the favourable habits they form as children will dictate how they feed their own families in the future.
(What’s for dinner? Why not try this recipe for Grilled Pork Chops With Fresh Peach or Mango Salsa, courtesy of Ontario Pork. Prep time is only 10 minutes!)
But it doesn’t stop there. It’s also my role to ensure the food that we’re enjoying is produced and processed in a way that is economically, environmentally and socially responsible. Last month, Ontario Pork launched its inaugural Social Responsibility Report, becoming the first livestock commodity group in the province to commit to socially responsible practices achieved through education, greater dialogue and increased transparency.
So, what can we expect? Over the next three years, Ontario Pork will engage the entire sector and focus on six dimensions:
Farm Management. Ontario Pork will work with pork producers and processors to increase producer Canadian Quality Assurance/Animal Care Assessment (CQA/ACA) compliance, and encourage new producers to comply with the CQA/ACA programs.
Economic Performance. It’s no surprise that financial profitability is the primary purpose of all businesses. The Social Responsibility Report recommends monitoring the business environment and developing programs aimed at educating pork producers on different risk mitigation options.
Environmental Stewardship. Ontario pork producers are stewards of the land. A focus on the environment involves preserving ecosystems and resources, such as soil and water, and minimizing negative environmental impacts of their activities through the implementation of beneficial agricultural practices.
Animal Care and Food Safety. As parents, this is likely where we pay the most attention; we want to ensure the food we’re serving our family is safe and sourced in an ethical way. The Pig Code contains guidelines for the care and handling of pigs on Canadian farms throughout their lives.
Relationships with the Community. Good community relations enable a farm to contribute to the social acceptability of its activities and strengthen its presence in the community. To date, pork producers have donated more than $135,000 in money and product to the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB).
Workers’ Well-Being. Providing competitive working conditions, maintaining fair labour relations, and ensuring a safe working environment are key factors to a farm’s success and the overall health and well-being of its workforce.
To view the full Social Responsibility Report, visit www.ontariopork.on.ca/Social-Responsibility.
How do farming procedures and practices impact your consumption habits and preferences? I find it reassuring when livestock commodities, such as Ontario Pork, take the initiative to proactively set benchmarks and monitor the industry. It gives me confidence in my food choices and perhaps most importantly, encourages me to buy more bacon.
Not that I needed a reason to buy more bacon.
This post is sponsored by Ontario Pork. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.
This would be an awesome meal for my dad on his birthday!
My hubby would enjoy this meal,thanks for sharing.I dont need a reason to buy Bacon….yummy
Buying more bacon, yes please! We actually buy all of our pork from a local farmer just down the road from us. Grilled Pork Chops are so yummy!
Thanks for the recipe!
Recipe sounds delicious. I buy my share of bacon.
I love grilled pork chops, especially if they are done right and not over cooked!!
We grilled up your recipe and it was amazingly delicious im not big on Mango so we used peaches,thanks so much i can see this recipe becoming a fast family favorite
I am going to make this for my husband for Fathers Day.He will love it.Thanks for the incredible delicious recipe!!
Gorgeous dish! gREAT PROGRAM TOO!
Thank you for sharing this information. It makes me proud to be an Ontarian when I see a producer go over and above to care for its customers. Also, it does give me another reason to eat more bacon, and pork chops too!
I never need a reason to buy more bacon! lol.
Grilled pork chops with mango salsa… YUM! Not sure if my husband would eat the mango salsa, but more for me then, right? Sounds amazing!
This would be a great summer dinner. I would have to subsitude the mango salad. Thanks for the recipe
wow looks and sounds delish , thanks for sharing … pork is my fave on the grill :) making me drool !
I love my bacon and this sounds like a delicious recipe, thanks for sharing :-)
everything’s better with bacon. including bacon.
I know no idea Ontario Pork was doing all this. Now I really want that bacon
I definitely do not need another reason to buy bacon, it is so good with so many different things! This program sounds like a great idea.
Farming procedures and practices are important. I think it’s great that Ontario Pork is taking the initiative to proactively set benchmarks and monitor the industry.
I love bacon but I restrict myself on how much meat I’ll eat and what types of meat I’ll eat.
Bravo to ONTARIO PORK to setting these standards
This looks delicious.
Our family loves bacon! Thanks for sharing
I like my pork chops barbequed
Honestly i never need a reason to buy bacon,its a staple in our home !!
I’m really happy the pork producers are concerned about animal care. Ethical meat is the only kind I’ll buy!
We will be enjoying this dish again tomorrow for hubby’s birthday he really enjoyed it last year!