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Community means a great deal to Becky Smollett. Agriculture. The latter, she says, has even handed out sample bags
of her popcorn at various events to promote the province’s food
That’s why Smollett, president and founder of From Farm to Table industry.
Canada Inc., said goodbye to the strip malls and cookie-cutter
subdivisions of Brampton 25 years ago to start a new life with her “The school’s have been so supportive,” Smollett says, adding many
family in Cambridge. of them now use her popcorn in fundraising ventures.

“I thought it would be a great place to raise kids and it was,” she As a teachable moment, Farm to Table distributed popcorn grow
says, seated at her desk at Farm to Table’s Bishop Street North kits containing corn seeds and instructions to students earlier this
headquarters. “It had such a small-town feel that Brampton was spring.
lacking.”
“We want to show them that buying popcorn grown here (Ontario)
But Cambridge, with its distinct neighbourhoods and communities, is much more meaningful; it’s not just a bag of popcorn, there’s so
also provided Smollett with a great starting point to pursue her much more involved,” she says, explaining her company employs
dream of owning her own business after working many years as a seven family-owned businesses to produce its products.
buyer and purchasing manager for Weston Foods and Coca-Cola
Canada. Family is very important to Smollett and her two daughters, Rachel
and Alex, play key roles at Farm to Table and she says it’s not difficult
“I thought I could start a business here, and that’s what I did. I like being a mother and boss.
Cambridge and don’t want to move because it’s such a great place
to do business,” she says, noting the convenience of having the 401 “I’m always pretty clear with what I want or what I need, and if
so close has been a bonus. someone doesn’t understand, or agree, it’s just a matter of letting
them know a bit more of the story because they might not have the
Using her experience in the food industry, Smollett opened a knowledge to make that decision,” she says, adding her daughters
chocolate business but sold it to create From Farm to Table Canada provide very valuable input. “It’s always good to hear a different
Inc. about five years ago. perspective”.

Smollett, who says popcorn has been her ‘go to’ snack, says the idea Smollett says she hopes she has been a mentor to her daughters
to go into the snack business coincided with the introduction of the and says she has always encouraged them to ‘own’ their ideas.
Ontario Student Nutrition Program and the PPM 150: School and “Don’t just lean in. Get in the fray, get your hands dirty.”
Beverage Policy. The policy restricts the sodium and fat content of
products distributed in schools. While building her own career, she admits there weren’t many
female mentors for her to turn to in the food industry.
“It gave us an opportunity and at the same time it allowed me to
forge into some of the relationships I had made in the agricultural “Quite often, I was the only woman in the room,” Smollett says.
business because we had been buying ginseng for our chocolate “But I did get in the room.
from farmers,” she says. “They were such great people to work with
and I knew I wanted to find a way to work with them.” Over time, she says that changed as more women took on
leadership roles. However, she says she never really had one true
Hence, From Farm to Table Canada Inc. was created and today mentor. “My advice to other women would be, don’t be afraid to
provides approximately three million bags of seasoned popcorn – stand out. There are lots of mediocre people in the world. Don’t
seven flavours in all – to at least 2,000 schools from Atlantic Canada be one of them.”
to Alberta. As well, the popcorn is sold in stores around the Golden
Horseshoe and throughout Southwestern Ontario. Smollett says she has found inspiration from the brave group of
women she has dragon boated with for the past two summers
Smollett is proud of the fact her business not only buys its corn from after beating breast cancer two years ago. Called the Breaststrokes
a family-owned producer on the shores of Lake Erie near Long Point, Dragon Boat Team, the women paddle two evenings a week on
Ont., but also uses seasonings and bags from Ontario suppliers. Puslinch Lake and compete in various races.
However, she admits it was tough in the beginning.
“It’s such a fantastic group and I love having the solid support of
“There are always challenges. It takes a long time for people to get these women,” she says. Smollett says pushing her body to its limit
to know who you are,” Smollett says. “It’s not just about having a has been very rewarding. “To get out there and feel the power, that
great product. You must learn to advocate for yourself. Partnerships you can do this, is amazing,” she says.
are key to getting any business off the ground. I was lucky and was
able to partner with family-owned dairy businesses who delivered Again, Smollett says she has found a new sense of community
milk to schools and now they take in our popcorn.” paddling with the team and loves obtaining new knowledge from
everyone she meets. “I’m always in a learning mode”.
As well, she uses the services of two additional co-packers and
has received the support of Foodland Ontario and the Ministry of

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Winter 2019