Overview

The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (commission) comprises a chair, vice chair and other members, all appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

The diverse membership is made up of producers and processors with a variety of business, industry and commodity experience.

Amy Cronin, chair

Amy Cronin

  • Commission chair since 2020
  • Owner and president of Cronin Farms Ltd., a sow and poultry operation
  • Owner and president of Cedar Grove Pork Ltd., a sow and piglet operation
  • Chair of the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization
  • Trustee of the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board
  • Chair of Ontario's Outstanding Young Farmers Executive
  • Vice chair of Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Executive
  • Former chair of the Ontario Pork Producers Marketing Board (Ontario Pork)
  • Former chair of Swine Health Ontario
  • Former chair of the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Council
  • Former chair of Grow Ontario Together/Eco Ag

Ralph Dietrich, vice chair

Ralph Dietrich

  • Commission vice chair since 2023
  • Commission member since 2019
  • Current owner and partner of Character Dairy Genetics
  • Current dairy farmer
  • Former chair of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario
  • Former chair of Gay Lea Foods Co-operative

Robert Anderson, member

Robert Anderson

  • Commission member since 2015
  • Current vice president of operations for Nortera Foods
  • Current board director at Food and Beverage Ontario
  • Past president of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors
  • Past president of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Processors Association
  • Current Board director at Mid-West Food Products Association

Cameron McWilliam, member

Cameron McWilliam

  • Commission member since 2019
  • Current turkey, beef cattle and cash crop producer
  • Current director of Community School Alliance
  • Past Mayor of Dutton/Dunwich
  • Past Warden of Elgin County
  • Former chairman of the Dutton Highland Games committee
  • Former fundraiser for the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital Foundation, Bobier Villa and the John Kenneth Galbraith Reference Library

William George, member

William George

  • Commission member since 2022
  • Current owner and president of George II Farms Ltd. (Wine Grape grower in the Niagara Region)
  • Former chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association
  • Former chair of Grape Growers of Ontario
  • Former chair of the Presidents’ Council
  • Former Ontario director of the Canadian Horticulture Council

Cheryl Firby, member

Cheryl Firby

  • Commission member since 2023
  • Retired 2022 from Maple Leaf Foods as vice president of live agricultural operations (chicken and turkey) and industry relations
  • Former chair and director of the Association of Ontario Chicken Processors
  • Former vice chair and director of Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission
  • Former alternate director for Canadian Hatching Egg Producers
  • Former member of Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
  • Served on various working committees provincially and nationally to support improvements to animal welfare, food safety, COVID-19 and avian influenza responses