The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) announced that it has expanded north with the launch of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI).

With a growing membership representing a diversity of the U.S. food system, CFI is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2007 to help today's food system earn trust. The new Canada affiliate, a division of Food & Farm Care Canada, shares that mission.

“Canada faces many of the same challenges we do here, and with an increasingly interconnected global food system, expanding our North American presence will allow us to better serve members with international interests and locations as we help the food system align with consumer expectations,” CFI executive director Terry Fleck said.

“Public demand for transparency is growing, and consumers want to know more about how their food is produced and who's producing it,” said Crystal Mackay, Farm & Food Care Canada executive director. “The new Canadian Centre for Food Integrity will work with its members and the Canadian food system at large to share information and demonstrate our values when it comes to outstanding animal care, environmental stewardship and producing safe food.”

Like Kansas City, Mo.-based CFI, the new CCFI will conduct annual consumer trust research to better understand changing public attitudes toward food and agriculture and to provide guidance to the Canadian food system.

Results of CCFI's first survey will be unveiled at the inaugural Public Trust Summit May 31 to June 2 in Ottawa, Ont., and will be available at www.foodintegrity.ca.

CFI will now offer North American memberships for organizations and companies that have a presence in both the U.S. and Canada.

CFI members and project partners, who represent the diversity of the food system, are committed to providing accurate information and working together to address important issues in food and agriculture. The center does not lobby or advocate for individual companies or brands.