Here it is!
Your easy to search plain language guide to food and farming.
Terms, acronyms and jargon put into everyday words, all in one place. This isn’t a search engine with millions of words, or a technical reference to write a best management practice. It’s meant for real people and real conversations, from kitchens to boardrooms to fields.
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| Term | Plain language wording | Acronym | Synonyms | Category | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboiteau farming | Acadian farmers built a system of dykes to make more farmland for crops | general | |||
| Acre | Used to measure size of a field or farm. 1 acre = 43,560 square feet or 0.405 hectares. Most Canadian farmers use acres instead of the metric term hectares. For a visual, a Canadian football field including endzones is about 2 acres. | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | |||
| Active ingredient | Ingredients in medicines or pesticides that is biologically active. The active ingredients usually make up a small portion of the whole product. | A.I. | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | http://npic.orst.edu/ingred/active.html | |
| Advertising allowance | Money that a manufacturer pays a retailer to advertise a product | retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'a'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Aggie | Person that has studied agriculture at college or university, sense of community and friendship with others in the field known as "Aggie Spirit". Some college alumni are called Agros. | Agro | general | ||
| Aeration | Using a tool to put small holes in the soil to let oxygen and water work further into the soil for plants | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Aerial application | Spraying pesticides by airplane or helicopter to protect crops | general, crops, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Agricultural Sector | The industry that includes the science, art and business of cultivating soil, producing crops and raising livestock | Agri-food sector, ag sector | general | ||
| Agriculture | The science, art and practice of cultivating soil to grow crops and raise livestock to market. From Latin agricultura, from ager, agr- ‘field’ + cultura ‘growing, cultivation’ | ag | agri-food, farming | general | |
| Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada | Federal ministry within Canadian government that oversees many regulations and programs related to agriculture and food. | AAFC | Ag Canada | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ |
| Agriculture lender | Bankers that specialize in agriculture/farming | ag lender | general | ||
| Agri-food | Description for the food system and related businesses, combining agriculture and food. | food system, agri-food sector | general, processor | ||
| Agrologist | Professional who provides advice on agriculture and food related topics, combining their education with experience. Members of a professional designating group may use the title P.Ag. | P.Ag. | Professional Agrologist | general | http://www.aic.ca/ |
| Agronomic | An adjective used to describe plants and plant products. Check agronomy. | general | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Agronomic input | A product used to grow a fruit, vegetable or any crop including pesticides, fertilizers and manure | input | general | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | |
| Agronomy | Scientific field that studies the production of crops like grains, fruits and vegetables, including the soil they grow in. | general, crops, fruit, vegetable | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Air seeder | Fans blow seeds and fertilizer into place to be planted. Air drills are similar. | air drill | crop | https://blog.machinefinder.com/30734/air-seeder-process | |
| Al Dente | To cook food until just firm | restaurant | |||
| All in-all out | All the animals in the barn are moved out at once so the barn can be cleaned thoroughly. Then all new animals come in at the same time. | pig, turkey, chicken, egg, veal | |||
| Allocate | A process to decide how much shelf space a product gets | retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'a'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Anhydrous ammonia | A common form of nitrogen fertilizer, used to feed many common crops. | anhydrous | general | ||
| Animal health | Related to farm animal health, often refers to working with veterinarians, vaccinations, practices on farm to keep animals from getting sick. | general, dairy, beef, veal, sheep, goat, chicken, turkey, egg | |||
| Animal rights | A philosophy that animals are not to be used for human benefit (food, clothing, entertainment, medical research). This is not animal welfare. | general, beef, dairy, veal, chicken, turkey, egg, sheep, goat | |||
| Animal welfare | A measure of how we care for farm animals and their wellbeing. This is not animal rights. | animal care | general, beef, dairy, veal, chicken, turkey, egg, sheep, goat | ||
| Animal welfare assessment | Inspection to determine if animal welfare standards are being followed, on farms, in transit, at processing plants | audit | beef, dairy, sheep, goat, veal, pig, chicken, turkey, egg | ||
| Apiculture | Beekeeping, mostly honey bees in hives | general | |||
| Aquaculture | Raising fish and shellfish for food. Also called fish farming. Can be in open lakes or oceans or in tanks on land. | Fish farming | general | ||
| Aquifer | An underground layer of water-bearing rock. Groundwater can be extracted using a water well | general | |||
| Arable land | Land that can be used for growing crops and plants | general | |||
| Artificial insemination | To breed an animal by placing semen into the female reproductive tract, not using males for natural breeding | A.I. | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, veal, general | ||
| Assessment | A tool to measure how well a farm or business is operating according to standards. This can be a self-assessment or use a third party validator. | Audit | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, veal, general, processor, retail/restaurant | ||
| Audit | A tool to measure how well a farm or business is operating according to standards. This can be a self-audit or use a third party expert. | Assessment | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, crop, fruit, vegetable, veal, general, processor, retail/restaurant | ||
| Auger | Tool like a corkscrew used to move grain up or down to transfer between grain wagons and silos; or a tool to drill through ice or wood. | general | |||
| Average daily gain | The amount of weight an animal gains in one day, measured in grams or kilos or pounds. | ADG | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, sheep, goat | ||
| Avian influenza | A virus that infects all kinds of birds, inlcuding wild and farm poultry like chickens or turkeys. Sometimes called bird flu | A.I. | Bird flu | turkey, chicken, egg | |
| Avoidable food waste | Food that was once edible for humans | general, processor, food | |||
| Backgrounding | A type of farm that takes young cattle for a short term to get them used to eating grains and prepared to move onto a feedlot | beef | |||
| Back Order | Out of stock items that a customer must wait to recieve | retail, restaurant | |||
| Bake | To cook food in an oven using dry heat | restaurant | |||
| Bakeapples | Golden, raspberry-like berries that grows across the north | Cloudberries | fruit, food | ||
| Bale | Dried crops like hay or straw are put into rectangle or round shapes and tied with string in a baler for handling and storage. Fun fact...the rectangle shapes are called square bales. | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, crop, general | |||
| Baler | Machine that takes loose dried crops like hay or straw and condenses them into rectangle or round shapes and ties them with string (baler twine) for easy handling and storage. | dairy, beef, sheep, goat, crop, general | |||
| Baler twine | The string that goes around hay or straw to hold it together in round or square bales | general, crop | |||
| Barley malt | provides flavour, mouth feel, colour, foam and the sugars that make alcohol. | processor, crop, beverage | https://www.beercanada.com/expert-advice/malting-and-brewing-specialists/about-malt | ||
| Barrow | Young male pig that has been neutered | pig | |||
| Baste | Adding moisture to food while cooking by spooning or brushing liquid on to add flavour and prevent food from drying out | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Battery cages | Cages that house chickens that lay eggs. This term is not commonly used on farms in Canada. | Cage | chicken, egg | ||
| Beak trimming | Trim the hook off the end of the top half of a beak, in order to prevent peaking other birds. Sometimes wrongfully called 'debeaking' | debeaking | turkey, chicken, egg | ||
| Beat | To quickly stir a mixture in a circular motion using a spoon, whisk or mixer | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Beavertail | A flat pastry deep fried, shaped like a beaver's tail invented in Canada | general, food | |||
| Bedding | Materials such as straw or sawdust used to cover the floor of barns. Used to keep the floor dry and clean, and for animals to lie down on for comfort and warmth. | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, general | |||
| Beef breeds | Types of cows raised for meat. Examples include Angus, Charolais, Simmental, Hereford, Limousin. | beef | |||
| Beer | Malted barley, hops yeast and water. | processor, restaurant, retail, beverage | https://www.beercanada.com/expert-advice/malting-and-brewing-specialists/about-malt | ||
| Beneficial management practice | Management practices that reduce or eliminate an environmental risk. BMPs cover areas ranging from pesticide handling to energy efficiency to water quality. | SImilar to Best Management Practice | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, crop, fruit, vegetable, veal, general | https://www.alberta.ca/beneficial-management-practices.aspx | |
| Best management practice | Guidelines that help meet necessary legislation, regulations and policies. On a farm for example, best management practices balance farm practices while protecting water and soil. | BMP | SImilar to Beneficial Management Practice | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, crop, fruit, vegetable, veal, general, processor | |
| Best-before date | How long a food product will keep it's best freshness, taste and nutritional value. The product is still edible, this is different than expiration date. | retail, restaurant, food | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/information-for-consumers/fact-sheets-and-infographics/date-labelling/eng/1332357469487/1332357545633 | ||
| Bin | Term used for grain storage | silo | general | ||
| Biodiesel | Fuel made by combining alcohol with vegetable oil, animal fats or recycled cooking grease. | general, vegetable | |||
| Bioeconomy | Economic activity from the invention, development, production, and use of products and processes based on biological resources | ||||
| Biofuel | Fuel made from renewable sources like corn, soybeans, flaxseed and more | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Biofuel | Fuels produced from organic material – biomass – including plant materials and animal waste. Can be blended with regular fuels. | general, crop | |||
| Biological control | Controlling plants, disease and animal pests using natural enemies, including insects that might attack more harmful pests. Ladybugs are a common example. | general | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/category/pesticides | ||
| Biological diversity | Large variety of species within an environment | Biodiversity | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Biomass | Plant material that can be used as an energy source such as wood, grains and agricultural waste | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Biosecurity | A program to protect barns and livestock from outside dirt and germs. Think of social distancing for animals and plants. | pig, chicken | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Biotechnology | Scientific tools and techniques used to improve plants or animals | GE, GM, GMO | Biotech, Genetic engineering | general | https://www.usda.gov/topics/biotechnology/biotechnology-frequently-asked-questions-faqs |
| Blanch | Putting food into boiling water for a short amount of time | parboil | restaurant | http://www.cookingforengineers.com/dictionary/define/blanch | |
| Boar | Adult male pig that has not been neutered | pig | |||
| Boar taint | Strong taste in pork from the hormones in intact males (boars), uncommon in North America as most male pigs are neutered. | pig | |||
| Bovine | Related to cattle (cows) | cows, cattle | dairy, beef, veal | ||
| Bovine practitioner | Veterinarian that specializes in cattle | dairy vet, beef vet, cow vet | general, dairy, beef, veal | ||
| Bovine spongiform encephalopathy | Incurable disease affecting the nervous system of cattle | BSE | Mad cow disease | beef | |
| Braise | Cooking meat by browning it in fat and simmering it in a covered pan | restaurant, food | |||
| Braise | Cook by browning a food in butter or oil, then gently simmering in a small amount of liquid over low heat for a long period of time in a covered pan | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Branch house | A redistribution center for a manufacturer | retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'a'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Brand image | Customer views on the quality, value and taste of a product or opinion of an organization. | brand | retail, restaurant, general | ||
| Branding | In marketing, used to define a company or person's look and overall impression; for cattle, a brand is a mark that shows which ranch the animal belongs to. | ||||
| Breeder | Female, often refers to the bird that produces fertilized eggs that will grow a chick. This is different than the unfertilized eggs used for people to eat. | hen, broiler breeder | turkey, chicken, egg | https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/ag_101_agriculture_us_epa_0.pdf | |
| Brew pub | A place that brews their own beer and serves it | processor, beverage | |||
| Brewery | A place where beer is made commercially | processor, beverage | |||
| Broil | Put food directly on a heat rack, usually used for melting food like cheese | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Broil | To cook over a flame | restaurant, food | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'a'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Broiler breeder | The female bird that produces fertilized eggs that hatches chickens that are raised for meat. | ||||
| Broiler chicken | type of chickens raised for meat. Compared to laying hens, which are types of birds better at laying eggs. | chicken, retail/restaurant | |||
| Brown | To cook a food on high heat to brown it | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Buck | Male goat | goat | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Buckling | Young, male goat | goat | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Buffer strip | Grass and plants that prevents water contamination by naturally filtering soil, manure and fertilizer before entering a stream. | buffer zone | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Buffer zone | Area left natural between a field and body of water to reduce contamination. Related to Buffer Strip | buffer strip | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Bulk milk tank | Refrigerated storage where milk is cooled and stored. Usually simply referred to as Bulk Tank. | bulk tank | dairy, general | ||
| Bulk produce | Unpackaged fresh fruits and vegetables that customers pick themselves | fruit, vegetable, retail | |||
| Bull | Mature male bovine (ie. male cow) | dairy, beef, veal | |||
| Bull calf | Male calf that hasn’t been castrated (ie. hasn't been neutered) | beef, dairy, veal | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Bunker | A long rectangular shaped structure in which feed is dumped and packed into for storage. Sometimes called Bunker Silo or Bunk. | silo | dairy, beef, sheep, goat | ||
| Bushel | Measurement used for crops that varies depending on the crop. A bushel of wheat, soybeans or potatoes is 60 pounds; a bushel of corn is 56 pounds, and a bushel of sunflower seeds is 24 pounds. | crop, fruit vegetable | https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_022760.pdf | ||
| Business risk management | Provides protection against income and production losses. For example, farmers can buy insurance designed for crops or animals. | BRM | |||
| Butcher | Professional meat cutter | beef, sheep, goat, veal, pig, chicken, turkey | |||
| Butcher shop | Retail store that specializes in meat and cutting meat to your specs | beef, sheep, goat, veal, pig, chicken, turkey | |||
| Byproducts | Secondary products that are used after the main product is taken. For example, the fat from animals is rendered into many useful products or the straw from the wheat harvest. | ||||
| Caesar | A spicy alcoholic beverage created in Canada with clamato juice and vodka as the two main elements, often garnished with celery salt and stalks. It is not a Bloody Mary. OR a type of garlic creamy salad dressing. | bloody caesar | general, beverage, restaurant | ||
| Cage | term for an animal housing pen. Can be for chickens, rabbits, fish. Note: the fish farm 'cages' are actually large pens made of nets. | cage culture, battery cages | chicken, egg, general | ||
| Cage culture | Large net pens for fish farming | aquaculture | |||
| Calf | Newborn or young cow | beef, dairy, veal | |||
| Calf hutches | Used to house calves outside individually. Often look like white 'igloos' | hutches | dairy | ||
| Canadian Food Inspection Agency | A branch of the Canadian government responsible for food safety, labelling, inspection and related regulations. Falls under both Health Canada & Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada ministries. | CFIA | general | ||
| Candling | Passing an egg over a light to look at the quality of egg yolk and shell | egg | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Canola | An oilseed crop with a bright yellow flower developed in Canada. The name is a contraction of Canada and ola, referring to oil. | rapeseed | crop | https://www.canolacouncil.org/about-canola/ | |
| Capon | Castrated (neutered) male chicken | chicken | |||
| Caramelize | Heating sugar until it liquefies and becomes a syrup | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Carbon footprint | The amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a person or group | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Carbon sequestration | Capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in areas such as soils or plants or oceans. | general | https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-carbon-sequestration?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products | ||
| Carbon tax | A fee imposed on carbon emitting activities | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Carcass | The body of a dead animal | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carcass | ||
| Carrier | A truck or rail company that transports food and beverages from one place to another | general, processor, retail, restaurant | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Cash cropper | A person who grows plants for food, fuel or fibre. Typically used to describe grain farmers in Eastern Canada. | farmer, producer | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | ||
| Castrate | To remove the testicles from male animals | castration | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, general | ||
| Catching crew | Team of people who specialize in catching poultry to load on trucks for market | chicken, turkey, egg | |||
| Certified Agricultural Farm Advisor | Professionals who give advice to farmers, combining their knowledge and experience; members of Certified Association of Farm Advisors | CAFA | general | http://www.cafanet.ca | |
| Certified Crop Advisor | Experts in crops (agronomy) who combine their education with practical experience to provide advice to farmers, with the professional designation CCA | CCA | crop, general | http://ccaontario.com/ | |
| Chaff | Leftover straw from the year before that breaks down into the soil as organic matter | trash | general | ||
| Channel of distribution | The producers and distributors of products from a farm to a table | retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Chef | Someone who is charge of food production in a commercial kitchen of a restaurant, hotel, resort, hospital or cruise ship | restaurant | |||
| Chef de Cuisine | The hands-on leader in a restaurant kitchen | Master Chef | restaurant | https://study.com/articles/difference_between_executive_chef_chef_de_cuisine.html | |
| Chevon | Meat from adult goats | goat, food | |||
| Chick | Newly hatched chickens, until 3 weeks of age | chicken, egg | |||
| Chicken catcher | Specialized job for catching chickens to load onto trucks for market | chicken, turkey, egg | |||
| Chop | Cut vegetables into large squares | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Chute | Narrow passage between gates or fences to herd animals through | beef, dairy | |||
| Cider | Alcohol made from fermented fruit juice, most commonly apple | processor, beverage, fruit | |||
| Cidery | A place where cider is made commercially | processor, beverage, fruit | |||
| Circular economy | Limiting waste and pollution by reusing products and materials | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Clean energy | Energy made without burning fossil fuels | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Climate change | Any major change in temperature and other weather patterns for an long period of time | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Cockerel | Young, male chicken | chicken | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Code of Practice | guidelines that help meet necessary legislation and spell out standards, such as for animal care or environment. | general | |||
| Cold house | Type of greenhouse that is not heated for plants that can survive frost | fruit, vegetable | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Colostrum | First milk that animals produce after they give birth. An important food source for the newborn to help build immunity. | dairy, beef, sheep, goats, veal | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Combine | Large piece of farm equipment that cuts crops like corn or wheat or beans, and separates the grain from the stalk. (Pronounced like calm-bine.) | crop | |||
| Commercially sterile | Part of food processing step where heat or other treatments are used to make sure food is safe to eat | processor | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Commodity | A good that can be traded, bought or sold. Sometimes organizations representing farmers that grow certain products are called 'commodiy groups' | general | |||
| Commodity organization | A group that represents farmers that grow a certain product | commodity group | general | ||
| Community Supported Agriculture | Community members come together to grow local food, often gardens | CSA | general | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | |
| Condiment | Anything used to season foods and enhance flavour | restaurant, retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Conservation tillage | Seed planting technique with little disruption to soil, with 30% of stubble or residue from last year's crop on the field. | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/category/growing-crops/conservation-tillage | |||
| Conservation tillage | Farming method that avoids deeply working up the ground (ie. plowing). Used to prevent soil erosion. | no-till | crop, fruit, vegetable | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Consumer | A shopper or customer that is the end link in the food chain | general | |||
| Container | Any type of outer covering used to hold or transport food | retail, restaurant | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Contaminated | any food that might make people sick or is unsuitable for people to eat | general | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Contour farming | Planting, cultivating and harvesting across a slope to follow the elevation of a field and reduce soil erosion | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Contract grower | Farmers who are paid to care for animals without owning them | beef, pig, general | |||
| Contract Grower | A farmer who gets paid based on an agreement with a company, usually food companies or marketing firms for growing and supplying a specific crop or type of animal | crop, fruit, vegetable, pig, beef | http://www.fao.org/3/Y0937E/y0937e02.htm | ||
| Control measure | An action taken to prevent risks of food contamination | retail, restaurant | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Controlled atmosphere stunning | Exposing animals to a mix of gases, commonly with carbon dioxide, to cause unconsciousness or death | CAS | general | ||
| Convenience food | Frozen or microwavable foods that are easy to make | processor, retail, restaurant | |||
| Convenience store | Small, easy-access food store with less choices | retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Conventional farming | A method of farming that focuses on growing crops and animals for profit, while using modern technologies. | convential agriculture | general | ||
| Conveyance | A vessel, aircraft, train or motor vehicle used to transport goods | processor, general, retail | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Coop | Chicken barn or housing (rhymes with soup) | chicken, egg | |||
| Cooperative | A business structure in which many people own shares of a company together. There are a number of farmer-owned cooperatives. | farmers co-op, co-op | general | https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/agricultural-cooperative | |
| Corn | Type of crop that is planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. The varieties grown for animal feed are different from the varieties of sweet corn people eat. | sweet corn, cow corn | crop, vegetable | ||
| Corn fed | An animal feeding program that uses grain corn as a main source of nutrients in the late part of an animal's life. Corn fed programs typically help add more fat or marbling to add taste and tenderness to the meat. | dairy, beef, chicken | |||
| Country of origin labelling | In Canada there are mandatory requirements to declare country of origin on certain food labels. | COOL | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/information-for-consumers/fact-sheets-and-infographics/country-of-origin/eng/1329519448771/1329519600512 | ||
| Cover crop | Plants used to cover the ground in between the harvest and planting of main crops. Helps to protect from soil erosion and may also add nutrients. | crop, general | |||
| Coveralls | One piece protective clothing, with long or short sleeves; also a type of building put up with a tarp covering. | general | |||
| Cow/Calf farm | Type of beef farm that raises cows and their calves. When the calves are weaned from the cows, they are sold to another farm to be raised to heavier market weights. | cow calf operation, beef farm | beef | ||
| Craft beer | Made with traditional and non-traditional ingredients by craft breweries | retail, restaurant, beverage | |||
| Craft brewery | Independently owned, licensed by government, produces no more than 400,000 HL of beer, often with a strong sense of community and authenticity. | retail, restaurant | https://ccba-ambc.org/about/ | ||
| Craft wine | Made by independently owned wineries, often with a focus on local ingredients and community | retail, restaurant, beverage | |||
| Crate | Container to hold suppolies; or a small pen for animals. A sow crate is a term used for the pen when a sow has piglets to prevent her from lying on her young, or to house female pigs 'gestation crates' while pregnant. | sow stall, gestation stall, farrowing crate, farrowing pen | pig, general | https://animal-welfare.extension.org/animal-welfare-glossary-of-terms/ | |
| Cream | Beating ingredients until they are smooth and fluffy (usually sugar and a fat) | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Creep Feeder | Type of feeder designed for putting feed in for young animals to introduce them to eating solid food. | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, veal | |||
| Creep Feeding | Giving feed to young animals that are still nursing so they learn to eat in an adult environment | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, veal | |||
| CRISPR | An acronym for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. Like a molecular scalpel that allows very precise cutting of DNA to achieve goals like disease prevention or healthier food. | CRISPR | gene editing | general | https://www.bestfoodfacts.org/what-is-crispr/ |
| Crop | Plants grown to feed people or provide fuel or fibre. Examples include corn, wheat, soybeans, hay, fruit, vegetables. | crop | |||
| Crop rotation | The pattern of planting different crops each year to improve soil health and control pests | crop, general, fruit, vegetables | |||
| Crush facilities | Companies that crush oilseeds such as canola or soybeans to extract oil | processor, crop | https://copacanada.com/at-a-glance/ | ||
| Cube | Cutting food into small cubes, about 1/2 inch | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Cuisine | a style of cooking, characteristic of a particular country, region or establishment | general, restaurant, grocery | |||
| Cull | An animal that isn't fit to keep that needs to be sold or euthanized, often due to health or age | beef, dairy, sheep, goat, chicken, turkey, egg, pig, veal | |||
| Culinary | Related to cooking - the cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking, and presentation of food | culinary arts | general, restaurant | ||
| Cultivar | Type of a plant that has been created through breeding | crop | https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/cultivar | ||
| Cultivator | Farm equipment that breaks up the soil finely to prepare it for planting. | crop | |||
| Custom Applicator | Professional who works specifically in applying chemicals or fertilizers to crops for other farmers' fields | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Custom Operator | Professional who is paid to operate their farm equipment on other farmers' land | general, crop | https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/html/a3-15.html#:~:text=An%20alternative%20to%20leasing%20farmland%20is%20custom%20farming.,keeps%20all%20of%20the%20crop%20and%20commodity%20payments. | ||
| Daily value | List of vitamins, minerals and nutrients found on a food label | DV | retail, restaurant | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | |
| Dairy breeds | Type of cows raised for milk production, most commonly Holstein (black and white), Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Milking Shorthorn. | dairy | |||
| Dash | 1/8 of a teaspoon | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Dead on arrival | Animals that don't make it to their final destination on truck | DOA | beef, dairy, pig, chicken, turkey, egg, veal | ||
| Dehorning | Removal of horns or horn buds of calves and goats. Used for safety reasons for people and animals. | dairy, beef, goat | https://animal-welfare.extension.org/animal-welfare-glossary-of-terms/ | ||
| Demurage | Cost to a farmer when a vessel sits at a port before being loaded | general | |||
| Dessicate | A drying agent is applied to crops to end plant growth for ideal harvest | general, crop | |||
| Dice | Cutting food into small pieces, usually 1/4 to 1/8 chunks | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Dioecious | A plant that has either male reproductive parts OR female productive parts | crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Direct seeding | Planting seeds with the goal to improve soil moisture and conservation, with no tilling in the spring before planting. | crop | https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3483/$file/570-7.pdf?OpenElement | ||
| Disc harrows | Farm equipment that breaks up the soil to prepare it for planting | harrows | crop | ||
| Distillery | A place where liquor is made commercially | processor, beverage | |||
| Distribution | Chain of delivery from a manufacturer to a store | retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Distribution Center | A warehouse used to recieve, store and ship products to retailers | retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Distributor | Person or company that supplies products to a retailer | processor | |||
| DNA | deoxyribonucleic acid, the carrier of genetic information in all living plants or animals. | DNA | general | ||
| DNA Barcoding | Species identification using a short section of DNA from a specific gene or genes | general | |||
| Doe | Female goat | goat | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Doeling | Young, female goat | goat | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Dollop | Spoonful of semi-solid food like sour cream, put on top of another food | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Dredge | Lightly coat uncooked food with a dry mixture like flour or bread crumbs to be pan fried | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Dress | Coat foods with a sauce, like a salad | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Drinkers | Water lines in barns for animals to drink from. | pig, turkey, chicken, dairy, beef, veal, egg | |||
| Drip irrigation | Irrigation that brings water directly to plant roots through a small plastic tube | crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Drizzle | Pouring a liquid, usually melted butter, oil or syrup, back and forth in a fine stream over a dish | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Dry cow | A cow that was was once milking regularly but is now waiting to give birth and is not producing milk. Usually a period of around 60 days. | dairy | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Dulse | Collected in Atlantic Canada, dried and sold as a snack or seasoning | red laver | retail, restaurant, food | ||
| Dust | Lightly coat a food with a powdery ingredient like confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| E.Coli 0157:H7 | A bacteria that lives harmlessly in cows but is deadly for humans if it's eaten | general | |||
| Ear tag | a tag put in farm animals ears to help identify them with numbers or letters, can be with a adio frequency chip or just written/printed on. | RFID | RFID tags | dairy, beef, sheep, goats, veal | |
| Ecosystem | A biological community of organisms and their environment. | ||||
| Ecosystem services | The direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being | ecological goods and services | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | |
| Eel | Long fish with only one bone that were once commonly found in fresh and salt water, always served cooked. | retail, restaurant, food | |||
| Elevator | A building or series of buildings designed to stockpile or store grain. Also can be a conveyor that moves grain or bales of hay or straw up to a higher level. | grain elevator, hay elevator | crop, general | ||
| Energy efficiency ratio | A number used to represent energy stored in fuel compared to the energy required to produce, process, transport and distribute that fuel | general, processor | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Enriched foods | Nutrients that were lost during processing and are added back later | processor, retail, restaurant, food | https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/fortified-and-enriched-foods#1 | ||
| Environmental Farm Plan | Personal assessment of on-farm environmentally-friendly practices, usually administered by a government agency. | EFP | general | http://find.gov.on.ca/?searchType=simple&owner=omaf&url=&collection=&offset=0&lang=en-ca&type=ANY&q=ENVIRONMENTAL+FARM+PLAN | |
| Environmental policy | Guiding principles around environment are used to make decisions | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Equine practitioner | Veterinarian that specializes in horses | horse vet | general | ||
| Ethanol fuel | Same kind of ethanol used in alcohol but used for fuel | general | |||
| Ewe | Female sheep that has had a lamb. Pronounced "you". | sheep | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Ewe Lamb | Female sheep that has not yet given birth. Pronounced "you". | sheep | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Executive Chef | The chef in charge of the entire kitchen staff of a restaurant | restaurant | |||
| Expiration date | A manufacturer's sell by date found on goods to show it's shelf life for nutrition, used on meal replacements and supplements. | retail, processor, restaurant, food | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/information-for-consumers/fact-sheets-and-infographics/date-labelling/eng/1332357469487/1332357545633 | ||
| Export | Sending food or products from Canada to a different country | general | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Facility | A building that people manufacture, prepare, store and label food or products | processor, retail, restaurant | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Factory Farm | A derogatory term coined by critics to describe large farms. | corporate farm, industrial farm, mega farm | general | ||
| Family Farm | Ownership of a farm by family members and may or may not be incorporated. Over 97% of farms in Canada are family owned. | general | |||
| Farmer | A person who raises animals or plants for food, fuel or fibre | producer, grower, rancher | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, crop, fruit, vegetable, veal, general | ||
| Farmers Market | Markets in which farmers sell their goods directly to consumers | general, retail | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Farming | the business of growing crops and raising farm animals | agriculture | general | ||
| Farrow | Pig term for giving birth | pig, general | |||
| Farrowing crate | A pen that houses female pigs (called sows) to give birth and nurse piglets. | farrowing stall, sow stall | pig | ||
| Farrowing stall | A pen that houses female pigs (called sows) to give birth and nurse piglets. | farrowing crate, pen, sow stall | |||
| Feed | Food made for animals from grain, hays, vitamins and minerals | animal nutrition | pig, dairy, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, veal | ||
| Feed mill | A manufacturer of animal feed | general | |||
| Feeder | container to hold animal feed | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, veal | |||
| Feeder Pig | A piglet after it's weaned from the sow | weaner pig, weanling | pig | ||
| Feeders | Feed machines that dispense animal feed | turkey, chicken | |||
| Feedlot | Type of farm with pens for raising animals to market weight. Typically used to decsribe a type of beef farm, but can also include sheep, goat and others. | beef | |||
| Fermentation | Chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria, yeasts or other micro-organisms | processor | |||
| Fertilizer | Any natural materials like manure or man-made materials that are added to soil to give plants more nutrients. | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Field | Reference to a particular area of land, commonly surrounded by a fence or other natural barriers to define it | general | |||
| Fillet | Cut the bones from a piece of meat, poultry or fish | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Finisher | Animals fed an energy-rich diet prior to going to market for sale as meat. Commonly used for pigs or cattle. | pig, beef | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/grass-fed-and-grain-finished-beef | ||
| Flambé | Drizzling a flammable alcohol over a food while its cooking (pronounced flam bay) | restaurant | |||
| Fleece | Sheep's wool after it has been taken off it's body | sheep | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Flock | Group of sheep OR a group of poultry | chicken, sheep | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Fold | Combining light ingredients, like whipped cream or beaten eggs whites, with a heavier mixture using an over-and-under motion | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Food additive | Any substance added to food that changes the taste, texture, smell or look of food | general, processor, food | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Food bank | Collects and distributes food to those in need | general, food | https://www.foodbankscanada.ca/ | ||
| Food citizenship | Food related behaviours that support a sustainable food system | general, food | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Food desert | Communities that have limited access to affordable and nutritious food | general, food | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Food insecurity | Not having constant access to affordable, healthy foods | general, food | |||
| Food law | The main legislature for food in Canada is the Food and Drugs Act (FDA), main focus on food safety | general, food | |||
| Food loss | Food that gets spilled, spoiled or lost usually during production, process or distribution. | general, food | |||
| Food miles | The distance an agricultural product is transported from production to consumption | processor, retail, restaurant, food | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Food preservation | Pickling, freezing, canning and drying are used to preserve foods | processor, food | |||
| Food processing | Raw foods are made to be eaten, cooked or stored | processor, food | |||
| Food system | All the stakeholders involved in growing, marketing and distributing food, from farm to table. | agri-food sector | general | ||
| Food waste | The loss of food that was fit for human consumption | processor, retail, restaurant, food | |||
| Forage | Plants, other than grain, grown for animal food. Could include hays or silage. | crop | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Foreign animal disease | Diseases caused by infectious agents currently exotic to Canada, with potential for rapid spread and immediate reaction by trading partners that seriously affects access of Canadian animals and animal products to foreign markets. Examples include Foot and Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever. | https://www.albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/content/biosecurity-practice-foreign-animal-disease-fad | |||
| Fortified foods | Nutrients that aren't naturally found in certain foods but are added | processor, retail, food | https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/fortified-and-enriched-foods#1 | ||
| Free range | where animals or birds have access to outside | turkey, chicken, egg, food | |||
| Free run | Type of barn that animals or birds can move around in to get feed, water and lay eggs. They do not go outside. | chicken, turkey, egg, food | |||
| Free stall dairy barn | Dairy barn styles in which cows are housed in large group pens that include stalls for cows to lay in. They move to a separate milking area. | dairy | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Freezer Beef | Common method of preserving and storing fresh beef; ordering a quarter or half of a beef animal for the freezer, common with direct from farm or butcher shops | retail, restaurant, beef | |||
| Freight | Cost to a farmer to transport grain by truck, vessel or train | general | |||
| Fungicide | Type of pesticide used to kill fungi | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | |||
| Furrow | A narrow groove made in the ground by a plow | general ,crop | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Garnish | A fresh herb or piece of fruit or vegetable used to decorate food | restaurant, food, retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'g'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Gene editing | Precisely adding, changing or removing piece of DNA to achieve a desired result, such as disease immunity. | Genome editing, CRISPR | general | https://www.bestfoodfacts.org/category/gene-editing/ | |
| Genetic engineering | Introducing genes from another species to an organism | GE | GMO, GM | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ |
| Genetic modification | Precisely changing the genetic traits of an organism through genetic engineering | GM | GMO, GE | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ |
| Genetically modified organism | Product of genetic modification, usually refering to genetic engineering. Realistically all plants and animals are genetically modified organisms. | GMO | GM, GE | general | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/what-are-gmos |
| Germination | When a seed begins to show signs of growth after being planted | crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Gestation | Length of pregnancy | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, general | |||
| Gestation crate | A pen that houses female pigs (called sows) while pregnant. | sow stall, sow crate, gestation stall | pig | ||
| Gestation stall | A pen that houses female pigs (called sows) while pregnant. | sow stall, sow crate, gestation crate | |||
| Gilt | Female pig that has never given birth | pig | |||
| Glasshouse | Another term for greenhouse, buildings used to grow plants to protect them from weather, often made of glass with mostly windows | greenhouse, hothouse | vegetable, restaurant | ||
| Glaze | Coat foods with mixtures such as jellies or sauces | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Global positioning system | Satellite images allow farmers to map fields precisely, then apply fertilizer or chemical or seeds according to the map. | GPS | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | ||
| Gluten | Gluten is present in wheat (including spelt and kamut), oats, barley, rye and triticale. | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-label-requirements/labelling/industry/allergens-and-gluten/eng/1388152325341/1388152326591?chap=2 | ||
| Gluten free | Labels on products without gluten | general, crop, food | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-label-requirements/labelling/industry/allergens-and-gluten/eng/1388152325341/1388152326591?chap=2 | ||
| Glyphosate | herbicide that kills weeds | Roundup | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | ||
| Grading | Describes the different categories of agricultural products to determine a sale price. | general, food | |||
| Graft | A piece cut from one living plant and attached to another plant so it grows in a new area | general, fruit | https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/cultivar | ||
| Grain corn | Varities of corn that are used for animal feed or industrial purposes such as sweeteners or ethanol. Different than sweet corn grown for people. | cow corn | crop | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Grain fed | Feeding animals grains such as corn, barley or wheat as they near their market weight. This helps to add more fat or marbling to add taste and tenderness to the meat. | CornFed | dairy, beef, chicken | ||
| Grain fed veal | Dairy breed calves fed a balanced diet that starts with milk and moves to grain like corn, raised to 650-700 lbs | red veal, veal | veal, beef, dairy | http://ontarioveal.on.ca/all-about-veal/the-real-deal-about-veal/ | |
| Grain finished | Cattle raised on grasses and forages but fed grain before they are sold to market for more marbling (fat) | beef, food | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/grass-fed-and-grain-finished-beef | ||
| Grass fed | Cattle that are raised to market weight with a diet of made up of mostly grasses. Also, the type of beef that comes from these cattle. | grass fed, grass finished | beef, food | ||
| Grass finished | Cattle that have are fed a diet of mostly grasses as they near their market weight. | grass fed | beef, food | ||
| Grate | Creates tiny pieces of food, best for things like cheese to melt quickly or a vegetable used in a sauce | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Grease | Coat the interior of a pan or dish with oil or butter to prevent food from sticking during cooking | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Green manure | Crops planted to be used as organic matter to improve soil health | general | |||
| Greenhouse | Buildings used to grow plants to protect them from weather, often made of glass with mostly windows | glasshouse, hothouse | fruit, vegetable | ||
| Grocery store | Retail store that sells a variety of food products | retail | |||
| Groundwater | Water within the earth that supplies wells and springs, making up the major source of water for Canadian farms. | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Grower | A person who grows crops or plants for food , fuel or gardens | farmer, producer | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | ||
| Growing season | Time of year that is best to grow plants | crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Gutter | Grooved trough in the floor of a barn used to collect manure and urine and dirty bedding | beef, dairy | |||
| Halal | Meat from animals slaughtered following Islamic law | retail, food processing | |||
| Handling facility | Specialized equipment with chutes, gates and usually a headgate to help handle animals safely | beef, dairy, pig | |||
| Harvest | At a certain time of year crops are cut and collected from the field; sometimes used to describe processing animals for meat. | crop, general, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Harvester | A machine used to harvest crops | combine | general | ||
| Hatch | When a new bird breaks out of an egg | turkey, chicken, egg | |||
| Hatchery | Buildings with incubators (heated equipment) to hatch eggs | turkey, chicken, egg | |||
| Hatching eggs | Fertlized eggs that are kept for producting more birds | turkey, chicken, egg | |||
| Hay | Mix of grasses, chopped and dried to be made into round or square bales for animal feed. Typically a greenish colour, often a mix of alfalfa, timothy, clover, grasses. | crop | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Haylage | Hay is cut, chopped and stored while it is still wet so it can ferment for animal feed. | crop | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Hazard analysis critical control point | Risk factors identified that should be managed to help reduce risk | HACCP | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Headgate | Piece of equipment used to hold cattle still for handling procedures like giving them vaccinations | beef, dairy | |||
| Heat | When a female animal is most fertile and ready to breed | general, dairy, beef, sheep, goat | |||
| Heat detection | Farmers look at their animals to determine which females might be ready to breed | general, beef, dairy, sheep, goats | |||
| Heat units | |||||
| Hectare | Metric unit used to measure size of a field or farm. 1 hectare = 10, 000 square meters or 2.47 acres. Most Canadian farmers prefer to use acres. | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Heifer | Young female cow that has not given birth | beef, dairy | |||
| Herbicide | Type of pesticide used to kill weeds and plants. | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Herring | Small, fatty fish that move in huge schools | general, retail, restaurant | |||
| High clearance sprayer | Farm equipment with narrow wheels and set high up from the ground to be able to spray growing crops | crop | |||
| Highbush blueberries | Blueberry plants that have been cultivated to grow larger berries than what is found in the wild (lowbush) | fruit, retail, restaurant | |||
| Honey bees | Insect that produces honey, plays a major role in crop/plant pollination | general | |||
| Hops | Used to add aroma and flavour when brewing beer | crop, processor | https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/hops | ||
| Horticulturalist | A farmer or person that specializes in growing fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants | crop, fruit, vegetable | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Horticulture | Growing and harvesting plants used for food or decorative use | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | |||
| Hothouse | Another term for greenhouse, buildings used to grow plants to protect them from weather, often made of glass with mostly windows | greenhouse, glasshouse | fruit, vegetable | ||
| Hybrid | Plants produced by crossing two or more types of plant genes, or an animal that is at least two different breeds. | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Hybrid vigour | When two or more breeds of animals or plants are combined to get a better offspring. | general | |||
| Hydroponics | Method of growing plants without soil in a water-based solution with added nutrients | general | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Icewine | Dessert wine made by pressing frozen grapes and processing them into wine | processor, retail, restaurant | |||
| Identity preserved | Maintaining unique traits or quality characteristics of a crop right from seed through transportation, handling until processing. | IP | crop | https://csi-ics.com/what-identity-preserved | |
| Import | Bringing food products into Canada from a different country | general | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Incubator | A plan that manages pests in crops and involves more than one control method, aiming to be both environmentally and economically sound | turkey, chicken, egg | |||
| Indigenous food plants | Food and medicinal plants used in Indigenous culture, forming the basis of First Nations' culinary world | retail, restaurant, food | |||
| Input Supplier | Company that sells products to farmers to help grow crops or animals | retail | |||
| Inputs | Products needed to grow a crop or farm animals, such as fertilizers, seeds, feed. | general | |||
| Insecticide | Type of pesticide used to kill insects. | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture | successful mimicking a natural food chain, finfish, shellfish and marine plants are grown together | IMTA | general | https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/sci-res/imta-amti/index-eng.htm | |
| Integrated pest management | Using more than one control method in a program that is economically and environmentally sound | IPM | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| International Barcode of Life | Globally accessible system of discovery and identification of multi-cellular life using DNA barcoding | general | |||
| Irrigation | Applying water to plants to give them more water | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | |||
| Julienne | Cutting vegetables until long, thin strips. About 1/4 inch thick and 1 inch long | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Kelp | Seaweed (sea vegetable) | vegetable, food, restaurant | |||
| Kid | Newborn goat | goat | |||
| Kill Floor | The part of a meat processing company where the animals are moved to be stunned and the start of meat processing begins | pig, beef, chicken, sheep, goat, veal | |||
| Knead | The process of mixing dough with hands or a mixer | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Kosher | Kosher is a Hebrew word meaning “fit”. The Torah lays down guidelines for what’s fit – kosher, for a Jew to eat – and what’s not. Kosher is divided into three categories: Meat, dairy and pareve. | general | https://mk.ca/kosher-guide/kosher-101-2/ | ||
| Kosher | Food that is prepared by following Jewish requirements | restaurant, processor, retail | |||
| Kosher meat | Kosher meat must come from an animal that chews its cud and has split hooves. (Cows, sheep and goats are kosher; rabbits are not). | https://mk.ca/kosher-guide/kosher-101-2/ | |||
| Lactation | Milk from an animal that has given birth, and the length of time she gives milk until she has another offspring or weans the current ones. Commonly used in a the dairy sector. For example, a cow in her 5th lactation has calved 5 times. The verb is "lactate". | dairy | |||
| Lairage | Area where animals are held in a meat processing plant before slaughter | beef, dairy, pigs, chicken, turkey, egg, sheep, goat, veal, processor | |||
| Lamb | Young sheep under one year old; the meat from young sheep | sheep | http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/meatinsp/accuratelabelling.htm | ||
| Lambing | When a sheep is giving birth to a lamb | sheep | |||
| Land-based aquaculture | Growing fish in tanks (contained systems) on land | general, aquaculture | |||
| Laying hen | Type of femaie chicken that lays eggs meant for humans to eat | layer | chicken, egg | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design | A green building certification program used world wide to builders use environmental standards | LEED | general | ||
| Legume | Crops that produce a seed or pod; well-known legumes include alfalfa, clover, beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, soybeans, and peanuts. Legumes are grown for food, animal feed or to be put back into the soil for fertlizer (called green manure). | crop, vegetable, food | |||
| Lentils | Small beans that are cooked and eaten, called a 'pulse' crop. | crop, food | http://www.pulsecanada.com/about-pulse-canada/what-is-a-pulse/ | ||
| Litter | Group of piglets born at one time from the same sow; or plant/leaf/crops on top of soil | pig | |||
| Livestock | Domesticated farm animals that produce product like meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather and wool. | farm animal | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, veal | ||
| Local food | Focussing on the distribution part of the supply chain, shorter distances between the farmer and the food buyer. Can be defined by region, province or country. | general | http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/localfood.htm | ||
| Local food systems | Food systems defined by close links and face-to-face interactions between farmers and food buyers | general, food | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Lowbush blueberries | Low growing shrub that grows wild naturally in North America and produces tasty blueberries | wild blueberries | fruit, food | ||
| Malt | Grain that is left in water until it begins to sprout. It is then dried and used to make beer and whiskey | crop, processor, beverage | https://www.beercanada.com/expert-advice/malting-and-brewing-specialists/about-malt | ||
| Malting | Process that converts hard cereal grains, usually barley, into malt. | processor, crop | https://www.beercanada.com/expert-advice/malting-and-brewing-specialists/about-malt | ||
| Manufacture | To make or process a raw material into a product | processor | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Manure | Poop from animals, often used to fertilize plants with nutrients and organic matter. | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat | |||
| Marginal land | Land that is too hilly, wet and low quality for growing crops. Often used for pasturing sheep, goats, or cattle. It's estimated 2/3 of the world's farmland is marginal. | general | |||
| Marinate | To soak in a sauce or flavoured liquid for a long period of time. Usually a meat, poultry or fish | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Market hog | Pig raised for meat production (typically weighs up to 110kg) | market pig, fat hog | pig | ||
| Market weight | The target weight for growing an animal to send to slaughter | finished | pig, beef, turkey, chicken, sheep, goat, veal | ||
| Master chef | The main chef in a kitchen; Certified Master Chef is the highest designation a chef can attain. | restaurant | |||
| Maximum residue limit | Requirement for trace levels of pesticide residue to make sure food is safe to eat | fruit, vegetable, food | |||
| Microbe | Microorganism that can cause sickness | general, food | |||
| Milk fed veal | Dairy breed calves fed a balanced diet based on milk and raised to 450-500 lbs | white veal, veal | veal, beef, dairy, food | http://ontarioveal.on.ca/all-about-veal/the-real-deal-about-veal/ | |
| Milk replacer | Dried milk powder to feed young animals, made with different nutrients for each type of animal | dairy, sheep, goat | |||
| Milking parlour | Separate area in a dairy barn designed for milking cows. | dairy | https://www.farmfood360.ca/en/dairycowfarms/voluntary-milking-system/ | ||
| Mince | To cut as small as possible, most commonly used with garlic | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Minimum distance separation | Recommended or regulated distance between livestock housing and other land use such as houses or waterways. | MDS | general | http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/landuse/mds.htm | |
| Minimum tillage | Seed planting technique with little disruption to soil, with 30% of stubble or residue from last year's crop on the field. | Min-till | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/category/growing-crops/conservation-tillage | ||
| Mixed load | Shipping two or more goods in one load | general | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Modular loading | A handling system for transporting birds from the farm to processing facilities. Modules are a series of molded plastic drawers set in a frame of welded metal tubing. | turkey, chicken, egg general | http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/poultry/facts/16-037.htm | ||
| Monoculture | Growing only one kind of plant in one area year after year | crop, fruit, vegetable | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Monoecious | Plants that have both the male and female reproductive parts | crop, vegetable, fruit | |||
| Monogastric | Farm animals with one stomach, usually referring to pigs and poultry | pig, chicken, turkey, egg | |||
| Moulting | Seasonal shedding of skin or bird feathers | forced moulting | chicken, egg | ||
| Moving Board | Large flat board that people hold while moving farm animals that creates a visual of a "solid wall" | pig | |||
| Mutton | Meat from mature sheep | sheep, food | |||
| Native grassland | Land that has never been cultivated (to loosen or break up the soil) and are still populated by the native grasses, plants and shrubs that ‘came with the place’. | beef | http://www.cattle.ca http://www.crsb.ca | ||
| Natural capital | The world's stock of natural resources, such as water and land. | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Natural food | Nothing artificial has been added to a food . NOT the same as organic, there is no standard for the term natural. | general, retail, restaurant, food | |||
| Natural health products | Food with added vitamins and minerals | NHP | general, food, beverage | https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/foods-marketed-natural-health-products.html | |
| Nematocide | Type of pesticide used to kill nematodes | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | |||
| Nematode | Common soil pests that can damage plant health | crop, general, vegetable, fruit | |||
| Neonicotinoids | Type of insecticide used to protect crops, fruits or vegetables. | neonics | crop, fruit, vegetable | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/neonics | |
| Nitrogen | Major nutrient in plant fertlizer and manure, often with phosphorous and potassium (N,P,K) | N | crop, fruit, vegetable | ||
| Non-ambulatory | Animals that are not able to walk on their own | downed | beef, sheep, goat, general | ||
| No-till | Seed planting technique with very little disruption to soil, with 70-75% of last year's crops stubble left on the field. See minimum till. | zero-till | crop, general | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/category/growing-crops/conservation-tillage | |
| Nutrient | Any necessary compound for the growth of a living thing. Examples are fertilizers and manure for plants, and protein for animals. | crop, general | |||
| Nutrient leaching | The loss of nutrients, usually carried away by the flow of water. | run off | crop, general | ||
| Nutrient management | Applying the right amount of fertilizers and manure at the right time to make sure plants are uptaking these nutrients and to minimize nutrient leaching | crop, general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Nutrient management plan | Farm plan designed to properly store and apply manure and fertilizer effectively while being environmentally responsible. | NMP | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, crop, veal, general | ||
| Oilseed | Crops grown for the oil within the seed, such as canola and soybeans | crop | |||
| On-Farm Food Safety Program | A program used on farms to make sure that all risks to food safety are identified and controlled | general | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Orchardist | Someone who grows fruit trees | fruit | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Organic | Related to living matter in general. Also used to describe a type of farming and food production method that does not use man-made fertilizers or pesticides. | general | http://www.cog.ca | ||
| Organic farming | Type of farming that follows standards such as avoiding man-made fertilizers or man-made pesticides. | organic agriculture, organic production | general | https://www.cog.ca/home/about-organics/what-is-organic/ | |
| Organic food | Grown on organic farms meeting specific standards and inspections | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, crop, fruit, vegetable, general | https://www.cog.ca/home/about-organics/what-is-organic/ | ||
| Organic matter | Comes from animals or plants and their waste, very helpful for soil health. Examples would be manure or corn stalks. | general, crop | |||
| Organic pesticides | Pesticides that are mined from the ground, like soaps, sulfur or hydrogen peroxide. | crop, fruit, vegetable | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/category/pesticides | ||
| Ornamental plants | flowers that are grown for decoration and gardens | ornamentals | general | https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1142638.pdf | |
| Ovine | Relating to sheep | sheep | sheep | ||
| Pack barn | Barns with large pens bedded with straw or sawdust for animals to rest or walk on | dairy | |||
| Pack date | The date a food was packaged | packaged on date | processor | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/information-for-consumers/fact-sheets-and-infographics/date-labelling/eng/1332357469487/1332357545633 | |
| Pan Fry | Cook larger chunks of food over meadium-heat, ideally flipping once only | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Parboil | To partially cook by boiling, usually to prepare the food before cooking another way | blanch | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | |
| Partridgeberries | Tart red berry, commonly found across boreal Canada | lingonberries | fruit, food | ||
| Pastry Chef | A cook that specializes in making desserts, like cakes and pastries | retail, restaurant | https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/pastry_chef | ||
| Pastuerize | To quickly heat up milk or juice to a high temperature and then cool it in order to kill bacteria or other potentially harmful substances. | dairy, fruit | |||
| Pasture | Field used for grazing animals like cattle, sheep or goats | dairy, beef, sheep, goat, crop | |||
| Pasture raised | Animals who have been raised on mostly grasses. There is no standard around this definition. | beef, sheep, goat, general | |||
| Peak demand | A period of strong demand for specific goods | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Permaculture | Permanent agriculture working with nature in a holistic approach | general | |||
| Pesticide | Chemical used to destroy pests (includes fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and nematocides) | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Phosphorous | Major nutrient in manure and plant fertlizer, often with nitrogen and potassium (N,P,K) | P | crop, fruit, vegetable | ||
| Photosynthesis | The process of plants using sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen | crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Piglet | Newborn pig (weighs 1-2kg) | pig | |||
| Pinch | Approximately 1/16 of a teaspoon | restaurant | |||
| Plant breeders rights | Legal protection to plant for new plant varieties | general | |||
| Plant breeding | Creating new crop varieties for certain traits like drought resistance or improved nutrition. Traditional plant breeding uses plants with the desired traits to propogate or cross with others. See genetic modification and gene editing. | Genetic modification, gene editing | general, crop | ||
| Ploughing | Working up soil to prepare for planting. Typically done after harvest in the fall or winter. (Plow rhymes with cow). | plowing | general, crop | ||
| Poach | Cook gently over very low heat, in barely simmering water just to cover | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Point of sale | time and place where a retail transaction is completed | POS | retail | ||
| Polled | Animals that are naturally born without horns, even though others have them. It includes some cattle or goats. | dairy, beef, goat | |||
| Pollination | Transferring pollen from the male part of a plant to the female part of a plant, making more seeds for future production | crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Pollinator | Animals that move pollen from one part of a plant to another part to help them make fruit or seeds. Bees are a common example. | general | |||
| Polyculture | Growing more than one type of plant in one space at a time | crop, fruit, vegetable | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Pork producers | Farmers that raise pigs. | hog farmer, pig farmer | pig | ||
| Potash | Naturally occuring mineral, used to boost soil fertility | fertilizer | general, crops | ||
| Potassium | Major nutrient in manure and plant fertlizer, often with phosphorous and nitrogen(N,P,K) | K | crop, fruit, vegetable | ||
| Poultry | Birds farmed for food use, typically chickens, turkeys, ducks or geese | turkey, chicken, egg | |||
| Poultry Practitioner | Veterinarian that specializes in chickens, turkeys, ducks | turkey, chicken, egg | |||
| Poults | Young turkeys from the time they hatch until 14 days old | turkey | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Poutine | French fries with gravy and cheese curds is the basic recipe. Additional toppings like bacon or smoked meat can be added. | general, food | |||
| Precision agriculture | Farming using innovative technology such as GPS, drones, sensors, soil sampling and precision machinery to grow crops more efficiently. | general | |||
| Prepare | To process, treat, preserve, handle, test, cook or grade product for human use | processor, retail, restaurant | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Preserve | To maintain the condition of a food | processor | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Primary production | Growing, cultivating, picking, harvesting, collecting or catching food | general | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Process | Food that has had anything done to it, such as peeled, cooked, bagged | general, processor | |||
| Processing step | A step in the production chain to make food and beverage for retail | processor | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Processor | food or beverage company | food company, food processor | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, crop, fruit, vegetable, veal, general, processor | ||
| Procurement | Sourcing products and supplies | general | |||
| Prod | Rod-shaped, usually electrified device for people to move animals OR the verb used when moving animals | dairy, beef, pig, processor | https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cattle-prod | ||
| Produce | Fresh fruits or vegetables OR the verb to grow | fruit, vegetable, food | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'m'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Producer | Another word for farmer, originally termed food producer. | farmer, rancher, grower | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, crop, fruit, vegetable, veal, general | ||
| Product of | The words 'product of' must be declared on imported meat products | general, food | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-label-requirements/labelling/industry/meat-and-poultry-products/eng/1393979114983/1393979162475?chap=7 | ||
| Provenance | The location of a specific food or beverage | general, food, beverage | |||
| Pullet | Young, female chicken | chicken, egg | |||
| Pullet farms | Farm that raises female chicks until they are old enough to lay eggs. They are then moved to a layer farm. | chicken, egg | |||
| Pulse | Dried edible seeds of certain plants in the legume family. The four main types of pulses grown in Canada are dry peas, lentils, beans and chickpeas. To be a pulse, it has to be dried. | legumes | crop | http://www.pulsecanada.com/about-pulse-canada/what-is-a-pulse/ | |
| Puree | To mash or grind food until completely smooth (pronounced pure ay) | ||||
| Quality assurance | Programs and practices that focus on topics like food safety, animal health, environment or animal welfare. Many specific sectors have their own program with different names and specs. | QA | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, crop, fruit, vegetable, veal, general | https://www.milk.org/Corporate/Content.aspx?id=361 | |
| Quota | A license that farmers buy in order to produce their share of the market for supply-managed products in Canada (dairy and poultry) | supply management | dairy, turkey, chicken, egg | ||
| Radio frequency identification tags | Tags identify individual animals when scanned by a computer reader in the animals ear or on a chain around their neck. | RFID | RFID Tag | general, beef, dairy, sheep, goat, veal | |
| Rail car | Used for the transportation of grain by railway | general | |||
| Ram | Male sheep | sheep | |||
| Rancher | A person who raises cattle. A term more common in Western provinces or states. | farmer, producer | beef, general | ||
| Ration | A mix of feeds for animals that provide a specific amount of nutrients; or a portion of food for people | general, beef, dairy, sheep, goat, veal | |||
| Raw material | The basic material from which a product is made | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Ready-to-eat | Prepared foods in packages | general, food | |||
| Rear | To breed and raise animals | pig, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, beef, dairy | |||
| Recall | The removal of a food from continued sale or use, commonly due to a safety or quality concern | retail, restaurant, food | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Red Seal Chef | Designed to create a national standard to make sure that everyone gets the same level of training across provinces. | restaurant | |||
| Red veal | Dark pink meat that comes from grain fed veal raised to 650-700 lbs | grain fed veal, veal | veal, beef, dairy | http://ontarioveal.on.ca/all-about-veal/the-real-deal-about-veal/ | |
| Regenerative agriculture | Type of farming that focuses on rebuilding healthy soils and ecosystems | general | |||
| Research Stations | Facilities built to conduct research a certain crop or animal, often associated with a university or college | research farms | general | ||
| Residue | A small amount that remains, such as antibiotics in meat or pesticides on plants | general, crops, vegetables, dairy, beef, chicken, veal, egg | |||
| Retail | The sale of food to be eaten or drank | retail, restaurant | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Riparian | The area along the bank of a river or stream | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Roast | Cook food in an oven using dry heat. Similar to baking but with meat or poultry. | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Roaster chicken | Larger chicken raised for meat to weights over 2.65kg | chicken | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Robotic milker | Robot technology used to milk cows | automatic milking, robot | dairy | https://www.farmfood360.ca/en/dairycowfarms/voluntary-milking-system/ | |
| Rooster | Male chicken | chicken | |||
| Roughage | Feed high in fiber but low in digestible nutrients and energy. Examples include hay (dried grasses). | crop | https://animal-welfare.extension.org/animal-welfare-glossary-of-terms/ | ||
| Ruminant | Four-stomached animals that chew their cud and include cows, goats, sheep and bison. | dairy, beef, sheep, goat, veal | |||
| Runt | Smallest animal in the litter, typically referrring to pigs | pig | |||
| Rural Extension | Support system for farmers to tackle challenges in agriculture (ie. experts and information resources to help improve practices) | general | |||
| Sauté | Cooking small pieces of food over a medium-high heat with oil in a pan, usually to brown food (pronounced sot ay) | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Scald | Heat liquid almost to a boil, until bubbles begin forming just around the edge | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Sear | To brown the surface of meat by quick-cooking over high heat in order to seal in the meat's juices | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Section | A large unit of land of 640 acres or 240 hectares. Farms in Western Canada are commonly measured in sections or quarter sections. | general | |||
| Shear | To cut the sheep's fleece (wool) off with clippers, rhymes with hear | sheep | |||
| Shelf life | The time a product will keep its best freshness | best-before date | retail, restaurant, processor, food | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'m'-supermarket-terms | |
| Shellfish | Fish species that wear their skeleton on the outside of their body. Includes crabs, lobster, clams, oysters and mussels | retail, restaurant, food | |||
| Shipping | The transport of animals or goods, often by truck, rail or ship | general | |||
| Shred | Using a grater with larger holes, resulting in long, strips to cook or melt | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Side dress | To put fertilizer on or in the soil near the roots of plants | crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Silage | Animal feed where the whole grain plant is harvested when it is still green and stored wet so it can ferment. Examples include corn silage, haylage. Stored in silos or plastic. | haylage | crop | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Silo | Used to store animal feed. Most commonly used to describe the tall, cylindrical shaped structre near some barns. Also see Bunker. | bunker | crop | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Simmer | Bring a pot to a boil, then reduce the heat until there are no bubbles | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Skim | To remove fat or foam from the surface of a liquid | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Slatted floors | Barn floor designed with small open spaces for manure and urine to pass through, while animals can still walk over top. | slats | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Slice | Cut vertically down, thickness sometimes specified by a recipe | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Slow moving vehicle | Orange triangle sign used on the back of farm equipment to warn motorists of slow moving vehicles | general | |||
| Small plot intensive farming | Farming in urban settings on small pieces of land at high productivity | SPIN Farming | vegetable, general | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | |
| Smidgen | Approximately 1/32 of a teaspoon | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Snood | The fleshy growth that hangs from the beak of a turkey | turkey | |||
| Soil erosion | When soil moves from a field by wind or water | general, crop | |||
| Soil health | The overall quality of soil to support plant growth | general, crop | https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/epw16322/$FILE/01-Newton-Lupwayi.pdf | ||
| Soil type | The texture of the soil based on percentage of sand, silt and clay. | crop, general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Solar power | Converting sunlight into electricity, commonly in large panels on roofs or stand alone | general | |||
| Somatic cell count | A measurement for milk quality based on the number of cells per ml of milk, mostly made up of white blood cells. The goal is to have a low SCC. | SCC | dairy, goat | https://www.milk.org/Corporate/view.aspx?content=Farmers/SomaticCellCount | |
| Sommelier | A wine steward, often in charge of wines at a restaurant | restaurant | |||
| Sourdough | Type of bread made with wild yeast, flour and water | restaurant, retail, food | |||
| Sous Chef | Chef who is second in command or the head chef's assistant | restaurant | |||
| Sow | Adult female pig (rhymes with cow) OR to plant a crop (rhymes with toe) | pig, crop, general | |||
| Sow stall | A pen that houses female pigs (called sows) while she's pregnant. This is different than a farrowing pen where she gives birth and nurses piglets. | sow crate, farrowing stall, pen | pig | ||
| Spent hen | Hens at the end of their laying cycle, typically used for meat | end of lay hen | |||
| Spray | Application of pesticides to crops as a form of protection from bugs or weeds; always mixed with a high percentage of water | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Spray drift | When pesticides are applied away from the intended target | general, crop, vegetable, fruit | |||
| Spring wheat | Wheat planted in the spring and harvested in the late summer | crop | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Squab | meat from pigeons | general, food | |||
| Stable cleaner | Automated equipment that moves through a barn to push manure and urine out and away from the animals | beef, dairy | |||
| Staging | Describes the growth of plants from emergence to each leaf, often used for crops to determine when it is best to spray with pesticide | stage | general, crop | ||
| Stake truck | Truck used to haul livestock, one level with a ramp | general | |||
| Steam | Cooking food on a rack or in a steamer set over boiling water | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Steep | To soak a dry ingredient in a liquid just under the boiling point to bring the flavour out. For example with tea | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Steer | Castrated male bovine (cow) | dairy, beef | |||
| Stew | To cook covered over low heat in a liquid for a long period of time | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Straw | the stalk of plants, like wheat, that is cut and dried, usually a yellowish colour. Often used for farm animal bedding to keep barns warm and dry. | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, crop, veal, general | |||
| Stun | Make an animal unconscious or unable to feel pain | beef, pig, dairy, sheep, goat, veal | https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/stun | ||
| Stun Gun | Tool used in a meat processing plant to immediately make an animal unconscious and not be able to sense pain | Captive-bolt gun | pig, beef, dairy, sheep, goats, veal | ||
| Sturgeon | Ancient fish that is found in fresh water, eggs are used for caviar | retail, restaurant, food | |||
| Subtherapeutic | Using a medicine in a small dose to prevent sickness or accelerate growth | general, beef, dairy, chicken, turkey, egg, pig, veal | |||
| Supply management | Canadian marketing system designed to manage the supply of cow milk, eggs, chicken, turkey and hatching eggs. The acronym SM5 means the five groups and products sold under supply management in Canada. | SM5 | quota System | dairy, turkey, chicken, egg | https://www.mycanadianmilk.ca/what-is-supply-management |
| Sustainable | working towards improving for the future, typically with three pillars of economics, community and environment. | general | |||
| Sustainable agriculture | produce food while improving the natural environment, communities and providing economic value. Some programs have specific definitions of this term. | sustainable food, sustainable farming | general | http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/15-023.htm | |
| Sweet corn | Varieties of corn grown for people to eat. Different than grain corn grown for animals. | vegetable, food | |||
| Swine practitioner | Veterinarian that specializes in pigs | pig vet | pigs | ||
| Synthetic | Another word for man-made. Usually used to describe fertilizers or pesticides. | man-made | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | ||
| Tame grassland | Land that has been cultivated (to loosen or break up the soil) and then planted with introduced, or non native, species such as bromegrasses, timothy, orchardgrass or alfalfa. | beef, dairy | http://www.cattle.ca http://www.crsb.ca | ||
| Tank mix | When more than one crop protection product is mixed in the same tank and applied together | general | |||
| Teat | Organ where the milk comes out of the udder. Cows have four teats, sheep and goats have two. | dairy, beef. sheep, goat | |||
| Three Sisters | Corn, beans and squash played a large role in shaping Indigenous food systems and trade | crop, vegetable, food | |||
| Three site production | To keep animals in barns on three separate locations to help keep them healthy in barns designed for that age and size of animals. | pig | |||
| Tie-Stall dairy barn | Cows are tied in stalls next to each other, where they get fed, watered and milked all in the same spot. | tie stall | dairy | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Tile drainage | Pipes are buried to drain excess water from fields | tile drains | general, crops, vegetables | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Tilling | Working up soil to prepare for planting | cultivating, ploughing | general, crop, vegetable | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Tilth | The condition of soil and suitability for planting crops | general, crop, vegetable | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Tom | Adult, male turkey | turkey | |||
| Top dress | Spread manure or fertilizer on top of land without working it in | crop, vegetable, fruit | |||
| Total mixed ration | Balanced diet for cows all in one mixed feed | TMR | dairy, beef | ||
| Traceability | Tracking the movement of food in the supply chain. For example, being able to trace a piece of meat back to the farm it came from. | general | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| Tractor | Motor vehicle with large wheels, used on farms for many tasks such as pulling machinery | general | https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/tractor | ||
| Transparency | Honesty and openness of a government or business on practices | general | provision coalition | ||
| Transponder tag | A tag with a computer chip that can be read by a computer. It could show an animals feed or water intake, milk output or movement. Typically worn on the ear or on a chain like a necklace. | RFID tag | dairy, beef | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Treated | After an animal has been given a medication they are referred to as "treated" | general, dairy, beef, veal, sheep, goat | |||
| Tuber crop | Large part of the crop grows below the ground. Examples include potaoes and beets | vegetable | |||
| Udder | Organ where the milk is produced and stored | dairy, beef, sheep, goat, pig | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Unavoidable food waste | Material that humans cannot eat such as bones | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Urban agriculture | Growing or raising food at a small scale in a city | urban farming | general | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | |
| Value-added | Changing a product to enhance the value of it. For example milling grain into flour. | processor, food | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Veal | Meat that comes from young cattle under 180 kg, typically from male (bull) dairy breeds | grain fed veal, milk fed veal | veal, beef, dairy, food | http://ontarioveal.on.ca/all-about-veal/the-real-deal-about-veal/ | |
| Veal calf | Male bull calf that is raised for meat, typically dairy breeds | beef, veal, dairy | |||
| Ventilation | Fans and airflow that keep barns temperatures and humidity levels correct | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, general | |||
| Vertical value chain | A series of for-profit businesses that bring a good from production to consumption | general, processor | http://www.sustainablefoodsystems.ca/assets/general/Glossary%20of%20Terms%20August%202012.pdf | ||
| Vet-Client Relationship | Ongoing working relationship between farmers and veterinarians. | VCR | general | ||
| Veterinarian | A doctor for animals | vet | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat, general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | |
| Vintner | A producer of wine or wine merchant | general, fruit, beverage, processor | |||
| Vintners Quality Alliance | System that ensures quality standards and origins of Canadian wines | VQA | processor, fruit, beverage | https://www.winegrowerscanada.ca/canadian-wines/vqa-wines/ | |
| Viticulture | Growing and harvesting grapes for wine, from the latin word for vine | fruit, beverage, wine | |||
| Volunteer plants | When a plant from last year's seed comes up in the middle of a new crop (ie. one corn plant in a field of soybeans) | crop | |||
| Warehouse | Distribution center that orders, stores and ships products to retailers | retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Watershed | Area of land that collects and releases water into a single stream | general | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Wattle | The reddish-pink flesh-like covering on the throat and neck of a turkey, designed to release body heat | turkey | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Wean | When animals stop drinking their mother's milk and move to eating solid foods | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, general, veal | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Wet produce | Vegetables that need to sit on ice during transport and display | retail, vegetable | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Wether | Neutered male sheep | sheep | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Wether | Young castrated male sheep | sheep | |||
| Whip | To beat food with a whisk or mixer to incorporate air and increase volume | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Whisk | To beat ingredients with a fork or whisk | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| White veal | Light pink softer meat that comes from milk fed veal | milk fed veal, veal | veal, beef, dairy, food | ||
| Wholesaler | Independent company that buys directly from a manufacturer and sells to retailers | retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Wind drying | A useful way to dry salmon or strips of meat, instead of sun-drying | processor, aquaculture | |||
| Wind energy | Wind powers turbines (wind mills) to turn electric generators | general | |||
| Wine | Alchol from fermented fruits, most commonly grapes | general, fruit, beverage, processor | |||
| Winery | A place where wine is made commercially | processor, beverage | |||
| Winter wheat | Wheat planted in the fall and harvested the following summer | crop | http://www.farmworldonline.com/General/Terms.asp | ||
| Withdrawal Period | Length of time it takes for a medicine to completely leave the body, to ensure the meat, milk or eggs are free of any medication before eating. | general, beef, dairy, veal, chicken, turkey, egg, sheep, goat | |||
| Yeast | Single-celled organism, part of the fungi kingdom and commonly used to make bread and beer | processor | |||
| Yield | Amount of crop harvested from a field, in tons or bushels per acre, OR amount of meat from a carcass. | crop, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Zero-till | Seed planting technique with very little disruption to soil, with 70-75% of last year's crops stubble left on the field. See minimum till. | No-till | crop | https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/learn-about-agriculture/category/growing-crops/conservation-tillage | |
| Zest | The outer part of citrus fruits, OR removing the outer part of citrus fruit peel with a knife, grater or peeler | general, food | https://crushmag-online.com/a-z-of-cooking-terms/ | ||
| Zoonotic | Diseases that can be transmitted between animals and people | general |
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