Davis Family Farm selling sunflower seeds as fundraiser for Celiac Canada 

Caledon East family farm enters third year of seed sales for charity

By Zachary Roman

A local family farm known for its beautiful sunflower fields is once again selling sunflower seeds for charity.

Davis Family Farm, located in Caledon East, has partnered with Celiac Canada for the third consecutive year to sell sunflower seed packets for charity. Five dollars from each seed packet goes to Celiac Canada, and seeds start at just $7 per packet including shipping.

Seeds can be purchased by visiting www.celiac.ca, or of course by visiting the Davis Family Farm at 15770 Mountainview Rd.

The initiative this year was announced March 21 by Celiac Canada, where they also announced the Davis Family Farm had been awarded Celiac Canada's Change Maker Award. They were given the award at an event held to celebrate Celiac Canada's 50th anniversary.

Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones was at the event, where the Davis family was recognized for their sunflower seed sales and donations of proceeds from their annual sunflower festivals.

To date, the Davis Family Farm has raised over $90,000 for Celiac Canada and has increased awareness of the disease to the thousands who visit their farm.

Sean Davis has celiac disease, as does his son. He said Celiac Canada has done much to support his family's health, and that giving back is his way to help other families across Canada.

According to Celiac Canada, Celiac disease is still widely under-diagnosed in Canada, despite one per cent of the population having it. It's a genetic autoimmune condition for which there is not yet any cure — the only treatment for it is a strict gluten-free diet.

The earlier the disease is diagnosed in a person, the more likely they are to avoid the disease's long-term complications such as neurological disorders, cancers of the gut, anemia and bone loss. 

Celiac Canada is a national charity with a mission to advocate for people with Celiac disease, invest in research into the disease, and provide information and support to those living with the disease.