DC’s Story of Food

Boasting numerous sustainable features and extensive grounds, including an apiary, apple orchard, agricultural planting fields, gardens and greenhouses, DC’s CFF houses many of the college’s food-focused programs. There, students can be found tending the fields, preparing field-to-fork meals in the kitchens or serving at events and in Pantry and Bistro ’67, the college’s retail store and fine dining restaurant.

Digging deeper into the science of food, DC’s SET students explore the safe development of food products in the college’s state-of-the-art lab facilities at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and take part in applied research and work-study opportunities at the CFF’s Centre for Craft Brewing Innovation.

While students put into practice their classroom learning, the community surrounding the college also benefits – gaining access to unique, field-to-fork dining experiences and local agriculture and food products at Bistro ’67 and Pantry. Local businesses have also provided industry expertise and experiential learning opportunities for students through community partnerships.

DC’s students are at the forefront of a thriving industry – and there’s no telling what great food stories they’ll cook up when they graduate.

DC branded ketchup

Careers in a Bottle

DC’s Ketchup

Our sweet yet tangy gourmet ketchup was made by Durham College (DC) students from fresh ingredients by Durham College (DC) students from fresh ingredients planted in and harvested from the fields of the college’s W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF) – but did you know that it actually took 24 careers to get this delicious field-to-fork condiment to your table?

From horticulturalists and recipe developers to food safety technologists, this product itself has touched on numerous exciting careers before making its way to you: the consumer.

Of those 24 careers involved in the production of this ketchup, these are the jobs at the heart of DC's story of food:

  • Chef or cook
  • Horticulturalist
  • Farm or crop manager
  • Quality control technician or technologist
  • Food product development technician or technologist
  • HACCP co-ordinator
  • Food safety technician or technologist
  • Food process technician or technologist
  • Food regulations specialist
  • Sales manager
  • Product purchaser
  • Product release event planner
  • Sales and marketing co-ordinator
  • Quality assurance technician or technologist
  • Quality control technician or technologist
  • Microbiology technician or technologist
  • Food process technician or technologist
  • Food product development technician or technologist
  • Food safety technician or technologist
  • Food regulations specialist
  • Quality control technician or technologist
  • Food regulations specialist

Partnerships in a Bottle

Harvest Salsa Brava

Harvest Salsa Brava is the result of a dynamic collaboration between Durham College (DC) and No. 7 Mexican Hot Sauce, a local Toronto company that produces all natural, vegan products that are sure to spice up any dish. The exclusive recipe uses peppers planted, cultivated and harvested by students at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, and is produced by the culinary talent at No. 7.

Through this partnership, and the many others DC maintains with local industry, students gain valuable real-world work experience learning the complicated process of taking a product from the agricultural planting field to market. These experiential learning opportunities give students a leg-up when they graduate, having already gained both the skills and experience needed to meet the demands of today’s workforce. On the flip side, industry partners benefit by gaining access to student talent and fresh, local produce.

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