Etobicoke, January 5, 1999: Paul Knechtel, CEO of Ontario Pork, announced today the appoirnment of Douglas Richards as Senior Field Representative, beginning January 18 , 1999.

In an effort to enhance the customer service provided to producers and to help producers realize the maximum return available for their business, the position of Field Representative was created. In this role, Doug will meet with producers on an individual and group basis and provide them with information to assist them in dealing with the issues they face. He will also provide them with information on the Canadian Quality Assurance Program, marketing options available through Ontario Pork, Nutrient Management Planning and other industry specific information. This is a significant change in the direction of Ontario Pork and will provide the necessary information for proactive strategic planning for the future.

Doug is very knowledgeable about the pork industry. He comes to Ontario Pork after many years of dedicated service at Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs and he was a member of the team that created the Quality Assurance Program at Ontario Pork.

The Ontario Pork Producers' Marketing Board represents 6,000 producers with gross sales of $687 million in 1997, based on sales of approximately four million hogs. It is estimated that the total industry output from farm gate sales is worth $4.5 billion to the Ontario economy.

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