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Corn, wheat, and soy: not just for dinner!

Explore the uses of these renewable resources at the Grains in Your Life exhibit!

TORONTO, ON (November 4, 2010) – Corn, wheat and soy not only have a place at your dinner table, these amazing crops can be found within everyday products like household insulation, carpet and kitchen countertops. Grain Farmers of Ontario invites you to visit the Grains in Your Life exhibit, an innovative presentation at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the International Plowing Match, to learn more. The exhibit offers an opportunity for visitors to explore how these environmentally-friendly, sustainable grain products are used at home, at work, and on the road.

Grain Farmers of Ontario has partnered with Pioneer Hi-Bred and Greenfield Ethanol to create this unique exhibit featuring grain-based structural and design components within four unique vignettes. The exhibit’s living room, office, kitchen and garage vignettes will contain, everything from No-VOC paints and varnishes, adhesives, household insulation, kitchen cabinets, countertop, carpet, subfloors, sofas, wallpaper and fabrics that feature corn, wheat and soy components.

Grains like corn and soy are processed into bio-fuels and used as a sustainable replacement to petroleum products in a myriad of commercial applications. As Ontario is one of Canada’s top producers of corn, wheat and soybeans, these products are an innovative, grown-in-Ontario and renewable source of food, bio-products and fuel.  “From the farm right through the value chain, these grains support Ontario’s emerging bio-economy,” says Erin Fletcher, Manager, Public Affairs and Communications, Grain Farmers of Ontario.

The use of corn, wheat and soy as a rapidly renewable alternative to chemicals also helps drive the development of cleaner, greener, eco-friendly products. “What’s astounding is that many consumers aren’t aware of the harmful VOC’s emitted by everyday household goods. Grains in Your Life is about starting that conversation and providing accessible alternatives,” continues Fletcher.

The Grains in Your Life will be showcased at this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the International Plowing Match. The International Plowing Match is held in St. Thomas between September 21 and 25, and is a premier international event held annually in Ontario to promote the agricultural and rural lifestyles. The Royal Winter Fair is hosted in Toronto between November 6 and 15, and typically attracts more than 326,000 urban and rural visitors. Grain in your Life has been made possible by incredible partnerships with leading-edge Canadian companies using corn, wheat and soy within their environmentally-friendly products:  AllSteel, Wolf-Gordon, Polar Spray, CallRich Eco-Services, Umbrella Cabinetry, Columbia Forest Products, Green Living Flooring, Sherwin Williams, Durra, Herman Miller, Future Fine Furniture, Latitude Countertops, RW Doors and Mohawk Flooring. The interior design was provided by Bennett Design.

Grain Farmers of Ontario

Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.