Ingrid Backx is a proud new Canadian farmer, who immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in 2009. Ingrid and her husband grew up on a dairy farms in the Netherlands, specifically goat farms. She told us that as the population continues to grow, it makes farming more and more difficult in the Netherlands. Not only due to a shortage of space for the livestock, but also lands where appropriate feed can be grown for the animals.
The Backx family moved to a small farm near Listowel in 2009 and then to Waterford in 2015. The home farm in the Netherlands was located along a creek called the Mark. The farm name there was Markhoeve, and they have taken this name for their Waterford dairy. The dairy has more than 150 cows and Backx told us that there is room to grow here. With the exception of a few supplements, they also grow all their own feed for the herd.
Markhoeve Dairy has begun processing their own dairy products on site. Backx explained that the equipment is not manufactured here in Canada and must be shipped in from Europe or the United States. The real hurdle for processing on site was meeting all of the requirements set by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. There was a lot of paperwork and inspections involved to ensure proper sanitation and handling.
Markoeve Dairy is very excited to announce that they will have a storefront opening in May. You’ll be able to buy whole milk, chocolate milk, cheese, yogurt and quark at the store; all processed locally at the dairy. Following my interview, I was gifted a bottle of chocolate milk and some cheese to take home. It was delicious and did not last long, as my children and I loved it.
Written by Jeremy Hall