East Elgin Tobacco Grower Enjoys Successful Switch

Source from:  Monday April 09, 2007 By Times-Journal Staff 04/11/2007

An east Elgin tobacco grower who is developing a tourist attraction around an organic herb farm, is a winner of a new Ontario award for agricultural innovation. Benner Farms Limited is the recipient of a $5,000 Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. Proprietor Deb Benner was cited for introducing a number of improvements at Heritage Line Herbs -- like renovating kilns to other use -- as she converted her tobacco farm to an herb operation with an emphasis on an agri-tourism. She was one of 14 southwestern Ontario winners recognized last week at a ceremony in Glencoe, and one of 55 regional winners across the province. Among those who joined agriculture minister Leona Dombrowsky was Elgin-Middlesex-London Liberal MPP Steve Peters. The five-year, $2.5 million Premier's Award program was introduced in the 2006 provincial budget to support Ontario's agricultural sector. Other southwestern Ontario winners included a farmer who is using crop waste like corn cobs for fuel pellets; a honey producer who broadened his market by producing mead; and an asparagus grower who diversified into pickled vegetables. Enditem