Since the fall harvest of 2025, the Chateauguay Valley Community Information Services (CVCIS) has been producing the Farm to Food podcast, a show that features “down-to-earth conversations with local farmers, agri-food innovators, and global experts on everything from organic farming to processing, sustainability, and food security,” according to the show description. It explores the Chateauguay Valley’s biggest economic sector: agriculture.
The show was created with the goal of making such content accessible to everyone. “Whether you’re a farmer, a foodie, or simply curious about where your meals come from, Farm to Food connects you to the full journey — from soil to supper,” says the website. Since September 18, the podcast has run on a biweekly basis and has featured interviews with people from the Valley, the province, and other countries. The weekly voices are those of are Hugh Maynard, the host; Sarah Rennie, the news editor; Callan Forrester, the reporter; and Phil Quinn, also known as “Farmer Phil,” who gives his perspective on each week’s topic.
Some overarching themes have aired during the first season. The first that came up multiple times was the idea that farmers are changing. There is more of a focus on work/life balance in ways that have not been discussed before. In the episode about mental health, Rennie spoke with Pierre Rivard, a training specialist with the Montreal Suicide Prevention Centre, who explained that there needs to be less stigma when it comes to asking people outright if they are struggling with suicidal ideation. This episode highlighted the importance of taking care of one’s mental health, and how to reach out to someone you think may be struggling.
In the episode about farm succession, the concept of change was explored again when Dick Whitman shared a bit about how farmers can help their successors and balance letting the new owners take over while still being there to help and offer the knowledge they’ve gained over the years.
More change was discussed in the episode about global impact, when the president of the Montérégie UPA, Jérémie Letellier, discussed details surrounding new legislation that makes farming more financially difficult. In the World Tour episode, Owen Roberts from Guelph, Ontario, explained that farmers are used to dealing with changing factors – whether that is a difficult financial year, tough weather, or other circumstances – but it he said it feels like this year has been hard overall. And, in Episode 4, the podcast explored climate change and how that is expected to affect agriculture in the coming years.
Many more ideas came up over the course of this season, and the range of topics means that there is something for everyone to enjoy. To listen to season one – and follow along for season two – visit farmtofood.buzzsprout.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch or find the Farm to Food podcast on Facebook. To stay up to date with what else the CVCIS has coming up, follow CVCIS on Facebook as well.