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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100-mile Diet | Eating pattern that includes foods produced or raised within 100 miles of where it is being consumed | general, retail | https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/76777/Food-Science-and-Technology-Glossary-PDF.pdf | ||
| 4-H | Usually an agricultural related club for young people that features hands-on learning | general | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | ||
| à la carte | Listed food items that can be served separately from the full entree | restaurant, retail | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | ||
| 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 | |
| Ad Libitum | Allowing livestock to eat an unlimited amount of feed | ad lib, free choice | pig, beef | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | |
| Adjustable Crates | Single holding units that allow the height, width and length to change depending on the age and size of sow | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 | ||
| Aeration | Using a tool to put small holes in the soil to let oxygen and water work further into the soil for crops | general, crop | https://www.stonestreetfarms.com/2015/07/29/soil-aeration/ | ||
| Aerial application | Spraying pesticides by airplane to protect crops | general, crops, fruit, vegetable | |||
| Aerial Imagery | Pictures taken from airplanes, satellites or drones to help farmers see a full shot of their field and compare differences throughout land | general | https://www.precisionag.com/market-watch/precision-agriculture-terms-and-definitions/ | ||
| Ag lender | Bankers that specialize in agriculture/farming | general | |||
| Agricultural Finance | Financing of agriculture-related activities from production to market | ag banking | general | https://www.findevgateway.org/rural-and-agricultural-finance-glossary | |
| Agricultural Sector | The science, art and business of cultivating soil, producing crops and raising livestock | general | https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Agricultural+sector#:~:text=Agricultural%20sector%20synonyms%2C%20Agricultural%20sector%20pronunciation%2C%20Agricultural%20sector,and%20raising%20livestock%3B%20farming.%20ag%E2%80%B2ri%C2%B7cul%E2%80%B2tur%C2%B7al%20adj.%20ag%E2%80%B2ri%C2%B7cul%E2%80%B2tur%C2%B7al%C2%B7ly%20adv. | ||
| Agricultural Subsidy | Governmental subsidy (sum of money) paid to farmers and agribusinesses to stabilize food prices, guarantee farmers' basic incomes and strengthen the overall agriculture sector | https://www.findevgateway.org/rural-and-agricultural-finance-glossary | |||
| 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/ |
| Agri-food | Description for the food system and related businesses, combining agriculture and food. | food system, agri-food sector | general, processor | ||
| 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 Denté | To cook food until just firm (pronounced al dentAY) | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Algorithm | Formula used to control variable rate applications | general | https://www.precisionag.com/market-watch/precision-agriculture-terms-and-definitions/ | ||
| 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 | |||
| Allergen | Part of a food (a protein) that triggers the immune system of food allergic individuals. Carbohydrates or fats are not allergens. | general | https://www.arrowscientific.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27:definitions-of-words-used-in-food-processing-a-f&catid=15&Itemid=32 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Analgesic | An agent that lessens pain without loss of consciousness | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| Anesthetic | An agent that creates a loss of feeling or sensation. Can be used during surgery | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| Anhydrous ammonia | A common form of nitrogen fertilizer, used to feed many common crops. | anhydrous | general | ||
| Animal welfare audit | Inspection to determine if animal welfare standards are being followed, on farms, in transit, at processing plants | beef, dairy, sheep, goat, veal, pig | |||
| Anti-crush Rails | Bars in farrowing crates that make a sow lie down slower, allowing piglets to move and not get crushed | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| Apiary | Colonies, hives and other equipment assembled in one location for beekeeping operations | Bee yard | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | |
| Apiculture | Beekeeping, mostly honey bees in hives | general | |||
| Apiculture | The science and art of raising honey bees | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| 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 | |||
| Ascorbic Acid | Commonly known as Vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps form connective tissue | processor, retail | https://www.chegg.com/flashcards/common-food-processing-terms-0087c068-28ce-494c-be22-40b2710d60aa/deck | ||
| Aseptic | Food processing and packaging technique used to describe bacteria-free contamination for non-refrigerated storage or long-life products | processor, retail, restaurant | https://www.chegg.com/flashcards/common-food-processing-terms-0087c068-28ce-494c-be22-40b2710d60aa/deck | ||
| Aspartame | Low-calorie sweetener used in a variety of foods and beverages and as a tabletop sweetener. It is about 200 times sweeter than sugar | processor | https://www.arrowscientific.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27:definitions-of-words-used-in-food-processing-a-f&catid=15&Itemid=32 | ||
| Auto Steer | Steering systems that use GPS or other technologies to guide tractors through fields, allowing equipment to follow the same course, time after time | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| Average Cover | Average amount spent by a customer in a meal period or month | restaurant, retail | https://opentextbc.ca/basickitchenandfoodservicemanagement/back-matter/key-terms/ | ||
| Average Farm Yield | Calculated to determine if you're actual production is below average for production insurance purposes | AFY | general, crop, vegetable, fruit | https://www.agricorp.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/PI-Featuresheet-AverageFarmYield-en.pdf | |
| Bake | To cook food in an oven using dry heat | restaurant | https://ueat.utoronto.ca/the-student-kitchen/kitchen-basics-techniques/glossary-common-culinary-terms/ | ||
| Base Map | Map that shows the boundaries of a field or section and information about any unique feature such as sinkholes or streams | general | https://www.precisionag.com/market-watch/precision-agriculture-terms-and-definitions/ | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Batter | Semi-fluid substance, usually made of flour and other ingredients to make bakery foods or act as a coating baked on other foods | processor, restaurant, retail | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=8 | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Bee Blower | Motorized blower used to carefully remove bees from honey comb | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| Bee Bread | Fermented mixture of collected pollen and nectar or honey, deposited in the cells of a comb | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| Beehive | Box with moveable frames, used for housing of a colony of bees | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| Beta-carotene | Orange coloured plant pigment that can be converted in Vitamin A | processor, retailer, restaurant | https://www.arrowscientific.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27:definitions-of-words-used-in-food-processing-a-f&catid=15&Itemid=32 | ||
| Bistro | Casual, European style restaurant that is usually intimate and cozy | restaurant, retail | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | ||
| Bittering Hops | Varieties of hops that are used to infuse a bitter taste in beer | processor | https://www.arrowscientific.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27:definitions-of-words-used-in-food-processing-a-f&catid=15&Itemid=32 | ||
| Blanch | Putting food into boiling water for a short amount of time | parboil | restaurant | http://www.cookingforengineers.com/dictionary/define/blanch | |
| Boar Taint | Bad taste and smell that comes from the fat of uncastrated male pigs, detected when cooking the meat | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| Body Condition Score | A 5-point scoring system used to classify the condition of pigs, based on the amount of fat and/or muscle | BCS | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | |
| 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/ | ||
| Brix | Percent of sugar of a solution at room temperature | processor, retail | https://www.arrowscientific.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27:definitions-of-words-used-in-food-processing-a-f&catid=15&Itemid=32 | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Brood | Immature bees that have not yet emerged from their cells. Can be eggs, larvae or pupae at different ages | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Buffet | Dinging system where guests serve themselves | restaurant | https://www.tutorialspoint.com/food_and_beverage_services/food_and_beverage_services_terminology.htm | ||
| Bulking Agent | Food additive that increases weight and/or volume of food without altering its nutritional value | processor | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=1 | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Capon | Castrated (neutered) male chicken | chicken | |||
| Cappings | Thin layer of wax used to cover the full cells of honey | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| 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 | Long-term storage of carbon dioxide to prevent further global warming and accumulation of greenhouse gases | general | |||
| Carbon tax | A fee imposed on carbon emitting activities | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Carcass | The dead body of an animal | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carcass | ||
| Carrageenan | Natural thickening compound extracted from seaweed. Often used in dairy products to stabilize colour and flavour of product | processor | https://www.chegg.com/flashcards/common-food-processing-terms-0087c068-28ce-494c-be22-40b2710d60aa/deck | ||
| Carrier | A truck or rail company that transports food and beverages from one place to another | general | 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 | ||
| Casing | Membranous case for processed meat | general, processor | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| 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 | |||
| Cell | The hexagonal compartment of comb built by honey bees | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| 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 | |
| Chef's Knife | An 8 inch long knife, used for chopping, slicing and dicing a variety of food | processor, restaurant, retail | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | ||
| 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 | |||
| Cidery | A place where cider is made commercially | processor, beverage | |||
| 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/ | ||
| Closing Inventory | Amount of product on hand at the end of the inventory period | restaurant, retail | https://opentextbc.ca/basickitchenandfoodservicemanagement/back-matter/key-terms/ | ||
| Coagulation | Process when proteins separate from other nutrients and change from a liquid to a semi solid state with the application of heat. For example, a scrambled egg | processor, restaurant | https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/76777/Food-Science-and-Technology-Glossary-PDF.pdf | ||
| Cockerel | Young, male chicken | chicken | https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/resources/did-you-know-resources/farm-glossary/ | ||
| Cocktail | Any mixed drink prepared using alcohol | restaurant, retail | https://www.tutorialspoint.com/food_and_beverage_services/food_and_beverage_services_terminology.htm | ||
| 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 | ||
| Colony | All the worker bees, drones, queen and developing brood living together in one hive | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Comb | Mass of 6-sided cells made by honey bees in which brood is reared and honey and pollen are stored | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| Comb Honey | Honey produced and sold in the comb | general, processor, retailer | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| Combination Oven | Oven that combines the functions of both conventional heating and microwaves | processor, restaurant, retail | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | ||
| 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 | |
| Compact Disc | Used to mix crop residue with soil to speed up decomposition, level soil and prepare it for seeding. Also helpful for mixing in fertilizer | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| Condiment | Anything used to season foods and enhance flavour | restaurant, retail | https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-glossary/'c'-supermarket-terms | ||
| Conduction Heat | Heating the surface which heats food from the bottom up | processor, retail, restaurant | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | ||
| 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 | |||
| Consumer Prepackaged | Food packaged in a container to be sold to one individual | general, retail | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | ||
| Convection Heat | Heating with hot air that moves around by a fan | processor, retail, restaurant | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | ||
| 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. | conventional 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 | ||
| Conveyer Oven | Oven that cooks using radiant heat or infrared heat | toaster | processor, retail, restaurant | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | |
| 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 | 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 | ||
| Covariant Risk | A risk that arises when many farms in one area are affected by a single phenomenon such as a natural disaster, epidemic, economic crisis or civil conflict | general | https://www.findevgateway.org/rural-and-agricultural-finance-glossary | ||
| 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 | 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 | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Creamed Honey | Honey which has crystallized under controlled conditions | general, processor, retailer | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| Creep Feeding | Giving feed to young animals that are still nursing so they can learn to eat in an adult environment | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, 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 Heat Unit | A system to help farmers select the most suitable hybrids and varieties for their area | CHU | crop, vegetable, fruit | http://www.agroyoumis.eu/?p=472&lang=en#:~:text=Crop%20Heat%20Units%20(CHU)%20provides,and%20varieties%20for%20their%20area.&text=The%20crop%20heat%20unit%20ratings,each%20area%20of%20the%20province. | |
| Crop rotation | The pattern of planting different crops each year to improve soil health and control pests | crop, general, fruit, vegetables | |||
| Cross-fostering | Removing piglets from a large litter to a sow with a smaller litter of similar age piglets | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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/ | ||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| Cure | A chemical agent placed in or on meat or poultry, for use in preservation, flavour or colour | processor | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| Curing | The addition of salt, sodium nitrate and sometimes sugars, seasonings and phosphates to pork for preservation, colour and flavour enhancement | processor | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| Custom Applicator | Makes sure that spray equipment is working properly and applies pesticides or fertilizer in other farmer's fields | general, crop | https://www.agcareers.com/career-profiles/custom-applicator.cfm | ||
| Custom Operator | Someone who agrees to operate all machines on the owner's land at a certain cost | 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 | ||
| Dealer | Retail business that sells farming equipment and maintenance services | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| Debone | Removal of the bones from meat using a sharp boning knife | bone | processor, restaurant, retail | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | |
| 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/ | ||
| Deli | Store or section of a store that sell pre-cooked food | processor, retail | https://www.tutorialspoint.com/food_and_beverage_services/food_and_beverage_services_terminology.htm | ||
| Demurrage | 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 Sales | Equipment sold to the farmer directly from the manufacturer | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Drone bee | Male honey bee | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Dry Farming | Agricultural system that relies on rainfall and moisture in the soil instead of irrigation | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | https://modernfarmer.com/2018/09/the-modern-farmer-glossary-of-farm-jargon/ | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Dynamic Group | Groups of gestating sows that are added and removed at different times from a shared pen | Dynamic Mixing | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | |
| 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 radio 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 | |||
| Effective Growing Degree Days | Used to determine whether a climate is warm enough to support plants with temperature dependent growth rates | EGDD | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | https://climateatlas.ca/map/canada/dd5_2030_85#z=3&lat=58.36&lng=-82.97 | |
| Electrical Stunning | Sending an electric current through the brain and/or heart of the animal before slaughter | dairy, beef, pig, sheep, goat | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Emulsification | Process by which two or more unblendable liquids are prepared. Examples include butter, margarine, milk and vinaigrettes. | processor | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| 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 | ||
| Enrichment | A way of changing the environment of animals to benefit them | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| Entree | The main portion of a meal, usually served with sides | restaurant, retail | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | ||
| 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 | |||
| Euthanasia | Ending the life of an animal in a way that minimizes or eliminates pain and distress. Also the Greek word for "good death" | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 | |||
| Farm Business Registration Number | Farm businesses that make an income of $7000 or more are required to register under the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act | FBRN | general | https://www.farmbusreg.com/FBRFactWhoRegE.htm#:~:text=Farm%20businesses%20that%20declare%20gross,generate%20%247%2C000%20gross%20farm%20income. | |
| Farmed Game Animal | Food animal that is considered 'wild' but has been raised for food production such as bison, musk, caribou, quail, etc. | general, processor | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Farm-to-table Continuum | A multi-step journey that food travels before it is consumed | general | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| 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 | pig, dairy, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat | |||
| Feed mill | A manufacturer of animal feed | general | |||
| Feeder | container to hold animal feed | pig, dairy, beef, turkey, chicken, egg, sheep, goat | |||
| 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 describe a type of beef farm, but can also include sheep, goat and others. | beef | |||
| Field Bee | Worker bee that is generally 2-3 weeks old that works to collect, nectar, pollen, water and propolis for the colony | general, processor | https://www.betterbee.com/glossary/ | ||
| 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 | ||
| First-in, first-out | System of managing inventory so that the product received first gets used first | FIFO | processor, retail, restaurant | https://opentextbc.ca/basickitchenandfoodservicemanagement/back-matter/key-terms/ | |
| Fixed Assets | Long-term assets that a company has purchased and is using for the production of its goods and services | FA | general | https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/032715/what-are-some-examples-fixed-assets.asp | |
| Flambé | Drizzling a flammable alcohol over a food while its cooking (pronounced flawm-bAY) | ||||
| Flash-Freeze | Method to freeze foods quickly using low temperatures, in a way that doesn't produce ice crystals | processor, restaurant, retail | https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/76777/Food-Science-and-Technology-Glossary-PDF.pdf | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Flight Zone | Distance from an animal before it will choose to move away from an approaching handler | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 globalisation | Transfer of ideas, meanings, values and traditions from different cultures across geographical locations | general | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=1 | ||
| Food insecurity | Not having constant access to affordable, healthy foods | general, food | |||
| Food Intolerance | The reaction to a food component that does not involve the body's immune system | general | https://www.arrowscientific.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27:definitions-of-words-used-in-food-processing-a-f&catid=15&Itemid=32 | ||
| 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 | |||
| Foodie | Person who loves food and is very interested in different types of food | general, restaurant, retail | https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/foodie | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Freeze-Dry | Preserving food by freezing it and then drying it | processor, restaurant, retail | https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/76777/Food-Science-and-Technology-Glossary-PDF.pdf | ||
| Freezer Beef | Common method of preserving and storing fresh beef, can be purchased as quarter/half of carcass | 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 | ||
| Gelatin | Thickener from collagen that comes from animals skin, tendons, ligaments or bones of livestock | processor | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| 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 |
| Geographic Information System | Computer-based system used to input, store, retrieve and analyze geographic data sets | GIS | general | https://www.precisionag.com/market-watch/precision-agriculture-terms-and-definitions/ | |
| 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 | |||
| Giblets | The heart, liver and gizzard of a poultry carcass | chicken, turkey, processor | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| 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 | ||
| Good Manufacturing Practices | General practices designed to ensure product quality and safety for product manufacuring, storing, handling and distribution | GMP | processing | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | |
| 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 | Varieties 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. | Corn fed | 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 | ||
| Grid Mapping | Predetermined locations in a field where soil or plant samples may be collected for analysis | general | https://www.precisionag.com/market-watch/precision-agriculture-terms-and-definitions/ | ||
| Grinder Mixer | Implement used for grinding and blending feed for livestock | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| 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 | |||
| Handling facility | Specialized equipment with chutes, gates and usually a headgate to help handle animals safely | beef, dairy, pig | |||
| Hard Water | Water with a high content of dissolved minerals that is preferred for the production of certain types of beer | general, processor | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=1 | ||
| 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 | Fertilized eggs that are kept for producing 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/ | |
| Headcheese | Jellied product made of pork byproducts and seasoning ingredients. Must contain some product from the head | pig, processor, retailer, restaurant | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| 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 or computer collars identify 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/ | ||
| Herbicide-Tolerant | Crops that have been genetically engineered to tolerate herbicide spray so that the spray only kills the weeds and not the crop | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | https://modernfarmer.com/2018/09/the-modern-farmer-glossary-of-farm-jargon/ | ||
| 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 | |||
| Hock | Back leg of animal | dairy, beef, pig | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | ||
| Honey bees | Insect that produces honey, plays a major role in crop/plant pollination | general | |||
| Honey-Cured | Shown on the label of a cured product is honey is the only sweetening ingredient or is at least half the sweetening ingredients used | processor, retailer, restaurant | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| 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 | ||
| Humus | Sticky, brown part of the soil that comes from dead plants and animals that contain nutrients | organic matter | general | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | |
| Husbandry | Care and management practices in livestock farming | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 | |||
| Hydrolyzed Protein | Flavour enhancers that can be used in meat and poultry products. Made from a plant source such as soy or wheat or an animal product such as milk. | processor, retailer | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| 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 | |
| Implement | Attachments hooked onto tractors with hydraulics or hitches to help with planting, harvesting and year-round tasks on the farm | general | |||
| 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 | |||
| Index-based Insurance | Special form of insurance that can be used to compensate for losses related to extremes in weather that cause unpreventable damage to crops and farm buildings | general, crop, vegetable, fruit | https://www.findevgateway.org/rural-and-agricultural-finance-glossary | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Insensible | The point at which an animal no longer has the ability to feel pain or respond to its environment | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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/ | |
| Intensive Grazing | Rotating livestock between pastures to reduce overgrazing | dairy, beef, sheep, goat | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | ||
| International Barcode of Life | Globally accessible system of discovery and identification of multi-cellular life using DNA barcoding | general | |||
| Intraprovincial Trade | Trading food within a single province or territory | general, retail, restaurant | https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/toolkit-for-food-businesses/glossary-of-key-terms/eng/1430250286859/1430250287405 | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Junior Farmers Association | Youth leadership development organization | JFA | general | ||
| Kelp | Seaweed (sea vegetable) | vegetable, food, restaurant | |||
| Kid | Newborn goat | goat | |||
| Kill Floor | The part of a slaughterhouse where the animals are killed and the start of meat processing begins | pig, beef, chicken, sheep, goat | https://www.definitions.net/definition/killing%20floor#:~:text=Here%20are%20all%20the%20possible%20meanings%20and%20translations,by%20American%20blues%20singer-songwriter%20and%20guitarist%20Howlin%27%20Wolf. | ||
| 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 Jewish people 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 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 female 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 | ||
| Lease | Contract for use of farm land or equipment for a set period of time in exchange for fixed payments | general | https://www.findevgateway.org/rural-and-agricultural-finance-glossary | ||
| Leavening Agents | Substances such as yeast or baking soda used to increase volume through aeration | Raising Agent | processor | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=5 | |
| 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 fertilizer (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 Research | The collection and analysis of consumer information (needs and wants) used by companies to guide decisions regarding new product development, overcoming problems or discovering new opportunities | general | https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/76777/Food-Science-and-Technology-Glossary-PDF.pdf | ||
| 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 | |||
| Mated Gilt | A young female pig that has been mated, but not had her first litter yet | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||||
| Mower | Implement that cuts hay, crimping it and crushing it to promote faster drying | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| Mutton | Meat from mature sheep | sheep, food | |||
| 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 | |
| Net Income | Calculated as sales minus costs of goods sold | NI | general, retail | https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/netincome.asp | |
| New Product Development | The process of bringing new products into the market | NPD | general, processor | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=5 | |
| Nitrogen | Major nutrient in plant fertilizer and manure, often with phosphorous and potassium (N,P,K) | N | crop, fruit, vegetable | ||
| Nodule | A swelling on the root of a legume that contains bacteria that fix nitrogen from the air | general, crop | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | ||
| 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 | |
| Nursery | The facility where recently weaned livestock stay until they are ready for the next phase of production | pig, dairy, beef, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 | |
| 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, 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 | ||
| Pasteurize | 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; can be a verb "cattle pasture a field" | 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 | |||
| Pathogen | Disease-causing agent such as a bacteria or a virus | general, pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, crop, fruit, vegetable | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| Peak demand | A period of strong demand for specific goods | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Pectin | Natural gelling agent used in making jams and jellies | processor | https://www.arrowscientific.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27:definitions-of-words-used-in-food-processing-a-f&catid=15&Itemid=32 | ||
| Pen | An enclosure that animals are housed in | general, pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| Perishable | Food that is subject to decay, spoilage or bacteria unless it is properly refrigerated or frozen | general, processor, retailer | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| Permaculture | Permanent agriculture working with nature in a holistic approach | general | |||
| Persistent Bullying | When one or more pigs are highly aggressive, affecting the welfare of the bullied pig | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 | 1/16 of a teaspoon | ||||
| 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 propagate 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 occurring 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 made to move livestock | dairy, cattle, pig | 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 | ||
| Propagate | To cause a plant to multiply by any process of natural reproduction from the parent stock | crop, vegetable, fruit | https://www.dictionary.com/browse/propagate | ||
| Provenance | The location of a specific food or beverage | general, food, beverage | |||
| Pub | British name for 'public house', an establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks | restaurant | https://www.tutorialspoint.com/food_and_beverage_services/food_and_beverage_services_terminology.htm | ||
| 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/ | |
| Purchase Order | Document indicating the approval of a quantity of goods ordered from a supplier | processor, retail, restaurant | https://opentextbc.ca/basickitchenandfoodservicemanagement/back-matter/key-terms/ | ||
| Pureé | 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 | |
| Quality Control Operation | A planned and systematic procedure for taking all actions necessary to prevent food from being contaminated | QCO | processor | https://cofarmtomarket.com/additional-information/definitions-for-food-processing/ | |
| 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 | ||||
| Rancher | A person who raises cattle. A term more common in Western provinces or states. | farmer, producer | beef, general | ||
| Rancid | Breakdown of fat that occurs naturally, causing undesirable smell and taste | general, processor | https://www.industrialbladesandknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/glossary-food-processing-terminology.pdf | ||
| 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 | ||
| Receiver | The person responsible for accepting and checking deliveries | processor, retail, restaurant | https://opentextbc.ca/basickitchenandfoodservicemanagement/back-matter/key-terms/ | ||
| Reconstitute | Changing food that has been dried back into its original form by adding water, such as powdered milk | processor, restaurant, retail | https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/reconstitute?topic=preserving-and-storing-food | ||
| 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 | ||
| Return on Investment | Measures the gain or loss generated by an investment in relation to its initial cost | ROI | general | https://investinganswers.com/dictionary/r/return-investment-roi | |
| 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 | |||
| Rooting | Behaviour of pigs where they use their noses to dig in the ground | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Rumen | The first large compartment of the stomach of a cow where bacteria break down cellulose | dairy, beef | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | ||
| 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 referring to pigs | pig | |||
| Rural Extension | Sharing knowledge and support system for farmers to tackle challenges in agriculture | general | https://www.ifpri.org/topic/agricultural-extension#:~:text=Extension%20provides%20a%20critical%20support%20service%20for%20rural,of%20the%20natural%20resource%20base%20and%20climate%20change. | ||
| Sauté | Cooking small pieces of food over a medium-high heat with oil in a pan, usually to brown food (pronounced saw-tAY) | 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 | |||
| Sedative | An agent that calms nervousness, irritability and excitement by depressing the central nervous system | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| Seed Drill | A tractor drawn attachment used to plant seed at a precise depth and spacing, over a large area | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | https://modernfarmer.com/2018/09/the-modern-farmer-glossary-of-farm-jargon/ | ||
| 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 structure 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/ | ||
| Skid Steer Loader | Small, 4 wheel vehicle with lift arms that raise and lower different attachments to perform a lot of different tasks such as digging, hauling and moving | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-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 | 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 | |||
| Social Hierarchy | The order that animals establish their dominance position within a group of pigs | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 Map | Map that shows differences in soil properties like texture, fertility, organic matter, pH, etc. within a field | general | https://www.precisionag.com/market-watch/precision-agriculture-terms-and-definitions/ | ||
| 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. Could be caused by wind blowing the droplets before they hit the ground. | general, crop, vegetable, fruit | |||
| Spray drying | Food processing method used to produce a powdered product from liquid such as milk and coffee powders | processor | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=5 | ||
| 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 | |||
| Stabilizer | Food additive that helps with structure stability, usually seen in salad dressing to stop oil and water from separating | processor | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=5 | ||
| Stable cleaner | Automated equipment that moves through a barn to push manure and urine out and away from the animals | beef, dairy | |||
| Stable Group | Groups of pigs that have an established social hierarchy | pig | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 | |||
| Sterilization | Process for eliminating microbes such as bacteria, moulds and viruses from foods | processor | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=5 | ||
| 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/ | ||
| Stewardship | A person's responsibility to care for land and possessions entrusted to them | general | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | ||
| 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 think normally | beef, pig | https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/stun | ||
| Stun Gun | Tool used to immediately make an animal unconscious and not be able to sense pain | Captive-bolt gun | pig, beef | https://www.hsa.org.uk/downloads/publications/captiveboltstunningdownload.pdf | |
| Sturgeon | Ancient fish that is found in fresh water, eggs are used for caviar | retail, restaurant, food | |||
| Sub-division | Land to be divided into smaller lots, typically for housing | general | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | ||
| Subtherapeutic | Using a medicine in a small dose to prevent sickness or accelerate growth | general, beef, dairy, chicken, turkey, egg, pig, veal | |||
| Succession Planning | Process that occurs over time in which a family plans for the transfer of knowledge, skills, labour, management control and ownership of the farm business between the retiring generation and the next generation | general | http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/10-025.htm#:~:text=One%20approach%20is%20to%20think,the%20successor%20(next)%20generation. | ||
| Sun-dried | Vegetables that have been dried by leaving them in the sun so that their flavour becomes stronger | processor, retail, restaurant | https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/reconstitute?topic=preserving-and-storing-food | ||
| Superweed | A weed that has developed resistance to herbicides | general, crop, fruit, vegetable | https://modernfarmer.com/2018/09/the-modern-farmer-glossary-of-farm-jargon/ | ||
| 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 | pigs | |||
| Synthetic | Another word for man-made. Usually used to describe fertilizers or pesticides. | man-made | crop, fruit, vegetable, general | ||
| Tank mix | When more than one crop protection product is mixed in the same tank and applied together | general | |||
| Tannin | Compound that causes a dry sensation in the mouth when consuming wine, tea or chocolate | processor, restaurant, retail | https://www.ifst.org/our-resources/food-science-facts/food-science-glossary?page=8 | ||
| Teat | Organ where the milk comes out of the udder. Cows have four teats, sheep and goats have two. | dairy, beef. sheep, goat | |||
| Thermal Regulation | When livestock keep a constant internal body temperature independent from the environmental temperature | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 | |||
| Thresh | To beat out a grain or seed from a stalk by treading, rubbing or striking with a machine | general, crop | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | ||
| 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 | ||
| Tractors, compact | Less than 40 horsepower tractors | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| Tractors, high-horsepower | 100+ horsepower tractors | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| Tractors, utility | 40-99 horsepower tractors | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| Trade Credit | Short-term or seasonal loans between buyers and sellers of inputs or products | general | https://www.findevgateway.org/rural-and-agricultural-finance-glossary | ||
| Transitional | Farm seeking organic certification, but is still within the required 3-year period between stopping conventional farming and beginning organic farming | general | https://modernfarmer.com/2018/09/the-modern-farmer-glossary-of-farm-jargon/ | ||
| 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/ | |
| Tuber crop | Large part of the crop grows below the ground. Examples include potatoes 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/ | ||
| Umami | Taste description that describes savoury, in addition to sweet, sour, salty and bitter | restaurant | https://www.arrowscientific.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27:definitions-of-words-used-in-food-processing-a-f&catid=15&Itemid=32 | ||
| Unavoidable food waste | Material that humans cannot eat such as bones | general | https://provisioncoalition.com/ | ||
| Unfit Animal | An animal that cannot withstand transportation that may cause undue suffering | pig, dairy, beef, chicken, turkey, sheep, goat, veal | https://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/pig_code_of_practice.pdf | ||
| 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 | |
| Urbanization | Growth of city into rural areas | general | https://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/addins/glossary.htm | ||
| 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 | ||
| Variable Rate | Adjusting seeding/fertilizer rates across different zones of a field to achieve the best return for each area of field by minimizing the use of inputs such as seed and fertilizer | general | https://www.farm-equipment.com/articles/11645-glossary-of-industry-terms | ||
| 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 | |||
| 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/ | |
| 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/ | ||
| Whey | Watery part of milk that is separated from the curd during the cheese making process | general, processor | https://www.slideshare.net/MichaelScott20/farm-to-table-glossary | ||
| 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 | |||
| Windrow | Material that has been piled up into a long row in a field; may refer to hay that is being prepared for baling, piles of compost or other materials | general | https://modernfarmer.com/2018/09/the-modern-farmer-glossary-of-farm-jargon/ | ||
| 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 | ||
| Wok | Round cooking pan mostly used for stir frying and steaming | restaurant, retail | https://www.acitydiscount.com/info/Comprehensive-Food-Service-Industry-Glossary.297.1.htm | ||
| 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 | |||
| Yield Map | Map that indicates differences in crop yield within a field | general | https://www.precisionag.com/market-watch/precision-agriculture-terms-and-definitions/ | ||
| 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, restaurant | https://crushmag-online.com/a-z-of-cooking-terms/ | ||
| Zoonotic | Diseases that can be transmitted between animals and people | general | |||
| Native grassland | Field used for grazing animals like cattle, sheep or goats with native grasses, not cultivated | pasture | general, beef | ||
| Tame grassland | Fields for grazing animals that have been cultivated or planted with non-native grasses or legumes like alfalfa or clover | pasture | general, beef | ||
| Graze | The verb for animals eating grasses in a field, typically cattle, sheep, goats or horses | general, beef, sheep, goats, dairy | |||
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