Trump’s tariffs: high stakes for greenhouse vegetable growers
KAREN DAVIDSON
Summer 2024 “Canada and the United States have always done big things, together. As the largest and most ambitious infrastructure project along the Canada-United States border, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is proof of just that. Beyond further strengthening the deep connection between our two nations, this bridge will drive economic growth for both countries while creating more jobs and increasing border security.”
~ The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
That was then. And this is now.
President Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs were temporarily paused after just three days on March 4 to 6, 2025 but the
damage on the Canadian side of the bridge was immediate. Collectively, Ontario greenhouse vegetable growers paid the U.S. federal government more than $6 million in tariffs.
American consumers however, felt no impact as U.S. retailers used differing approaches to protect prices. Some invoiced the full tariff amount back to the growers, while others only invoiced a portion. This happened despite some existing sales contracts to the contrary.
Uncertainty aside, Canadian growers have been getting ready for the impact. “Our marketers were very well prepared,” says Richard Lee, executive director, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG). To guarantee that their produce cleared U.S. Customs at the border in a timely fashion, growers collectively posted additional bonds in advance with customs brokers managing their transborder shipments. Some farms had to post bonds
based on previous year’s sales. The dollar amount varied depending on the farm and situation. In one example, a farm had to post an additional $10 million bond within the space of a week.
“This has stressed out operating lines of credit, cost of borrowing and the full value chain,” Lee explains.
“Remember the grower doesn’t get paid until 40 to 60 days after delivery to the retailer.”
Until mid-March, the American agriculture sector had been mostly silent about the impact from Canada’s proposed reciprocal tariffs. But American farmers, worried about the rise in Canadian potash prices, eventually rallied to have the American Farm Bureau tell President Trump he was losing support from his mid-west
base.
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The official opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario with Detroit Michigan is but
River is marred by a U.S. trade war with Canada that defies logic. A few scant miles away from the on-ramps is the epicentre of
tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in controlled environments. If Trump’s tariffs come into effect on April 2, the trade war risks a speed bump. Normally,
transports of Ontario produce go to the U.S. each day. Photo courtesy of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.
AT PRESS TIME…
New ag minister faces myriad challenges
Kody Blois, MP for the Nova Scotia riding of Kings-Hants since 2019, has buttoned down his dream job. He is the new federal minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development. His plate will be full with threats of Chinese tariffs on canola and meal for March 20 and American tariffs in the wings for April 2 on all Canadian goods, including fruits and vegetables.
The 34-year-old has moved up from his role as parliamentary secretary to Prince Edward Island MP Lawrence MacAulay and most recent ag minister. Blois is currently chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.
According to Blois’ LinkedIn page, he’s a lawyer with degrees in commerce, public administration and law. He was a former competitive athlete. He is passionate about community development and public policy.
Blois is no stranger to horticulture. The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) named him 2023 Produce Champion, an award that recognizes an MP or Senator who has been supportive of the produce industry and is effective in bringing industry issues to the forefront of Parliament Hill.
“Agriculture is a huge priority for me,” said MP Blois, at the time of the award. “Representing the riding of Kings—Hants, where agriculture is one of the
main drivers of the economy, I am honoured to be named Produce Champion by CPMA, an organization that represents such a huge sector of the Canadian economy.”
Mere days into his tenure, Blois issued a directive to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to remove outdated prescriptive requirements and to meet evolving market conditions. He said:
“We will examine removing unnecessary or outdated labelling requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition, we will continue work on a new approach to modernizing fresh fruit and vegetable grades, with the goal of having grades that are outcome-based, harmonized with trading partners where possible, and aligned with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. The CFIA is committed to working with industry to understand obstacles and consult on requirements like standardized food container sizes, which can create unintended trade barriers within Canada and internationally.”
“We will continue to use all
available measures to reduce red tape, streamline our processes, modernize our regulations, and reinforce our commitment to open and fair trade.”
Carbon tax nixed
The new federal Liberal cabinet voted on March 14 to set the price of carbon to zero effective April 1, 2025. It was set to move from $80/tonne to $95/tonne in provinces under the federal regime.
The new term ‘consumer carbon tax’ is useful in communicating to citizens at large but does not apply to the output based pricing system for large emitters. Note, Ontario has its own program for large emitters and does not fall under the federal one.
Anyone paying carbon tax at the gas pump, or when purchasing propane, natural gas, etc. will no longer have the carbon price added as of April 1. This news will be welcomed by greenhouse users, and should also reduce shipping/transportation costs for the entire produce sector. Note, this announcement will not impact diesel used on farms for tractors -- diesel was already exempt.
Another note. The federal legislation only applies when a province doesn’t have an equivalent program. Some provinces such as British Columbia will need to follow suit in changing its carbon pricing to be competitive with other provinces.
NEWSMAKERS
Trevor Jones, MPP for ChathamKent-Leamington since 2022, is the new Ontario minister of agriculture, food and agribusiness, replacing Rob Flack who moves to the ministry of municipal affairs and housing. He is well versed in agricultural issues, locally and provincially.
Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association held its 167th annual general meeting on February 18. Potato grower Shawn Brenn was re-elected as the organization’s chair and asparagus and melon grower Mike Chromczak was re-elected as vice chair. Chris Hedges joins the board as a new director representing apples. Completing the board are: Jan VanderHout and Steve Peters (both representing greenhouse), Glen Gilvesy (ginseng), Joanne Chechalk (fresh vegetable – other), David Enns (tender fruit), Morris Gervais (small fruit/berries), Matthias Oppenlaender (grapes), Tracy Gubbels (processing vegetables) and Quinton Woods (fresh vegetable – muck). The new chair of the OFVGA crop protection committee is Matt Sheppard
Congratulations to David Gibson, a lifelong apple grower with deep family roots in the Newcastle, Ontario-area, chosen as the winner of the 2025 UPL Golden Apple Award. The award was presented February 18 at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association banquet in Niagara Falls. The family has been growing apples in the area since the mid-1800s, and David and his twin brother joined the family apple business in the 1960s. Today, grandson Quinton is taking over 300 acres of modern orchard plantings.
The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada held its annual general meeting in Québec City March 10-12. The 2025 board of directors will be led by Marcus Janzen, president (BC) Jocelyn Gibouleau, vice-president (QC). Joining them are: Deep Brar (BC); Russ Van Boom (Prairies); Beth Connery (Prairies); Quinton Woods (ON), Alison Robertson (ON); Pascal Forest (QC), Janet Parker and John Visser (Maritimes.)
The British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association held its annual general meeting in mid-February. Remaining in their roles are president Peter Simonsen and vice-president Deep Brar. New directors are: Sukh Khun, Nirmal Dhaliwal, and Kelly Wander
Best wishes to Melissa Tesche, general manager of the British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association who has resigned “with mixed emotions” effective April 11. After serving in the role for a year, she’s moving to the Okanagan Basin Water Board as executive director.
Farmers’ Markets Ontario is honouring Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market as 2024 Market of the Year. The Business Improvement Association has introduced the Good Greens Food Reclamation Program, purchasing unsold food from market vendors, repacking and distributing to low-income and vulnerable community members. Seven local agencies help to maximize the impact of contributions.
Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS) has a new president of the board. Robert Shuh, a fourth-generation apple grower from West Montrose takes over from Ken Forth. The 2025 board includes: vice president Andy Vergeer, a tobacco grower, Betty-Anne Gifford, representing nursery, sod and ginseng; Norm Charbonneau, representing field vegetables, James Neven, representing greenhouse vegetables, Ken Forth, representing Fruit & Vegetable Growers of Canada; Phil Tregunno, representing tender fruit.
RED EAGLE F1
large size bulbs.
Robert Shuh
Marcus Janzen
Trevor Jones
Trump’s tariffs: high stakes for greenhouse vegetable growers
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Hanging in the balance
It’s an understatement to say that the road ahead is rocky for Canada’s greenhouse industry. The sector produces $1.8 billion in farmgate value annually, mostly from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Québec with Ontario leading the way at $1.6 billion (Statistics Canada 2023). OGVG is headquartered in Leamington, Ontario and its members ship more than 430 million pounds of vegetables to the U.S. annually. Located an hour away from the border crossing, growers can reach 58 per cent of all American consumers residing east of the Mississippi in a day’s drive.
Any reasonable person would hail ready access to nutritious, well-priced vegetables as a prescription for the towering health costs caused by the current obesity crisis. But in Trump’s world, one can’t expect a U.S. secretary of health to support such logic. As Lee outlines, if the tariffs are implemented as currently threatened, it would likely take about four weeks to see a shift in U.S. consumer buying habits ultimately leading to less demand for Ontario-grown greenhouse produce and thus impacting farm workers.
Historically, excess greenhouse vegetable production has been donated to regional food banks, but they are not a viable alternative for the volume of vegetables already in production that, potentially, will remain unsold because of a tariff wall at the U.S. border. In 2024, Ontario greenhouse growers donated more than five million pounds of fresh produce to food banks.
Looking beyond short-term impacts in Ontario, Lee points out that many Canadian greenhouse growers currently have greenhouses operating in the U.S. in states such as Michigan, Ohio and Georgia. But this is due to the logistical advantages from proximity to customers, not necessarily because of cost-ofproduction advantages. In fact, labour is one of the largest operation costs for any greenhouse, whether in Canada or the U.S.
The U.S. tariff strategy as stated by President Trump is an attempt to bring manufacturing home to the U.S. However, a quick and simple alternative to replace the volume of expertly-grown, Canadian
produce doesn’t exist. Growers would face obstacles ranging from building permits and construction to skilled, high-tech greenhouse labour. In the most recent year reported, Canada imported agricultural produce valued at $32 billion from the U.S. while exporting $40 billion back to the U.S. Such figures normally would indicate a need on the American side. Despite so much yet to be determined, growers have already committed to the 2025 crop, in terms of transplants, energy contracts, temporary foreign workers, warehousing, packaging and other input costs. They are running full steam ahead into the peak period of production in April, May, and June. And any Ontario growers with expansion plans already have deposits in place to build another 200 acres by end of year. The cement is poured. With all this investment in place, what’s next?
Part of OGVG’s scenario planning has been to communicate the potential future support needs of the greenhouse sector to both provincial and federal governments. One glimmer of hope is that the federal government is looking at current gaps in the Business Risk Management Program and a specific program for greenhouse growers due to the unique challenges in the sector. This would be a first, but with an April 28 federal election, this too, is hanging in the balance.
Future scenarios
Armand Vander Meulen, a major greenhouse grower in Abbotsford, British Columbia, isn’t holding out hope for government assistance. He’d rather look at what’s controllable: minimum wages and the carbon tax.
Considering the whole B.C. sector, he says: “B.C. was shipping a negligible amount of product in early March and a token amount was sent to the U.S. to test the tariff procedures. There were challenges in the process. Hopefully they will be resolved if tariffs are enforced again later, however I believe it will not happen for fruits and vegetables.”
About 50 per cent of what’s produced in British Columbia is exported to the U.S. That translates to a 10-15 per cent hit on overall margins.
“On their own, renewed tariffs are not a nightmare scenario,” says Vander Meulen. “However, if Mexico and Ontario start to limit their U.S. sales and keep produce in
Farmgate value of greenhouse vegetables by province.
Source: Statistics Canada
Canada, then yes we would see massive impacts on local prices. But why would that happen? If U.S. sales are restricted, then greenhouse veggie pricing in the states would skyrocket. So, then we would ship there and take the tariff hit.”
Five provinces away, Sylvain Terrault, president, Cultures Gen-V Inc. headquartered in Ste-Clotilde, Québec, is reaching out to U.S. clients on a regular basis. Gen-V manages 100 acres of conventional and organic greenhouse vegetables, growing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and lettuce in four locations. About 35 per cent of Gen-V’s production is exported to the U.S. with retail clients located within a trucking range of 12-16 hours.
“We lost $20,000 on loads of lettuce headed to the U.S.” says Terrault, referring to early March. “I don’t want to lose my clients.”
“None of our customers will assume 100 per cent of the tariffs, but several could accept a small percentage. We continue to negotiate and we cannot assume if the retailers will pass along the cost to their consumers or not.”
The March tariffs were paid to a customs broker but to reduce potential border delays, Gen-V has since opened a U.S. dollar account in Chicago to pay any future tariff fees. This will allow the American government to withdraw the required fee whenever his product enters the U.S.
Looking ahead to April 2, Terrault says that it’s a waiting game. The company planted in January and is now poised to harvest in late March and early April. If it comes to it, he will pay the tariff fees rather than allow a few smaller, Americanbased suppliers to get a toe in the door with his clients.
“I don’t know how long we can sustain
this,” says Terrault. “If the U.S. situation becomes untenable with tariffs reintroduced April 2, then greenhouse vegetable growers coast to coast may try to sell at reduced prices in Canada. That would be a big mess.” Ironically, the Gordie Howe International Bridge was envisioned by both Canada and the United States as a larger-than-life symbol of bilateral commerce for decades to come. Where’s last year’s handshake between friends, cementing the spans of our shared historical relationship? Retired? Like a hockey jersey from a bygone era, before the bridge is even officially opened? This is now, elbows up!
The Grower is “Digging Deeper” with Richard Lee, executive director, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, based in Leamington, Ontario. He explains the implications of U.S. tariffs for the industry that sends 200 transports south of the border every day. In early March, a mere three days of U.S. tariffs cost the sector more than $6 million. This podcast is sponsored by Cohort Wholesale.
Armand Vander Meulen and son, Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Hydroponic lettuce at Cultures Gen V Inc. Québec.
CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST
BRITISH COLUMBIA
BCFGA urges growers to remain united in face of multiple challenges
“
We’ve operated under the assumption that because we are diverse, we can’t operate together . . . One (unified) voice is always louder than 100 (separate) voices and yet we don’t do it.
~ MASSIMO BERGAMINI, executive director, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada, speaking at 136th annual general meeting, BC Fruit Growers’ Association.
MYRNA STARK LEADER
As the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association (BCFGA) on March 4, 2024, Melissa Tesche didn’t know how many trials she would face in her first year on the job.
Ninety per cent of the Okanagan’s soft fruit crop was wiped out by a polar vortex. She organized a peaceful rally of 245plus farmers to gain media and government attention during a BC NDP caucus retreat in Osoyoos May 28. Then, on July 25, the 88-year-old BC Tree Fruits Cooperative filed for bankruptcy leaving many BCFGA members searching for marketing alternatives.
After months of sharing the on-farm challenges of growers, Tesche and her members were pleased that the BC government announced a one-time $10M payment to help fruit growers. The news was timely on February 19, a day before the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Penticton.
The meeting’s message --
growers are stronger together -was repeated often to the 130 growers registered, a more fulsome crowd than the handful at the 2024 AGM in Kelowna, hopefully a sign of renewed grower interest.
Tesche told the crowd that BCFGA’s work needs to be more strategic, focusing on growers’ highest priorities rather than typically dozens of resolutions.
“We have to move beyond problem statements and bring forward solutions,” she said. “I need membership to engage so that we have numbers of farmers saying things like, ‘Is it OK in this country that we have to have offfarm jobs to support farming?’”
While grateful for the government support of $10M, Tesche urged growers to continue sharing their stories of farming challenges at all levels of government and with the public.
“If there is one good thing about tariff talk, it’s starting to galvanize Canadians. Inflationary prices in grocery stores aren’t driven by farmers making more money . . . We need advocacy and policy changes in Ottawa. We need to disrupt the status quo,” she said.
Keynote speaker Massimo Bergamini, executive director of Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada, echoed the message. As the representative for farmers’ voices in Ottawa, Bergamini told the crowd that growers need to unite, galvanizing their story and advocating as a group to be heard by government decision makers who have more issues coming at them quicker and competition for their ears and dollars is greater than ever.
“Your leadership and you have been able to make your stories matter, not just in your community but in the province and across Canada . . . When you tell the story in your community about how federal programs are old and aren’t working (a safety net model developed over 30 years ago), you raise visibility for everyone in agriculture. Organizations that succeed today are those that can come together with a common message.”
Tesche, BCFGA president Peter Simonsen and vicepresident Deep Brar thanked members for their efforts in 2024 and the government for responding with money.
Acknowledging that $10M won’t help everyone to the extent they might like or require, Simonsen said he was proud of BCFGA’s accomplishments.
“Our decline has not happened overnight….many years of climate and market challenges have shown that our support programs are inadequate . . . BC lags behind all other provinces in total farm support by far,” said Simonsen. “We have
seen our Washington competition receive per-acre, per-pound subsidies and subprime loans. After years of relative neglect, there was no shame in asking for equal treatment.”
Financially, BCFGA projects a $206,595 deficit in 2025, following a 2024 deficit of $386,071. The BCFGA’s test orchard hasn’t sold. Investing the revenue generated by the sale is earmarked to help fund the association but Tesche said BCFGA will not fire sale it.
BCFGA savings will cover the 2025 budget shortfall, but Tesche sees tough decisions ahead. The association lost about one third of its membership through those coop members.
Tesche said holding a one-day meeting instead of two days was a cost-saving measure, and attendees were asked to share ideas to grow and retain members. Some suggestions from the floor were tiered membership fees, inviting organic growers in and a levy. One grower commented that it seemed unfair that BCGFA’s paid members will receive the same benefit from the $10M as growers who aren’t members.
BCFGA resolutions were approved as one bundle rather than individually brought to the floor for debate. This carried quickly. In a separate exercise, attendees prioritized BCFGA’s work focus. The top four issues were: pressing for updates to BC temporary worker housing policy (implement a more standardized, quick approval process, exempting it from development charges); that government assess current support of agriculture compared to other competitor jurisdictions; that BC consider a premium top up to make insurance of separate parcels and varieties affordable; and that government business risk management programs address climate change by modifying the reference margin formula.
In her straightforward way, Tesche said direct payments like the $10M aren’t likely to happen again soon so advocating for policy change is the working direction.
As North Okanagan delegate Sam DiMaria put it, “We need to be bolder, sharper and smarter. We need to be bullish about the place we play in Canadian society – we need to talk about food security being a real issue.”
Editor’s note: Melissa Tesche is leaving the association in April to become executive director, Okanagan Basin Water Board.
CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST
QUÉBEC
Louis-Hébert award is won by apple grower François Jobin
The Apple Growers of Québec presented an award of merit at its annual general meeting in the name of Louis-Hébert, one of the first apple growers in 1617 in New France. The honour recognizes excellence and innovation in pomiculture.
The 2025 winner is François Jobin, a pillar of the industry for more than 30 years. He is owner of a 40-acre orchard near picturesque Frelighsburg. The
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Sunpunch apples
Summerland Varieties Corp. (“SVC”) is collaborating with Martin’s Family Fruit Farm of Ontario and British Columbia, Algoma Orchards of Ontario, and Verger des Bois-Francs of Québec, to deliver an exciting new Canadian apple to Canadian consumers.
The Sunpunch apple was developed in Canada by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s prolific tree fruit breeding program.
“The Sunpunch apple is refreshingly crisp and juicy, with hints of the tropics”, said Nick Ibuki, SVC’s business development manager. “Its ‘tri-coloured’ skin, which transitions from gold to orange and red, combined with its remarkable shelf life, will ensure that Sunpunch apples radiate sunshine all year long.”
SVC, which holds global commercialization rights to the Sunpunch apple, has partnered with Canadian growers and packers of high-quality fruit to create the Canadian club that will manage this launch. Currently, there are 100,000 Sunpunch trees planted across Canada. Those trees will have enough fruit for a retail launch in Ontario and Québec during the 2026/27 harvest and sales season. Production, marketing and sales will continue to ramp up after that.
Source: Summerland Varieties Corporation March 11, 2025 news release
citation lists how he adopted novel methods, including high-density plantings to become more competitive. Indeed, he has made significant advances in controlling quality of his apples.
As a distributor of products for N.M. Bartlett, Jobin has acted as a mentor and educator in the responsible use of pesticides. La Fédération des Producteurs de pommes du Québec (PPQ) recognizes the visionary role he
has played in strengthening the entire provincial industry.
Photo right: L-R: Éric Rochon, président des PPQ; Philippe Jobin, vice-président de la région des Frontières et fils de Jobin; François Jobin, récipiendaire du méritas, et Sébastien Morissette, viceprésident des PPQ.
GREENHOUSE GROWER
Greenhouse suppliers indicate slight optimism for 2025
Rabobank, headquartered in the Netherlands, has released its survey of the global greenhouse industry, taking the pulse of suppliers in seeds, technology, advisory services and construction. Suppliers rated the current sentiment at 6.7 on a scale of one to 10.
When asked about their expectations for 2025 compared to 2024, the average outlook is positive. Two regions stand out with particularly positive views on opportunities: the Persian Gulf region and North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia). Sentiment in North America (Canada, U.S. and Mexico) is also clearly positive. However, the sentiment regarding opportunities and the investment climate in the Far East (Japan, South Korea, China) and Europe is much more cautious.
Consumables suppliers are more optimistic than investment goods suppliers. The RaboResearch survey also revealed differences in sentiment based on the type of goods or services provided. Breeding companies and other suppliers of consumables such as growing media, fertilizers, and crop protection are somewhat more
positive than those dealing with investment goods such as lighting, greenhouse structures and technology.
Europe dominates high-tech greenhouse production. Currently, about half of the world’s high-tech greenhouses are located in Europe, mainly in countries with a temperate or somewhat colder climate. Lowand mid-tech greenhouses are more common in the Mediterranean region.
This pattern is also seen in North America, where high-tech greenhouses are mostly found in Canada and the northern part of the U.S., while low- and mid-tech greenhouses dominate in the southern states of the U.S. and in Mexico.
Ongoing consolidation and ownership changes
Globally, greenhouse growers are increasing scale through the construction of new greenhouses and via mergers and acquisitions.
For example, in the Netherlands the 10 largest tomato growers now account for more than half of total tomato cultivation.
Another significant and ongoing trend in greenhouse growing is the change of
ownership. Some notable examples from the Netherlands in 2024 include:
• ACRES: Lans Tomaten, Green2Grow, Prominent I, Prominent II, and Kwekerij G.J.
van der Wel merged to form ACRES, encompassing 50 hectares of glasshouses.
• Agro Care and CombiVliet: These companies announced their legal merger, creating a new
entity that grows tomatoes on nearly 500 hectares of greenhouses in the Netherlands, France, and North Africa.
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GREENHOUSE GROWER
Greenhouse suppliers indicate slight optimism for 2025
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• Alvonto: Van Adrichem Kwekerijen and Van Marrewijk Tomaten merged into a new company, with 62 hectares of greenhouses.
• Van Gog Kwekerijen: Van Gog Kwekerijen acquired the Grubbenvorst location from Wijnen Square Crops, resulting in a 110-hectare greenhouse company in the Netherlands and Germany, growing tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, and peppers.
Canada has had regulations for migrant workers in greenhouse horticulture since the 1960s. In the U.S, the so-called H-2A visa program facilitates the employment of migrant workers. However, changes to the H-2A program could be introduced by the new administration, potentially leading to the relocation of greenhouse production to Mexico and Canada. On the other hand, high import tariffs are also being discussed, which could encourage near-sourcing.
Canada: A hotspot for high-tech greenhouses Canada is the second-most important country in the world for high-tech greenhouse cultivation, following the Netherlands. Over the last decade, the area dedicated to greenhouse cultivation has steadily increased, largely driven by vegetable cultivation under glass, with both the area and production value of greenhouse vegetables roughly doubling in
the past 10 years. A notable development is the sharp increase in glasshouse strawberry cultivation. Although strawberries currently occupy a small part of the total greenhouse area and production volume, we see further opportunities for growth. Glasshouse strawberries have the potential to become a new pillar of Canadian greenhouse horticulture.
While most Canadian greenhouse production is concentrated in Ontario, other provinces are also seeing development. In this respect, Québec and British Columbia are worth mentioning, as their governments actively encourage greenhouse investments. The government in Québec has implemented a strategy to support local food production and increase the province’s food self-sufficiency. Currently, greenhouse production in Québec covers 189 hectares.
From 2017 to 2021, an influx of private equity resulted in significant growth in vertical farming. However, since 2021, several vertical farms have ceased operations due to a lack of profitability. In contrast, vegetable cultivation under glass has grown much more steadily over the past 15 years. Companies that ceased operations have been acquired by existing players, allowing production to continue.
Another notable development is the branding of greenhouse vegetables.
Smaller companies often join larger
market access, while large companies acquire smaller ones to expand faster and offer a complete product range. This trend is particularly evident in the Midwest region of the U.S. and in Canada, leading
area in these regions.
Source: RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness February 2025
Mastronardi Produce launches a collection of snacking tomatoes on-the-vine
Mastronardi Produce has launched a flavour explosion with Bombs Squad, a collection of snacking tomatoes on-the-vine in one convenient package. They were on display at the SEPC Southern Exposure show in Orlando, Florida from March 6-8 2025.
The flavours range from sweet to savoury. The full Bombs line includes Flavor Bombs, Sugar Bombs, Honey Bombs, Lolli Bombs and Umami Bombs,
and Bahama Bombs, any of which can appear in a Bombs Squad package.
“We’ve heard our consumers, and they can’t get enough of our Bombs tomatoes,” said Paul Mastronardi, president & CEO of Mastronardi Produce Ltd. “We’re very excited to bring Bombs Squad to market and allow consumers more variety without committing to only one of our beloved Bombs flavours.”
The Bombs tomato varieties are
ripened to perfection in Mastronardi Produce greenhouses, and packed while still on-the-vine for outstanding flavour and freshness. These tomatoes can be enjoyed on their own for a snack, or as a delicious addition to salads, charcuterie boards, and more.
Photo by Glenn Lowson
GREENHOUSE GROWER
FVGC partners with U of Windsor for made-in-Canada solutions
The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) and the University of Windsor (the University) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that addresses the unique challenges facing the greenhouse vegetable sector—energy resilience, sustainability and economic growth. This partnership will accelerate the development of made-in-Canada strategies that integrate cuttingedge research, technology, and policy to ensure a thriving and competitive greenhouse industry.
“This collaboration with the University of Windsor highlights the innovation that characterizes Canada’s fruit and vegetable
growers,” said Marcus Janzen, president of FVGC. “Now more than ever we need smart food policies that strengthen food security, drive economic growth, and support the resilience of Canadian agriculture.”
Both parties recognize the growing need and urgency for made-in-Canada solutions.
FVGC’s Greenhouse Vegetable Working Group plays a critical role in informing policy and regulatory decisions that support sector profitability and sustainability, maintain and enhance market access and trade, and ensure an innovative, competitive sector with a strong growth agenda. Their national,
sector-led development of the Canadian Greenhouse Excellence Network (CGEN) is one part of a strong Canadian approach to solve complex challenges with evidence-based policies that meet the triple bottom line of economic, environmental and social sustainability.
The University’s initiative, Agriculture UWindsor (AgUWin), is focused on developing and integrating innovative technologies, scientific advancements, educational programming with benefits to the greenhouse and broader agricultural sectors.
“The University of Windsor’s extensive expertise in automation,
energy, industrial engineering, and talent development lends itself extremely well to solving complex agricultural challenges,” said Dr. Shanthi Johnson, UWindsor’s vice-president, research and innovation. “The partnership will help to embed the express and real needs of the sector into the University’s educational programming and research pipeline.”
The University of Windsor is located in Essex County, Ontario, Canada, home to the largest acreages of greenhouse agriculture in North America and second in the world to the Netherlands. Agriculture UWindsor (AgUWin), is
well-positioned to deliver the infrastructure, expertise, and experience to develop and integrate innovative technologies and scientific advancements useful to the greenhouse and broader agricultural sectors.
As Canada navigates the complexities of food security, sustainable energy, and economic resilience, partnerships such as the one between FVGC and the University of Windsor are critical to ensuring a thriving fruit and vegetable sector. Richard Lee, vice chair of FVGC’s Greenhouse Vegetable Working Group emphasized, “Greenhouse vegetable growers contribute $4.8 billion annually to Canada’s economy, supporting year-round jobs and the supply of fresh, nutritious produce for all Canadians. We need evidencebased policies, feasible on-farm energy options, research, innovation and funding incentives, to position the sector for success.”
FVGC will continue bringing partners together to advocate for policies that support innovation and ensure that the challenges facing the fruit and vegetable sector are met.
Dr. Rupp Carriveau, U of Windsor engineering professor is a leader is energy sustainability.
U of Windsor researchers
In Montreal, the Molson name is linked with the legendary hockey team, the Canadiens. Geoff Molson led a family effort in 2009 along with financial partners to acquire the team, the Bell Centre and evenko, the entertainment division. And what a story he has to tell of the journey to get there and then sustain the enterprise.
He spent his childhood in Montreal and was a passionate Canadiens fan from a young age, when Molson Brewery owned the team. He took his first steps in the family business working in sales at the brewery in the summer. Since those early days, he’s charted a
business path across North America, from Atlanta to Boston and New York.
He returned to Molson Brewery in 1999, working first in Toronto as a chain account sales manager, then moving on to Denver, where was named a VP in charge of managing the Molson USA business. In 2005 he came home to Montreal to serve as VP, Marketing for the company.
A decade later, he became chair of the board and Ambassador of Molson. That same year, along with brothers Andrew and Justin, extended members of the Molson family,
and partners including BCE Inc., the Woodbridge Limited company, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, the National Bank Financial Group and Luc Bertrand, Geoff helped lead the acquisition of the Montreal Canadiens, the Bell Centre, and evenko, the organization’s entertainment division. That ownership group became formally known as Groupe CH shortly thereafter; Geoff has been president and CEO since 2011.
Geoff Molson will be the keynote speaker on April 9 at the opening breakfast of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association Fresh Week.
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CPMA introduces 20 rising stars
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is proud to introduce the 20 rising stars who will participate in the 15th edition of the Passion for Produce (PFP) program in Montréal from April 8-10, 2025.
They are:
Ajit Saxena - Mucci Farms
Ashley Michels - Ippolito Group
Boston Davidsen - The Star Group / CFP
Bryan McNamara - EarthFresh Farms
Christian Cruz - BCfresh
Vegetables
Cindy Tsen - Sobeys
Dave Waithe - Costco Wholesale Canada
Eye Souvannarath - Loblaw Companies Limited
Jaikish De Livera - Burnac Produce Limited
Naomi Bendayan - Equifruit
Nicole Lemming - Red Sun Farms
Raymond Lee - Fresh Direct Produce Ltd.
Sarah Taylor - Oppy
Shania Pearson - Peak of the Market Ltd.
Shauna Kinnunen - Vineland Growers’ Co-operative
Steve Bertrand - Serres Stephane Bertrand (Les)
Trevor Amichand - Gordon Food Service - Canada
Valérie Terrault - Gen V QPMA / AQDFL
Wyatt Schlosser - The Star Group / Star Produce Ltd.
Yanni Alexakis - Canadawide
Ajit Saxena, communications manager, Mucci Farms.
Geoff Molson.
Nicole Lemming, sales coordinator, Red Sun Farms.
Shania Pearson, procurement, Peak of the Market Ltd.
The U.S. tariff threat dominated the 2025 spring meeting
KAREN DAVIDSON
In every conversation, indeed in many working sessions, the threat of U.S. tariffs was the common denominator at the annual general meeting of Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada. Held March 11-13 in Québec City, the gathering of horticulturists passed all resolutions brought to the floor, listed below.
U.S. tariffs and review of interprovincial trade barriers in Canada. Concern was raised that in potential revising or eliminating trade rules between provinces, unfair trade practices do not emerge. It will be important for authorities to implement tariff control and monitoring measures to prevent circumventions. The request was for the FVGC to work with provincial representatives to identify issues and follow up with the relevant federal political bodies. The following organizations (QPMA, CPMA, ADA, DRC, MAPAQ, AAFC, OFVGA, OGVG) who are concerned by interprovincial dumping are called upon for a work plan to end this damaging business practice.
Urgent focus required to address the unstable international trade environment. The background referenced the threat of increased ag imports from competing countries, incorrect inferences from the U.S. administration that
Horticultural research and facilities. Delegates directed FVGC to encourage Agriculture and Agri-Canada in its priorities for research, research staff, and research infrastructure for the horticultural sector. FRUIT
Canadian growers unfairly benefit from subsidized labour programs, U.S. specialty growers receiving market access subsidies valued at approximately $3.8 billion (CAD, inadequate business risk management programs. The motion asked for the FVGC to advocate for a Canadian response to tariff threats, including dedicated resources to developing phytosanitary rules that would help open markets and for more responsive business risk management programs.
Advocate for increased resources to the AAFC/CFIA Market Access Secretariat.
Delegates want to be proactive, in the face of tariffs, asking that FVGC advocate for additional resources for the AAFC/CFIA Market Access Secretariat; and that new markets be identified so that phytosanitary measures can be set.
Changes to the AgriStability Program. The background to this motion cites vulnerability to climate change as well as inadequate terms and conditions of the AgriStability program. The motion requests that FVGC advocate for an increase to the $3 million payment limit, no consideration of a company’s negative margins in the event of a disaster; removal of the clause concerning the limit of years with a negative margin, an increase in the number of years taken into account in calculating the reference margin by using an adjustment factor to take account of inflation; including related
“I have optimism, notwithstanding what the Orange Man may be planning. You are farmers, who get up in the morning and do your life’s work. No amount of noise from Washington is going to change that. Together we can find ways of ensuring that every morning, you will be able to pursue the ambitions of feeding Canadians. I’m confident that we will be able to weather the storm, and that there will be a better day ahead.”
~
Massimo Bergamini, executive director, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
salaries in eligible expenses; lowering the minimum trigger margin to 15%; removing the limit on the inclusion of contract work; including all revenues from special programs (e.g. AgriRecovery) in the calculation of the reference margin.
Federal regulations on plastics. The background cited the current regulation banning certain single-use plastics. Delegates urged FVGC to make the federal government aware of the potential impacts of its regulations on plastics, the lack of viable alternatives, the impacts on food waste and the costs to the industry. The motion also asked that the Canadian government
carry out a complete study of the costs caused by the application of plastics regulations on agricultural businesses, the industry and consumers.
Consolidation and reduction of audit requirements. The background cited layers of inspections, audits and reporting schemes at all levels of government, sometimes numbering up to 15. These are costly in terms of redundancy and the need for dedicated resources to comply. Delegates urged FVGC to list federal, agriculture-related audits and their specific requirements in order to identify overlap in auditing requirements and assess feasibility for streamlining, and to explore opportunities for a more unified auditing framework.
Recovery of all applicable sales taxes on renovations for housing for agricultural temporary foreign workers. Background cited the pressures to improve housing. Delegates requested that FVGC reach out to the Canada Revenue Agency so that buildings used to house agricultural TFWs are recognized as agricultural buildings as defined by the CRA and employers can obtain an input tax credit for the applicable sales taxes paid on expenses related to buildings used to house agricultural TFWs.
Restoring capacity and output of the Minor Use Pesticide Program through permanent funding of the Pest Management Centre and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. Delegates requested that Agriculture Canada transition the Minor Use Pesticide Program to a permanent/ongoing funding source and that FVGC secure increased funding, to restore the Minor Use Pesticide Program to levels under Growing Forward (2008-13).
Expedited approval for the use of sprayer drones for pest management in agriculture and subsequent expedited pesticide label amendments. Background cited the use of sprayer drones in the U.S. and Europe to apply pesticides. Delegates urged that FVGC work with the PMRA to immediately allow the application of pesticides by sprayer drones in Canada and to allow pesticide labels to be easily amended to allow them to be applied by sprayer drones in fruit and vegetable cropping systems.
Predictable process on label changes. Background included that chemical companies are currently allowed to swap out crops on product labels without a phase in/phase out period, effectively cancelling use on those crops that are removed. Any label change, especially those regarding maximum residue limits (MRL), that takes immediate effect fails to consider crops in storage that have already been treated by this product and renders them unsaleable. FVGC is to urgently work with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to delay any revocations of the maximum residue limits (MRL) on fruit or vegetables in storage that have already been treated when a product has been revoked by the registrant. And FVGC should call upon the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to ensure that phase-in and phase-out timelines are implemented for any label changes in a consistent manner, regardless of who initiates the label change.
NATIONAL
Canadian farmland values continue to climb
The average value of Canadian farmland continued its steady climb in 2024, increasing by 9.3 per cent, slightly less than the 11.5 per cent increase reported in 2023, according to the latest FCC Farmland Values Report.
In Ontario, average cultivated farmland values increased by 3.1 per cent in 2024. A reduced rate of growth in cultivated farmland values was observed in all but one of Ontario’s regions. This modest increase followed a 10.7 per cent increase in 2023 and a 19.4 per cent increase in 2022.
“The increase in Canadian farmland values in 2024 reflects an enduring strength in demand for farmland amid some pressures on commodity prices,” said J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief economist. “The limited supply of farmland available for sale combined with lower borrowing costs resulted in an increase in the average price of farmland across the country.”
The highest increases were observed in
regions with strong agricultural activity and favourable growing conditions. In 2024, Saskatchewan again led with a 13.1 per cent gain in average farmland values, and British Columbia recorded growth of 11.3 per cent.
All other provinces experienced growth in the single digits. New Brunswick’s cultivated land values grew by 9.0 per cent, Québec reported a 7.7 per cent change and Alberta was close behind at 7.1 per cent. Manitoba had a growth rate of 6.5 per cent and Nova Scotia reported a 5.3 per cent appreciation in value. Ontario’s cultivated average farmland value increased by 3.1 per cent and Prince Edward Island had the most stable values with an increase of 1.4 per cent.
Only three provinces reported higher growth rates in 2024 than 2023: British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick. There were insufficient publicly reported sales in Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and
Yukon to fully assess changes in farmland values in those regions.
Gervais points out that while farmland value appreciation is slowing, farmland affordability relative to farm income
continues to deteriorate. This makes it challenging for those aspiring to grow their land base including young producers, Indigenous peoples and new entrants.
New National Potato Wart Response Plan ready for 2025 potato crop
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA has announced that the new National Potato Wart Response Plan has been finalized and will take effect with the 2025 potato crop.
The response plan outlines measures and activities that must be followed when a potato wart detection is confirmed and applies to new detections of potato wart anywhere in Canada, other than Newfoundland and Labrador. It replaces the Potato Wart Domestic Long-term Management Plan (2009).
The CFIA met regularly with stakeholders, including the Canadian Potato Council, the Prince Edward Island Potato Board, and the Province of Prince Edward Island (PEI), throughout the development of the response plan. Input from these stakeholders has helped make the final response plan inclusive of information and expertise from the potato sector including growers and grower associations, and trading partners.
New measures
• Preventive control plans: Users of restricted fields must develop and implement preventive control plans to identify and manage risks associated with potato wart.
• Seed potato certification: Certification will no longer be available for seed potatoes grown in restricted fields, as seed potatoes are a significant risk for spreading the disease.
• Soil sampling and analysis: Additional soil sampling and analysis is required before removing potato wart phytosanitary measures from restricted fields.
The CFIA has met with potato growers in PEI to review the new response plan and
discuss the transition for users of fields that currently have potato wart related restrictions; fields in PEI already under restriction will be assigned an equivalent status under the new response plan. This will be based on the steps growers and/or landowners have already completed toward a field’s release from restrictions under the 2009 management plan.
Complementary measures
The response plan is one of several measures used by the CFIA and industry to manage potato wart and help prevent its spread:
• Field and tuber inspections:
The CFIA and growers, packers, and exporters complete field and tuber inspections and postharvest testing as required by CFIA programs and regulations. These are also key to meeting the requirements of countries importing Canadian potatoes.
• Potato Wart Order compliance: Requirements remain in place to restrict the movement of potatoes (seed, table stock and processing potatoes) and other regulated things such as farm equipment and soil within the province of PEI and to other Canadian regions.
• National Potato Wart Survey: Ongoing monitoring of Canadian potato fields provides valuable data to verify the effectiveness of control measures.
All of these measures are critical in helping maintain confidence in our plant health system, both domestically and abroad, as well as minimizing the possible impact on market access for Canada’s potatoes.
Quick facts
• Potato wart is an extremely persistent soil-borne fungus that
may reduce yield and potato tuber quality on farms. It can spread through the movement of soil, farm equipment, and potatoes from fields that have potato wart.
• Potato wart is regulated under the Plant Protection Act and Regulations.
• In Canada, potato wart is only known to occur in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince
Edward Island.
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency March 13, 2025 news release
By the time you read this, we’ll be through the first quarter of 2025. All I can say so far is what a ride it’s been. Things change literally on a daily basis, and it can be hard to keep up with the latest status and developments. A wave of patriotism usually reserved for major sporting events has swept our country. It has certainly elevated already popular ‘buy local’ programs and sentiments to new heights as consumers ask for Canadian products and businesses are pivoting – to resurrect a popular
word from the last global crisis –to find new suppliers and keep up to the latest trade and tariff troubles.
And while ‘buy local’ is great and lets people feel like they can take action, the cynic in me knows that it’s not enough. When it comes to our domestic fruit and vegetable production, we can’t eat our way out of this one.
In fact, I would go as far as to say that this is generally our opportunity to do better – a better job supporting local food production, a better job investing in much needed infrastructure, and a better job enabling a business environment that will encourage growth and profitability for our growers.
To be blunt, let’s not waste this crisis.
Canada, and Ontario in particular, have always gone out of their way to support the auto industry. More recently, that’s taken the form of significant investments and accommodation for new battery plants.
Granted, the auto sector is a major pillar of our provincial and
national economy – but so is agriculture and we’ve never seen the same level of financial and other support extended to the farming sector, which is essential to our national security. Ontario’s agri-food sector contributes more than $50 billion to the provincial economy annually and supports 871,000, which is equivalent to 11 per cent of the provincial workforce. The Ontario fruit and vegetable sector is responsible for more than one third of Canada’s edible horticulture production, growing more than 125 different crops and generating more than $4.2 billion in economic activity every year.
And yet, to cite one popular example, as a country we’ve sat on our hands for decades when it comes to removing important inter-provincial trade barriers that are keeping us from transporting and selling our own food and drink in all parts of our own country. It’s nice to see Canadian flags on the shelves at the grocery store, but efforts to support domestic food production must go deeper than that to have
an impact. Here are five things that will make a difference:
Make food production a priority. Governments at all levels should make major policy decisions through a lens of food production and consider how those decisions may impact agricultural production.
Invest in infrastructure. Fruit and vegetable production happens outside of urban areas and many rural areas struggle with poorly maintained roads and bridges, lack of high-speed internet and reliable cellular coverage and outdated energy supply systems. We need to do better.
Streamline red tape. To put it simply, it is nothing short of ridiculous how long it can take to secure financing, get a permit approved or have other critical decisions made by government, banks and others. All of this wastes time and money and hinders our competitiveness.
Remove municipal barriers Over the past few years, there has been a growing frustration with excessive fees and regulations on issues such as worker housing, storm water management, development charges, building permits, wastewater issues and more.
Stop squeezing suppliers. Retailers say they support local growers, but at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, we hear many instances of those same retailers refusing to pay more for the produce they buy even though grower production costs have gone up significantly. Growers have to be profitable to stay in business and that means being paid fairly for what they produce. We all have a role to play in enabling and supporting our local food system – and this is our opportunity for transformational change. Let’s not waste it.
Alison Robertson is the executive director of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association.
Shows of Canadian patriotism were common at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention in February 2025. One example is
Haskett, berry and apple grower, Vittoria, Ontario pictured with assistant Sue
He can sing “O Canada” with gusto. His daughter Cheryl Peck manages a line of
Akar.
per cent Canadian fruit. Photo by Jeff Tribe.
ALISON ROBERTSON
URBAN COWBOY
Hoekstra offers trade optimism in these otherwise dark days
Canadian agriculture has an enviable track record of making trade deals with foreign countries. Look what trade has done to strengthen so many subsectors of the agri-food industry, from east to west, from row crops to livestock, to fruit and vegetables.
As the saying goes, a deal is a deal. But when dealing with the leader of our biggest trading partner, U.S. President Donald Trump, there’s a tendency to label whatever gets negotiated and agreed upon in a deal as subject to change, temporary and perhaps meaningless.
For him, a deal is all about the win. And even if the win is adequate now, at some point, it won’t be.
In fact, it might not even be
remembered, by him. Recall how Trump stumbled and bumbled his way through the 2020 USMCA free trade deal with Canada and Mexico, getting his rear end kicked by then-finance minister Chrystia Freeland. In March of this year, he roundly criticized whoever made that lousy deal.
Donald, it was you.
Of course, he didn’t act alone.
One of the U.S. architects of USMCA was Jameson Greer, chief of staff to Trump’s first-term trade representative, Robert Lighthizer. But instead of bringing down the hammer on Greer, a former Air Force lawyer, he promoted him to top trade representative in his new cabinet.
It’s odd for Trump to side with those he’d label losers, such as Greer.
However, with Trump, no one’s job is safe, and that tentativeness is only going to grow as Trump seeks scapegoats for his own bad decisions.
He’s still in the honeymoon phase with people he’s promoted like Greer, as well as those waiting in the wings, such as affable nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Peter (goes by “Pete”) Hoekstra of Michigan.
But if there’s any hope for
relief from Trump’s rhetoric on the horizon, it could well lie with Hoekstra, who served as ambassador to The Netherlands during Trump’s first term.
At a pivotal mid-March U.S. Senate confirmation hearing, the 71-year-old Hoekstra was asked by the Democratic chair of the session how he felt about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state. His answer made it clear that he wasn’t onside with his future boss.
“Canada is a sovereign state,” he said. “I do have a special appreciation for Canada as a neighbour.”
Of course he does. He’s from Michigan. Even though he’s a dyed-in-the-wool Republican (he served as chair of the Michigan Republican Party last year), he was elected to nine consecutive terms as a Michigan representative and knows Canada very well. He is sensitive to the fact that Ontario and Michigan are joined at the hip for autos, agriculture and so much more – friends and relatives among them.
And while Hoekstra didn’t deviate much at the hearing from Trump’s America First agenda, he said he would “work tirelessly” to strengthen ties with Canada while still advancing Trump’s safe-border obsession.
“We have a real history of
working together and we know how to make this work,” he said. “Now let’s do this and apply our experience to the priorities the president has outlined, freer, fairer trade . . . to make Canada and the United States safer, stronger and more prosperous.”
That’s the most optimistic talk I’ve heard about the Canada-U.S. relationship in months. Surely Hoekstra will have some sway with the U.S. negotiating team.
On the other side of the table, from Canada, agri-food trade negotiations will be led by Matthew Smith, who’s held a range of trade policy and negotiations roles over the past 20 years at Global Affairs Canada and at Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada.
Smith has worked on Canada’s trade agreement with the United States and Mexico and represented Canada at meetings of the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Hopefully Smith and Hoekstra’s relationship reflects the kind of Canada-U.S. trade connectivity that the agri-food sector wants, needs and deserves, for the good of Canadians and Americans alike.
Owen Roberts is a past-president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and a communications instructor at the University of Illinois
OWEN ROBERTS
“Canada is a sovereign state.” Pete Hoekstra, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
How to stay competitive in a changing world
KAREN DAVIDSON
Ontario growers were engaged in several key files at the Feb 18, 2025 annual general meeting of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA): labour, crop protection and trade. All motions passed.
The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, with 85 per cent of production exported to the U.S., introduced a motion about the unstable international trade environment. Their worries are multifold: should the U.S. target competing countries, increased agricultural imports may now come into Canada; the U.S. administration has inferred incorrectly that Canadian growers benefit unfairly from subsidized labour programs, U.S. specialty growers are receiving market access subsidies valued at about $3.8 billion. Their motion urged that OFVGA work with the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) to advocate for a federal government strategy and resources to develop new markets and to create business risk programs that respond to trade disruptions. This focus is considered urgent given the prospect of a federal election.
The Ontario Tender Fruit Growers brought forward a motion that encourages OFVGA to lobby the provincial agriculture ministry and ministry of health to include costs for international worker housing inspections under public funds.
The same group is concerned
about the downward trajectory of research funds and infrastructure in the province. Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario owns 14 research properties yet there is limited opportunity for the agricultural industry to provide guidance on the direction of research, knowledge transfer and services.
“Some key efforts from the province can have a big impact, but our organization is increasingly concerned about lack of focus on research infrastructure,” said Dave Hope, chair, Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers.
“We need to maintain the research stations, but we also need the field managers to run them. It’s more than bricks and mortar.”
The motion: that OFVGA work with the Ontario government to ensure ongoing investment into research, research staff and research facilities is a priority, and that provincial and federal governments are coordinating with the sector to ensure effective use of agricultural research assets in Ontario.
The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers introduced a motion that OFVGA lobby in partnership with Ontario Federation of Agriculture to seek changes in the DriveON Emissions and safety inspection program for limited use commercial vehicles used for agricultural purposes.
Also on the topic of reducing red tape, the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers introduced a motion on consolidating and
reducing audit requirements. The direction is for OFVGA to collaborate with national stakeholders to create a Globally Recognized Audit Program that meets or exceeds existing audits that range from health unit inspections to insurance audits for transportation.
The OFVGA Crop Protection committee introduced a motion that OFVGA work with FVGC to advocate that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) transition the Pest Management Centre to an A-based permanent/ongoing funding source and to secure increased funding that takes inflation into account. The operational funding is about half of the levels received during 2008-2013, declining with each successive agricultural policy framework.
“Salaries now represent 60 per cent of the total budget of PMC,” reported Brian Rideout, chair of the OFVGA crop protection committee. “For 2025, funds will research 31 total projects, down significantly from the 40+ projects in years past.”
“Crop protection is getting squeezed from different angles,” added Chris Duyvelshoff, OFVGA crop protection advisor. “It’s harder to register conventional or biological products in Canada. The fees keep increasing for registrants.”
Addressing this point, the East Central Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association introduced a motion that OFVGA work with FVGC to lobby the federal ministry of health to implement a
OFVGA’s chair, potato grower Shawn Brenn (L) honoured George Gilvesy with the 2025 Award of Merit. The past chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers has shared counsel and input to many issues of the day.
cost-benefit analysis into the PMRA’s registration and re-evaluation with adequate
COMING EVENTS 2025
April 2 Grape Growers of Ontario 77th Annual General Meeting, Club Roma, St. Catharines, ON
April 2-3 Muck Grower Days, Ontario Crops Research Centre, Bradford, ON
April 8-10 Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention and Trade Show, Montreal, QC
April 9 Eastern Ontario Garlic Production and Pest Management Workshop, Grenville Mutual Insurance Community Room, Kemptville, ON
April 10 Farm & Food Care Ontario Annual Conference, Grandway Events Centre, Elora, ON
April 16 Garlic Pest & Production Workshop, 1 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON
May 6-8 International Potato Symposium, Rimini, Italy
May 12 International Day of Plant Health
May 30 International Day of the Potato
June 10-12 GreenTech Conference, Amsterdam
June 14 Farm & Food Care’s Breakfast on the Farm, Hoenhorst Farms, Innerkip, ON
June 18 3rd Annual Ontario Potato Board Industry Social Golf Tournament, Hockley Valley Resort, Mono, ON
July 16-18 Potato Sustainability Alliance Summer Symposium, Charlottetown, PE
July 20-23 International Fruit Tree Association Summer Tour, Ontario
July 24 Gaia Consulting Field Day, Southridge Farm, Southport, MB
July 2025 Federal-Provincial-Territorial Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting, Winnipeg, MB
Oct 8-9
Oct 16-18
Oct 28-29
Nov 7-16
Canadian Greenhouse Conference, Niagara Falls, ON
Global Produce & Floral Show, Anaheim, CA
Canadian Centre for Food Integrity Public Trust Symposium, Westin Toronto Airport Hotel, Toronto, ON
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto, ON
RETAIL NAVIGATOR
Building relationships in turbulent times
Canadian consumers are responding to American tariffs with more passion and fury than we have ever experienced. Many are adamant they will buy only Canadian -- anything but American. Retailers are putting up signage to help consumers make informed choices. Loblaw Companies Ltd, for example, has responded very quickly to highlight products from the U.S. impacted by tariffs with a large “T” on shelf labels.
In a statement on LinkedIn, the CEO and president Per Bank, said the organization has created a tariff symbol (T) to help customers make choices on goods.
“Because of the tariffs imposed from the U.S., the Canadian government has been forced to put a range of retaliatory tariffs in place, on roughly $30B worth of goods,” Bank said in the statement, “things like poultry, dairy items, fruits and vegetables, and more. This will unfortunately have consequences.”
In stores there are many examples of U.S. products that are not selling. Social media is full of pictures of U.S.-grown strawberries reduced below the cost of goods because people are just not buying them.
During my time in this industry, I have never experienced such a swift and drastic change in consumer behaviour.
Challenges for retailers
Take a moment to consider what is happening within the four walls of your customers: the retailers. They have worked for years to establish good working relationships with U.S. producers. Prior to the threat of tariffs, the U.S. was a great source of product for Canada and consumers wanted these items. Now, category managers and buyers are forced to look for product elsewhere or face the challenge of consumers leaving it on the counter.
There are U.S. products throughout the store, but produce is one of the departments with the highest penetration. For several reasons – winter weather prohibiting a growing season in Canada being the most obvious -Canadian grocers had a lot of
U.S.-grown produce from the southernmost states. Now they are scrambling to decide if they should keep them or look across the globe for options.
A great time to build relationships with customers
With retailers scrambling to find options, now is a great time to be a great supplier. Communicate with them to ensure you understand any changes coming to the category. For example, if you supply apples and they decide to reduce or eliminate U.S. SKUs in the category they might need more product from you. Let them know if you can deliver 10-15 per cent more product and make sure you understand when they will need it.
With the challenges they are facing, your service level (cases delivered divided by cases ordered) is more important than ever. Strive to exceed 95 per cent.
Make sure it is very obvious your product is produced and packed in Canada. Not the fine print on the back -- up front! Consumers want to know and you should make it simple for them. Make it clear on your shipping boxes so employees in the store know it is Canadian.
Provide as much information as you can to your customers about your product so they have what they need.
Check stores and retailers’ websites to make sure your product has the correct Product of Canada labelling. They rely on systems for this information. It is not always perfect. If there is an issue in the store, ask the employees and try to understand the root cause. If the signage is not correct there is a reason.
With close to 10% of food being purchased online you should also check retailers’ websites to ensure labelling is correct. Loblaw introduced a
swap option for consumers to shift from American products to Canadian. Check to confirm this is working properly for your items.
This could be a long-term shift
If you were ever thinking of making investments to extend the season or implement other technology to provide a Canadian product in place of an American product, now is the time. Walk the stores and look for U.S. products that could be replaced here in Canada. It could be primary production or packing/processing products from different growing regions. If you have connections in other growing regions from your involvement in industry associations or other initiatives there could be opportunities for you or them. Talk to your customers to assess the viability and get some
commitments from them. They are actively looking for options. Make sure you are the first one through the door. You will be a solution to their challenges which can take your relationship to another level. It is important to get the commitments as the situation south of the border seems to change daily.
Peter Chapman is a retail consultant, professional speaker and the author of A la Cart-a suppliers’ guide to retailer’s priorities. Peter is based in Halifax, N.S. where he is the principal at SKUFood. Peter works with producers and processors to help them get their products on the shelf and into the shopping cart.
PETER CHAPMAN
FOCUS: STORAGE, CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING
Navigating Ontario’s Blue Box transition
RACHEL KAGAN
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – a policy approach which makes producers financially and physically responsible for managing the recycling of their packaging – is at a pivotal moment in Canada. By the end of 2025, most provinces will have adopted full producer responsibility models for residential packaging recycling programs, which represents a major shift in how these programs have historically been delivered.
Ontario is no exception to this transition, with the Blue Box program under-going significant changes under the province’s Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act. The new producer responsibility framework allows for a competitive, multi-PRO (producer responsibility organization) model — a PRO being a business established to help producers meet their regulatory obligations. Currently, four Blue Box PROs are registered with the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority, the regulator mandated to enforce the province’s circular economy laws.
As Ontario transitions to a new model, it’s important to ask: How can we ensure an efficient and effective Ontario Blue Box recycling program?
Ontario blue box in the news
A recent article in the Toronto Star, Major retailers say Ontario
families could pay hundreds more for groceries as new recycling costs balloon, highlights industry concerns about rising program costs.
The article reports that Retail Council of Canada (RCC) –which represents retailers ie. obligated producers of packaging EPR programs – estimates that the Ontario Blue Box program will cost $740 million to operate in 2026, which is nearly four times the cost under the previous program model (where producers funded 50 per cent of the costs while municipalities operated the program).
RCC estimates it may take another $350 million to expand recycling infrastructure to meet the government’s ambitious recycling targets.
That’s over $1 billion for Ontario alone.
While these figures are estimates and details are limited, the potential costs are undeniably high.
To put that in perspective, producers have contributed a total of just over $1 billion to fund the collection and management of residential packaging in British Columbia since its EPR program first launched in 2014, according to Recycle BC’s 2023 Annual Report.
This isn’t the first time these concerns have surfaced. In April 2024, CBC News published Big grocers, retailers want Ontario’s recycling plan changed, raising similar concerns around costs. Yet, under Ontario’s multi-PRO
model, information on fees and program costs is not publicly or readily available, making cost transparency a challenge
Understanding the recycling value chain
While producers are financially and physically responsible under EPR, they are not the only players who determine whether recyclable materials are successfully diverted from landfill.
The residential recycling value chain also includes consumers, collectors and haulers, recycling facilities and processors, and end markets.
Shouldn’t an evolving EPR model consider the roles and responsibilities of all those along
the recycling value chain?
Successful recycling programs are dependent on residents putting the right materials in their Blue Box, haulers collecting and transporting materials, and processors delivering quality recycled feedstock to end markets, which include PPEC member companies who buy back used cardboard and paper materials.
PPEC perspective
For PPEC and its members, who rely on recycled content in their operations, these changes raise important questions, such as:
• How will shifting collection, sorting, and processing methods under EPR impact the quality and availability of recycled materials in Ontario?
• How will EPR ensure consumers actively and properly recycle?
• How will the new model affect access to provincial recycling data?
• Can a new system realistically meet Ontario’s ambitious recycling targets? (PPEC has previously expressed concerns with the paper targets).
We don’t yet have the answers, but we believe that for Ontario’s EPR model to succeed, it must work for everyone — from the obligated producers, to the processors and end markets that close the recycling loop, to the consumers who restart it.
If Ontario’s Blue Box program is to improve under a producer responsibility framework — with more materials recovered and successfully recycled, while achieving lower contamination rates — it will be important to recognize the responsibility of all players along the recycling value chain.
For PPEC and its members –who rely on recycled paper packaging as its primary feedstock – the effectiveness of the entire system matters, especially when paper packaging consistently makes up a large share of Blue Box materials collected and recycled.
Ontario’s Blue Box transition presents an opportunity to improve residential recycling outcomes and reduce waste. But its success will require collaboration, accountability, data-based decisions, and consideration of the full recycling value chain.
Rachel Kagan is executive director, Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council.
Source: PPEC February 24, 2025 newsletter
FOCUS: STORAGE, CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING
Elevating the corrugated box in automated environments
KAREN DAVIDSON
Canada’s produce industry is a primary customer of the makers of corrugated packaging and containerboard products. Think of Kruger Inc., Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd, Cascades Inc. and Smurfit Westrock. In fact, produce is a very high percentage of total Canadian packaging market.
“We’re a very mature industry,” says Serge Desgagnes, the new executive director of the Canadian Corrugated and Containerboard Association (CCCA). “But lots of changes are
underway to keep up with the mechanical and robotic changes at grocers’ distribution centres.”
Case in point. Desgagnes recently visited one of the biggest and most automated fresh and frozen distribution centres. He noted new stresses that corrugated boxes must contend with in a roboticized environment. Several Canadian grocers have also launched new automated distribution centres, so the rest of the food chain must adapt. He just became part of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s packaging working group. Members must consider that a mix of containers, both
corrugated and plastic, are used in packaging and transporting produce.
“What’s best for the operator?” he asks rhetorically. “We’re trying to determine best practices, looking at health and safety, sources of contamination and what’s best in a roboticized system. And what’s the cost? It’s a complicated thing.”
The fact-finding mission encompasses the harvester in the field putting produce in a box to unloading in a distribution centre to final delivery to the grocery store. That corrugated box must stand up to a host of environments: cold, hot,
condensation. The entire food chain will benefit if the box design can be improved. It’s a tall order. The box must be high-strength, lightweight and low cost.
North American marketplace is integrated
Desgagnes, who worked for Kruger Inc. since 1993, was vice president of containerboard sales when he retired in 2024. Fortunately, for the industry, he is serving in a semi-retired role as executive director, CCCA, sharing his experience about how to address these new technical and economic challenges. He points out that the corrugated and containerboard industry is very integrated in North America. All the major containerboard companies have mills and box plants on both sides of the border. Kruger, for example, is one of only five containerboard producers in North America that produces “white top linerboard.” This refers to a type of linerboard where one side of the paper is white, while the other side remains brown kraft paper. Essentially, it’s a paper with a white printable surface often used for high-quality printed
packaging boxes due to its clean appearance and ability to accept inks well. In 2023, Kruger finished building its first box plant in the U.S. in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. It makes 100 per cent recycled corrugated boxes.
Cascades Inc., a well-known manufacturer, has numerous mills and box plants across Canada as well as two containerboard mills and a few box plants in United States. Atlantic Packaging Products has three containerboard mills in Ontario and several box plants in Ontario, Québec and United States. Their newest box plant opened in Ancaster, Ontario as recently as October 2024. One of the largest global companies is Smurfit Westrock, an Irish American company, with several containerboard mills and box plants across North America (Canada, U.S. and Mexico).
Since most of the companies have assets in U.S. and Canada, sales of containerboard products are transacted in U.S. dollars. The effect of U.S. 25 per cent tariffs is still unknown.
“It’s too early to know,” says Desgagnes. “The business environment right now is like quicksand. If you move, you die.”
Serge Desgagnes, executive director, Canadian Corrugated and Containerboard Association.
FOCUS: STORAGE, CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING
The twin objectives of packaging: sustainable and economical
KAREN DAVIDSON
Hosted in Berlin, Germany, the 2025 Fruit Logistica had a common interwoven thread: the spectre of U.S. tariffs.
“We didn’t vote for this behaviour,” said some U.S. delegates. “We didn’t anticipate this level of disruption.”
That’s the reporting of Daniel Duguay, sustainability specialist for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA). He participated in a panel called “Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Implementation: less sustainability and less internal market?”
“The emphasis on Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) is not going away, but it is shifting in how we talk about it,” says Duguay. “Water will always matter. We will continue to drive for supply chains that are more sustainable, but in a more balanced way rather than focusing exclusively on the environmental perspective.” The shift is towards a rebalancing -- one that strikes the more
elusive balance between social, environmental and economic outcomes. If the packaged product isn’t affordable, then it’s not viable. The role of regulators will evolve and is evolving as the Green Deal mentality weakens in Europe with the Trump effect. On the ground, the shift is away from government-led to businessled initiatives. Packaging will evolve accordingly.
Examples seen in Berlin include the increasing adoption of recyclable packaging, but also the introduction of sophisticated packaging solutions which improve options for supply chains to migrate from air freight to marine.
Consumers can expect packaging from retailers who still seek sustainability. But there must be an intrinsic business incentive for traits such as longer shelf life and improved maintenance of product quality.
At the same time, Duguay underscores that no regulation is not necessarily the best outcome either, notably when it comes to ensuring that new packaging forms are food-safe. He’s looking
to the next Canadian election to see how the packaging conversation will evolve, notably given the rapidly evolving policy and regulatory landscape in the U.S.
In Europe, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is now in force in 2025, banning certain single-use plastic products such as cutlery, straws, and cotton buds, while also promoting recycling and reusable packaging through measures such as extended producer responsibility schemes. A key regulation to watch in Europe is that all produce packaging under 1.5 kg must be plastic-free. Exemptions can be granted on a country-by-country basis, but the hope is for alignment between member states to avoid an unnecessary fragmentation of packaging requirements within the EU.
With this scenario in mind, Duguay is concerned that a lack of alignment might develop in North America as well. This is where his eyes will be on the outcome of the 2025 Canadian election, with hopes that
requirements and any related packaging regulations can be increasingly aligned.
On a related note is the ongoing legal challenge from industry questioning whether plastic manufactured items are toxic. That question is before the Federal Court of Appeal. If the federal government loses the appeal, the question will very likely go to the Supreme Court of Canada. As Duguay explains, the industry is arguing that there is insufficient data to claim that all “plastic manufactured items” are toxic, including plastic packaging, therefore the government’s push is to frame plastics as toxic is an overreach.
More importantly, the Government of Canada may not want to lose a battle in the court of public opinion, especially heading into what is likely a spring 2025 election. All of this to say, nothing is going to happen anytime soon on packaging regulation in Canada.
Back at Fruit Logistica, Europe’s showcase of packaged produce, the trends emphasize fibre and compostable packaging.
Topline Farms launches topseal package for Roma tomatoes
Supporting its ‘Roma Revolution’ Campaign kicking off at the upcoming CPMA Convention & Trade Show in Montreal April 8-10, Topline Farms will be launching new Roma Tomato packaging formats to meet the increasing demand at retail.
Packed in a new 1lB (454g) topseal package with 25 per cent less plastic, the new item will be in Canadian stores later this spring.
“The growth in the Roma tomato category is undeniable,” says Max Mastronardi, executive vice-president. “To make the most of this, we offer multiple pack options, including our new 1lb top seal format. Convenient options such as these make it easy for Canadians to be able to reach for their favourite ingredient, grown right here at home.
And because we grow with the latest greenhouse technology, these Romas taste just as good in January as they do in July.” This commitment to year-round quality is a cornerstone of Topline Farms’
approach, underscored by the fact the company is rapidly increasing acreage to be one of the largest lit crop Roma growers in North America this year. Cutting-edge “Lit Culture” technology supplements natural sunlight, resulting in improved crop quality, consistent yields, and a more sustainable and environmentally friendly operation. By harnessing the power of supplemental lighting, Topline Farms overcomes the challenges of shorter days and colder temperatures says vice-president, Chris Veillon.
The narrative is one of composition and eliminating plastic. As Duguay argues, the narrative should be about outcomes. Is the food safe, readily available and affordable, accessible to remote and rural communities and available year-round?
In North America, the packaging discussion is biased against plastic, when Duguay points out it should be about packaging waste. “Packaging sustainability should be a pre-competitive discussion,” he says. “It’s too narrow a discussion to say plastic is bad and fibre is good. I’m not taking a pro-plastic position. I am pro sustainable packaging.”
To this point, Duguay adds there is increasing interest in and support for the adoption of compostable PLUs. Another example is that Canadian company, Lucid Corporation, makes a padless clamshell for berries that is 100 per cent recyclable, removing the problematic component of the pad altogether.
Improvements in packaging are incremental. There’s more interest in modified atmosphere packaging that extends transit times. If growers can move produce by ship rather than by plane, or tolerate longer or alternate transit routes, then transport costs can be lowered substantially and food prices can be kept down.
In conclusion, the ongoing efforts to shift to more sustainable forms of packaging comes at a fraught time. The U.S. has announced that 25 per cent tariffs are in effect March 4.
FOCUS: STORAGE, CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING
Temperature loggers and other technologies improve cold chain logistics
The Innovation Zone at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s trade show will host the latest in technologies that are disrupting the produce space. Here’s a shortlist.
Cooldat and Kainon Technologies have teamed up in the Innovation Zone to exhibit two complementary technologies which growers and greenhouse operators can use to get an edge on their competition. Cooldat is a Cold-chain Tracking Solution which enhances the PTI (Produce Traceability Initiative) with cost effective RAIN RFID temperature dataloggers and AI-powered software to enable predictive shelf life and dynamic pricing. Kainon Technologies offers the K-ONE panel set to replace conventional glass in greenhouses with significantly better insulation against temperature extremes and with the hemispherical transparency that doesn’t compromise growth yield.
www.cooldat.ai
www.kainontech.com
CubeWorks is redefining supply chain monitoring with next generation real-time IoT tracking solutions. NanoTag, CubeWorks’ latest product offering, provides users with a complete system for
location and temperature tracking of temperature-sensitive food and other perishables in a smart label form factor. Alongside XTcloud, CubeWorks’ proprietary cloud platform for data management and analytics, NanoTag provides in-transit temperature and location monitoring at an unprecedented price point.
Born out of the University of Michigan Integrated Circuits Lab, CubeWorks addresses critical supply chain monitoring needs with products based on core technology developed by leading researchers and pioneering research in ultra-low power computing. www.cubeworks.io
Tool Zero helps growers and shippers effortlessly integrate sustainable practices into their operations. Our automated carbon management software calculates your carbon footprint by analyzing your existing invoices—no spreadsheets or extra work required. With Tool Zero, you’ll stay compliant, maintain crucial market access, and achieve your environmental goals with ease. Stop by our booth to discover how simple sustainability can be. www.ToolZero.com
Datahex is a leader in digital transformation, providing innovative solutions like Paperless Forms, MyHaccpPlan Web, and Supplyline to help businesses streamline operations and ensure compliance. Our Paperless Forms replace manual processes with real-time digital workflows, while MyHaccpPlan Web simplifies food safety management, and Supplyline optimizes supplier compliance. Beyond software, we offer training, auditing, consultation, and support to help businesses stay efficient and
compliant. With a commitment to innovation and sustainability, Datahex delivers smart, scalable solutions that enhance productivity and drive a seamless transition to a fully digital future. www.datahex.com
XiteBio Technologies Inc., a Canadian innovative ag-biotech company providing leading-edge microbial technology and agbiological solutions in North America. XiteBio’s IRD (Innovation, Research & Development) Centre researches & develops unique inoculants &
biological products that benefit producers’ bottom lines. XiteBio’s motto is to deliver genuine value to our distributors, dealers and producer customers through innovative vegetable and other crop production technologies. XiteBio’s unique product line includes XiteBio® Vegi+; a world-wide patented phosphatesolubilizing bacterial ag-biological for vegetables grown in home gardens, fields & greenhouses. www.xitebio.ca
Please prepare items properly so they can be accepted.
Empty and rinse jugs, drums & totes. Bag jugs & close tightly. Seed treatment jugs go in separate bags with lids on.
Bring your empty and rinsed pesticide and fertilizer jugs, drums and totes
Understanding storage disorders in apples
DR. JENNIFER DeELL
Disorders are physiological in nature and can result in significant quality loss in apples. Some disorders develop in apples while on the tree, such as watercore. Other disorders develop preharvest and continue advancing throughout storage, such as bitter pit, lenticel breakdown, and peel or leather blotch. Then there are disorders that develop postharvest during storage, due to chilling, atmospheric stress, or simply senescence (aging). These disorders generally increase in incidence and severity with time in storage, but are also influenced by apple cultivar, weather and growing conditions, orchard management, and apple maturity at harvest.
Chilling-related disorders
Internal browning, or diffuse flesh browning, has no definite outline of the injured area. It may affect outer flesh or core tissue, or both areas. Vascular elements can appear normal and there are usually no external symptoms.
Apples harvested at advanced maturity are more susceptible to internal browning, whereas low oxygen storage reduces the disorder. Good temperature management is critical for prevention, and optimum regimes vary with cultivar. ‘Gala’, ‘Ambrosia’, and ‘Empire’ are susceptible to internal browning, which generally starts as stem-end browning.
Soft scald is characterized by sharply defined, irregularly shaped, smooth, brown lesions of the skin. Peel tissue is initially affected, and then hypodermal tissue is damaged as the disorder continues to develop. Skin lesions are often then invaded by secondary pathogens and disease.
‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Ambrosia’ are very susceptible to soft scald, so initial temperature conditioning at 10°C or slow cooling over a week is recommended.
Soggy breakdown is distinguished by moist, soft, brown, spongy flesh tissue. It can form complete rings in severe cases. Apples harvested at advanced maturity are more
susceptible to soft scald and soggy breakdown, while chilling temperatures in the orchard before harvest will further promote development. Both disorders have been found in ‘Honeycrisp’ apples prior to harvest, although much more commonly found in storage. Initial temperature conditioning helps reduce this disorder in storage.
Superficial scald is a major storage disorder in older apple cultivars, such as red ‘Delicious’, ‘Northern Spy’, and ‘Cortland’. This type of scald is characterized by diffuse browning or bronzing of the skin, and often more prevalent on non-blush areas. It typically develops after several months of storage and becomes more intense at room temperature. Superficial scald can be controlled by postharvest application of diphenylamine or reduced substantially by 1 methylcyclopropene (1 MCP) treatment, controlled atmosphere (CA) storage and low oxygen.
CA-related disorders
storage
KAREN DAVIDSON
One of the few products registered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency in 2024 for horticultural use was Biox-M, a biological sprout inhibitor based on spearmint oil. Andermatt Inc. is the registrant.
The product is designed specifically as a post-harvest sprout inhibitor used to manage sprouting during storage, ensuring quality, appearance and market value over extended periods. It can be used for processing, table and organic potatoes.
“In the case of sprouts already appearing about the size of 5 mm, Biox-M can burn them off, bringing potatoes back to a calm state,” says George Burkholder,
Low oxygen injury results in loss of flavour, fermentationrelated odours, purpling and splitting of the skin, and ultimately severe flesh browning. As the name suggests, it develops as a result of low oxygen levels in storage, with exact damaging levels dependent on apple cultivar. ‘Gala’ is very tolerant to low oxygen, while ‘Honeycrisp’ is particularly sensitive.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) injury develops internally or externally on the apple. Internal symptoms consist of flesh cavities, core browning or brown heart, whereas external CO2 injury manifests as well-defined, partly sunken, rough bronze lesions on the apple skin. ‘Honeycrisp’ is very sensitive to CO2 and internal injury, with or without flesh cavities, and it can often be found during CA storage. On the other hand, external CO2 injury develops on the highly sensitive ‘Empire’ and ‘McIntosh’ cultivars. Use of 1 MCP enhances CO2 injury, while delaying CA establishment for one to two months can reduce its development. Treatment with
diphenylamine (DPA) can also reduce CO2 injury, and thus allow for higher CO2 concentrations in storage.
Senescence-related disorders
Senescent breakdown is related to advanced maturity. Deep browning of the flesh begins directly underneath the skin and the whole fruit may become dry and mealy. Breakdown is exacerbated by delayed cooling, higher than optimal storage temperatures or excessive holding. 1 MCP treatment, CA storage and low oxygen will reduce the disorder.
For more information and additional disorders, see the descriptions by DeEll on the poster “Storage Disorders of Apples” published by Storage Control Systems in Michigan. A copy of the latest version can be found via this link https://tinyurl.com/sjda4xfz
Dr. Jennifer DeEll is fresh market quality specialist, horticultural crops for OMAFA, based in Simcoe, Ontario.
RB Ag-Technologies Inc, Ontario distributor. “This gives you full flexibility in case of difficult circumstances.”
The product is applied by fogging as a very fine mist. It easily spreads and can be used in all types of storages. Use professional fogging equipment such as Electrofog or Synofog machines. These guarantee a high-quality mist and the best results. Also Cropfog and Resonator hot fogging machines are well adapted to apply Biox-M safely.
The technical information provided by Andermatt shows that the product can be used in any situation: gabled roof, flat roof, pointed roof. The storage must be closed for 48 hours while the product is working. Wait 12 days before removing potatoes from storage. The product is available in Atlantic Canada and Québec through Can-Stor Crop Solutions (info@can-stor.ca). In Ontario, the product is available through Ag Services Inc. (519-671-5500. In Manitoba, the product is available through White Potato Services Ltd. (204-750-3357). An Alberta representative will be named soon.
Internal browning in ‘Ambrosia’ apple.
Soft scald on ‘Honeycrisp’ apple.
Superficial scald on ‘Northern Spy’ apple.
Internal CO2 injury in ‘Honeycrisp’ apple.
FOCUS: STORAGE, CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING
Best practices for seed potato storage and handling
Editor’s note: This is an executive summary of the North American Potato Storage Association (NAPSO) webinar hosted on February 24, 2025. The organization is dedicated to reshaping the future of potato storage in North America through collaboration, education, and innovation. Mission statement: To revolutionize how potatoes are stored across the continent, enhancing the sustainability and profitability of the industry. Thanks to Emily Merk, communications coordinator, for permission to reprint.
“Storing for Success:
Protecting Potato Seed & Preventing Disease,” provided growers with expert guidance on best practices for seed handling, storage, and disease management.
Kasia Duellman, University of Idaho, shared key insights on the impact of temperature control, airflow, and physiological age on seed viability. She emphasized the importance of gradual cooling, humidity regulation and gentle handling to reduce damage and improve sprouting potential.
Physiological age management plays a crucial role in determining yield and tuber development, and growers should assess storage conditions carefully to optimize planting outcomes.
James Alford, Alford Custom Ag/Premier Seed LLC, is located near Kenniwick, Washington state. His business handles more than 170,000 tons of onions and potatoes. He operates nine seed cutters on three separate lines. He focused on the importance of proper seed receiving, suberization, and sanitation. His presentation highlighted strategies to minimize bruising, optimize airflow, and prevent storage diseases such as Fusarium dry rot and soft rot. Alford also emphasized that routine monitoring and strict environmental control can help preserve seed quality and reduce losses throughout the storage period.
Both presentations reinforced the critical role of careful seed
management in maintaining high-quality planting stock. A full recap of the webinar , including a pdf file of the presentations and a video recording of the event is available on the NAPSO website - www.napso.info.
Ensuring optimal seed quality through proper handling and disease prevention
With the seed shipping and planting season approaching, it is essential to prioritize proper handling and disease prevention measures. NAPSO highlights three key strategies to help growers maintain seed quality and maximize performance.
1.Ensuring proper seed storage conditions
Storage temperature and humidity must be carefully controlled to preserve seed viability and prevent physiological aging.
Temperature management
Store seed potatoes between 34-39°F (1.1-3.9°C) with a gradual cooling rate to avoid condensation and internal damage.
Humidity control: maintain 8595% relative humidity to prevent shrinkage while minimizing excess moisture that could lead to disease outbreaks.
Ventilation and airflow: proper airflow prevents CO buildup, reduces disease risks, and ensures uniform temperature distribution throughout the storage area.
2. Best practices for shipping & handling seed
Gentle handling during loading, transport, and unloading is critical for minimizing bruising and maintaining seed integrity. Pre-shipment preparation -warm seed gradually before transit to avoid cold stress.
Minimize mechanical damage: Avoid large drops (>6 inches or 15.24 cm), use padding at impact
points, and ensure seed is handled with care.
Monitor temperatures in transit-- temperature fluctuations can increase disease risks. Use refrigerated trucks for longdistance shipments to maintain stable conditions.
3. Preventing seed-borne diseases
Effective disease prevention strategies can help minimize storage losses and improve field performance.
Suberization (wound healing)- allow 10-14 days of suberization at 47-55°F (8.3-12.8°C) before cutting to heal wounds and reduce infection risks.
Growers should focus on: Sanitation measures: clean and disinfect storage areas before
receiving new seed to prevent carryover contamination. Fungicide Treatments: use targeted fungicides for common seed diseases such as Fusarium dry rot, Rhizoctoni, and silver scurf. Follow label recommendations for safe and effective application.
A.M.A. Horticulture launches strawberry growing system
The A.M.A. Strawberry Growing System is a professionalgrade gutter system built for small-scale production. Developed in partnership with Growtec, it is a first-of-its-kind solution for growers looking to enter the strawberry market or extend their berry growing season by moving from field to tunnel.
“Now more than ever, Canadians want locally-grown strawberries year-round,” says Shawn Mallen, manager of hydroponics and berries at A.M.A. Horticulture. “Large Canadian greenhouse operations have risen to the challenge, growing berries in controlled environments and getting them onto grocery store shelves across the country. But until now, only large-scale production systems
were available for growers, creating a barrier to entry.”
This is a scaled-down version of the same gutter system used in many 40-acre greenhouses.
Smaller growers can get started at their own pace and budget.
The A.M.A. Strawberry Growing System is a do-it-yourself, tabletop gutter system that comes complete with gutters, brackets, drainage, truss support and more. Available in 92-inch segments, growers can choose how big or small they want to start and add as they go. The system is designed to spec, assembled by growers on site and can be shipped across North America.
Growtec and A.M.A.
Horticulture are established
leaders in North America’s berry market. For decades, A.M.A. has delivered quality containers, substrates and other solutions to push the boundaries of berry growing, with many innovations coming from partners in Europe, including BVB Substrates and Bato Plastics.
“We make a point of visiting Europe and specifically the Netherlands, every year to learn what they are doing better,” says Mallen.
Most recently, he presented at the 2025 joint meeting of the North American Strawberry Growers’ Association and North American Raspberry and Blueberry Association in Hawaii.
Source: A.M.A. Horticulture February 17, 2025 news release
An electric weeder shows promise in both muck and mineral soils
killing early-, mid- and late-stage weeds.
David Tao was spotted at the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention. He’s the co-founder and CEO of BH Frontier Solutions Inc, a Canada-based robotics company. The electric-powered BHF Agrobot is his solution to highly efficient in-row and between-row weeding. What sets this machine apart from other autonomous weeding machines is its use of high-voltage electricity. When paired with state-of-the-art computer vision, the robot is able to quickly and efficiently identify and eliminate weeds. It does this by searching for weeds as it travels through the field. When it detects one, the robot extends its electrodes and applies an electrical current directly to the foliage. The current is conducted downward into the roots. This electric weeding solution has proven effective at
BHF Agrobot was designed with flexibility in mind. The autonomous weeder boasts adjustable wheel spacing and bottom clearance to accommodate a variety of crops and crop bed designs. Its precision implement aims for in-row weeding and a high-efficiency implement is designed for weeding between the rows.
The bonus is that farmers can use the BHF Agrobot for precision fertilizer applications. The autonomous machine places the input exactly where it needs to go, reducing fertilizer losses throughout the growing season and improving the use efficiency. Agrobot autonomously implements 4R practices—right source, right timing, right placement, right rate— while reducing an operation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Tao says that the BHF Agrobot’s most impressive feature is its return on investment. With ultra-high precision crop
treatment, the machine has been shown to improve agrochemical (pesticides, fungicide, liquid fertilizers) and water use efficiency up to 400 per cent. By saving 85 per cent on a farm’s annual weeding costs,
users can expect payback within a year. For more information, link to www.bhfsolution.com.
Stop repeat offenders in their tracks.
Crop criminals don’t change–but your strategy can. Corteva Agriscience™ offers a range of high performing products to stop even the most notorious insects in their tracks. Trust Corteva insecticides.
Talk to your local retailer to learn more.
KAREN DAVIDSON
ELAINE RODDY
Powdery mildew is one of those diseases that we can count on to appear in pumpkin and squash crops every year. Often confused with downy mildew, the two diseases are quite different and require different control strategies.
Fungicides commonly recommended to cucumber/melon growers for downy mildew control will not provide protection against powdery mildew in pumpkin and squash crops.
- Most commonly occurs on pumpkins, squash and zucchini.
- A true fungi, it can develop at a wide range of conditions, although is most active between 40-80% relative humidity and 22-27 C.
- Does not overwinter in Ontario, usually arriving in early-July to August depending on the year.
- Dry, windy days promote spore dispersal.
-Produces white, talcum-like, lesions on the upper and lower leaf surfaces and causes the fruit stem (handle) to deteriorate.
- Most commonly occurs on cucumbers and cantaloupe.
- An oomycete (water mould), it requires free-water on the leaf and high relative humidity to start an infection.
- Does not overwinter in Ontario, usually arriving in late-June to early-August depending on the year.
- Humid weather, cooler nights, heavy dews and rapid storm fronts promote infection and dispersal.
- Produces angular-shaped tan lesions which can rapidly defoliate the crop.
For powdery mildew control, resistant pumpkin and squash varieties provide a good first line of defense. These varieties won’t provide 100 per cent control, but infections generally are slower to develop and less likely to impact harvest quality. Where disease pressure is high, a fungicide program may still be needed to ensure good crop health and strong handles at harvest.
As with most diseases, powdery mildew fungicides provide the best control when they are applied prior to disease infection. Apply a fungicide before row closure to help
Aprovia Top 3/7
Miravis Duo 3/7
Anthracnose, Gummy Stem Blight
Alternaria, Anthracnose, Gummy Stem Blight
Alternaria, Anthracnose, Gummy Stem Blight
Quadris Top 3/11 Fair/Resistant Alternaria, Anthracnose, Gummy Stem Blight
improve coverage and reduce the chances of infections occurring in the lower canopy once the airflow becomes restricted. Infections often start on the stems or lower leaf surface, so good coverage is very important.
For optimum control, follow a seven-14 day spray schedule from row closure to late August. By September, fields can usually be left to die down naturally without impacting the yield or health of the crop. Once powdery mildew is well established in a field, even the best fungicides will not be able to get it under control. Selecting a powdery mildew
fungicide can be overwhelming. There are a lot of products registered and many are related to each other. Group 11 products have developed resistance to powdery mildew and should only be used in combination with another effective fungicide. Always rotate between fungicide groups for optimum control and resistance management.
Alternating with broad spectrum fungicides, such as chlorothalonil and mancozeb, during fruit sizing can also help to prevent fruit infections such as scab, anthracnose, alternaria and gummy stem blight.
Good powdery mildew control doesn’t require a full season of spraying. But with the use of resistant varieties, fungicide selection and timely applications starting at row closure, growers can protect the size, quality and sweetness of pumpkin and squash crops.
Elaine Roddy is vegetable crops specialist with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.
Powdery Mildew
Downy Mildew
Powdery Mildew Fungicides – single-site mode of action products
Powdery Mildew Fungicides – two-product mixes
Powdery mildew
Downy mildew
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2-row, pull type vegetable harvester. Model T200E. Has been refurbished and in ready to use condition. Variety of spare parts included.
Asking $130,000 Located in Berwick, NS Call for more information 902-679-8375
Berry plants: Raspberry, blackberry, black current, and strawberry plants. $2 each. Quantity discounts available. Call David in Glencoe at 519-287-3013.
For Sale: Ferris Monosem 2-row, in plastic corn planter. Like new. Best offer. 519-977-3335
What’s in store for crop protection
In March 2025, I celebrated my one-year work anniversary with the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC). It is hard to believe that a whole year has passed!
First and foremost, I want to thank FVGC’s staff, the growers and their associations for welcoming me with open arms and honesty from the get-go. The learning curve for crop protection is steep, with some of the files spanning almost a decade. I am therefore so grateful to FVGC’s Crop Protection Advisory Group (CPAG) for its support.
Having CPAG’s knowledge and expertise at my disposal has been instrumental and I hope in the upcoming year to be able to pass this gift forward through greater outreach, education and advocacy. I anticipate that my workload will be anything but predictable this year; despite this uncertainty, I can say with absolute certainty that CPAG remains committed to advocating for an efficient, timely and science-based pesticide regulatory system that supports pest management in Canada’s fruit and vegetable crops.
Last month, FVGC wrapped up its Conference and Annual General Meeting in Québec City. During this meeting, CPAG along with the rest of FVGC’s membership engaged in discussions and planning for the year ahead. CPAG will reconvene in April to finalize its work plan. These are some of the priorities that the group will tackle.
FVGC’s Fresh Approach
For the past year, FVGC has been working on developing its “Fresh Approach” which is ultimately a commitment to
solidarity, unity, and delivering real results that matter to our growers. As part of this effort, FVGC will be developing a new strategic plan to define a fresh value proposition for its members. To achieve this, FVGC will be engaging with its membership (working groups, directors, staff) and external stakeholders over the coming year, and anticipates an implementation plan for FVGC’s strategic plan to be finalized during next year’s AGM.
CPAG will work closely with FVGC’s leadership to develop a solid approach for elevating crop protection as a government priority. Furthermore, the organization is rethinking how it communicates with its membership and would love to hear your thoughts as this information will help us to best position how updates for crop protection are being disseminated.
Supporting ad hoc initiatives that are critical to our sector
In February 2025, FVGC’s CPAG held its annual face-toface meeting in Ottawa and during this time, its members shared concerns regarding impacts from tariffs on agricultural inputs and also held roundtable discussions aimed at identifying crop protection priorities in the next election cycle. In the coming months, it is anticipated that CPAG will work closely with FVGC’s working groups and leadership to ensure issues which relate to crop protection are feeding into broader FVGC initiatives.
PMRA transformation
Since winter 2021/2022 CPAG has been actively engaging with PMRA through numerous avenues and the 2024 calendar year was extremely active. A complete summary of all activities can be viewed by consulting FVGC’s annual report.
CPAG remains concerned that initiatives under transformation (e.g. continuous oversight) could detract PMRA from its core functions which include pre- and post-market review of products. Given activities which relate to modernization of practices at PMRA are still under development, it is anticipated that much
discussion will be centered around these efforts in the upcoming year.
Re-evaluation and special review decisions
While the 2024 calendar was relatively quiet, there are many re-evaluation and special review decisions on the horizon in 2025 (see FVGC’s Annual Report). CPAG continues to vocalize grower concerns regarding timing of decisions and the need for earlier engagement during the review process. With that being said, growers should be prepared to supply use pattern information in the event that unfavourable decisions are published this year.
Taking action on AGM resolutions
During the FVGC 2025 Annual General Meeting, there were several resolutions put forth by the membership which relate to crop protection. I anticipate that CPAG’s upcoming work plan will be geared towards achieving results on these items.
1.Restoring Capacity and Output to the Minor Use Pesticide Program (MUPP)
The MUPP was created in 2003 as a framework to support registrations for pest control products that would not typically enter the Canadian market given their use on “minor crops” and
lack of sales potential to justify registrant investment. Since the MUPP’s inception, it has been sustained under temporary funding obtained through the five-year agriculture policy frameworks, currently the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (SCAP). Unfortunately, output under SCAP is approximately half the level produced under Growing Forward (2008-2013), which in turn limits the ability for growers to obtain label expansions on fruit and vegetable crops.
2.Expedited approval for the use of sprayer drones for pest management in agriculture and subsequent expedited pesticide label amendments At the present time, use of drones for application of conventional pesticides is not approved in Canada as there are data gaps with respect to whether drone application is comparable to use patterns associated with aerial application. To bridge this gap, the Pest Management Centre (PMC) has been analyzing residue data that was collected through residue trials (conducted in 2023) and efficacy studies (AAFC20-021 & 20-024). After review, PMRA will be able to deduce whether residue data on crops treated with conventional equipment can support applications to crops treated with drones. In addition to the above-mentioned trials, PMRA, is also working with international collaborators to
assess potential for spray drift and validate their assumptions regarding occupational exposure.
3.Developing a predictable label process for label change While product label changes are common practice and often do not require or involve grower input, there are certain instances that require grower input and consideration of supply chain impacts. For example, registered uses for lambda-cyhalothrin on apple and peach were recently cancelled in order to re-instate certain feed uses of the product, as the PMRA’s risk assessment could not accommodate all crops. Unlike re-evaluation and special review decisions, growers were not provided a phase-out period for the registered product. Furthermore, the PMRA moved to revoke existing MRLs for apple and peach to 0.01 ppm for lamda-cyhalothrin, which in turn can create unintended trade disruptions to growers who wish to deplete existing inventories of apples.
As you can see, it will be a busy year for crop protection at FVGC. Many thanks to CPAG members (both past and present) for their time and dedication.
Christina Turi is manager, plant health and crop protection, for Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada.
CHRISTINA TURI
The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada hosted a grower panel at its annual general meeting. They talked about how major issues are addressed across the country. L-R: Bill Zylmans, British Columbia; Pascal Forest, Québec; Beth Connery, Manitoba; Jan Vander Hout, Ontario.
CROP PROTECTION
Magister SC Miticide approved for cyclamen mite control in field-grown strawberries
Gowan Canada has announced that Magister SC miticide is now approved for the control of cyclamen mites in fieldgrown strawberries, providing Canadian growers with a powerful new tool to combat one of the most persistent and damaging pests in horticulture.
Cyclamen mites pose a serious threat to strawberry crops, often leading to stunted growth, deformed fruit, and significant yield losses. With its rapid knockdown,
long-lasting residual control, and ability to reduce egg hatch, Magister SC helps growers break the mite life cycle and protect their crops more effectively.
Magister SC is a Group 21 miticide that delivers broad-spectrum control of mites while also offering proven fungicidal activity against powdery mildew. Its performance across a wide temperature range ensures consistent results in diverse growing conditions.
“The approval of Magister SC for cyclamen mite control in field-grown strawberries is a major win for Canadian growers,” said Trevor Martens, product manager at Gowan Canada. “Cyclamen mites have been notoriously difficult to manage, but Magister SC provides an effective, long-lasting solution that reduces both active mites and future generations, helping farmers protect their yields and improve crop quality.”
Lorox L herbicide label reinstated for celery
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently approved a minor use label expansion registration for Lorox L herbicide for control or suppression of labelled weeds in celery in Canada. Lorox L herbicide was already labeled for management of weeds on a wide range of crops in Canada. This minor use proposal was submitted by the
registrant, Tessenderlo Kerley Inc. (TKI), to reinstate the use following a phase-out originally announced in RVD2020-10 after new supporting information was submitted to PMRA for review.
The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should be making weed management decisions within a robust integrated weed
Suppression or control of labelled weeds 19-35
To learn more about Magister SC miticide, contact your local Gowan Canada sales representative or visit GowanCanada.com. Always read and follow label directions.
Source: Gowan Canada February 24, 2025 news release
Apply to transplants as soon as new growth has started. Some temporary discolouration may occur. See paragraph on Soil Limitations. Do not apply more than 1 application per year.
management program and should consult the complete label before using Lorox L herbicide.
Follow all other precautions, restrictions, and directions for use on the Lorox L herbicide label carefully.
For a copy of the new minor use label contact your local extension specialist, regional supply outlet, or visit the PMRA
Migiwa 20 SC fungicide approved for pome fruit
Belchim Canada is launching Migiwa 20 SC, a unique fungicide designed to protect pome fruit crops from scab and powdery mildew. Migiwa 20 SC is powered by the active ingredient KINOPROL (ipflufenoquin) which belongs to the FRAC Group 52 and offers a unique mode of action with no known cross-resistance to other fungicide groups.
Migiwa 20 SC provides both preventative and systemic, translaminar disease control, making it an essential tool for managing tough early-season diseases. With its rainfast properties within two hours, excellent crop safety and tank-mix compatibility, Migiwa 20 SC ensures reliable protection and ease of use for
growers.
“Migiwa 20 SC is a highly anticipated, welcomed addition to the Canadian growers’ toolbox and we look forward to working with this new active in developing a strong Canadian apple program” said Jouke Sypkes, horticulture product manager, Belchim Canada.
Key features of Migiwa 20 SC include:
• _Unique mode of action: the only FRAC Group 52 fungicide available.
• _Low use rate: only 165-220 ml/ha in pome.
• _Short pre-harvest interval: 7 days for pome.
• _Rainfast: effective within two hours of application.
• _Tank-mix compatibility: easily integrates into existing spray programs.
Migiwa 20 SC fungicide from Belchim Canada will be available at participating retailers for 2025. Migiwa 20 SC is approved for up to three applications per year, offering flexibility and robust protection throughout the growing season. For more information about Migiwa 20 SC and its applications please contact Jouke Sypkes. jouke.sypkes@belchim.com or visit www.belchimcanada.com. Always read and follow label directions.
Source: Belchim Canada March 5, 2025 news release
label site http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ cps-spc/pest/registrant-titulaire/ tools-outils/label-etiq-eng.php
Source: ON Vegetable News March 10, 2025 newsletter
On March 4, Vive Crop Protection was one of seven companies in southern Ontario receiving development funds in the amount of $2.3 million. Founded in 2006, Vive Crop Protection is an agri-tech company that develops precision chemistry solutions based on existing active ingredients for pesticides using its patented “Allosperse” nano technology for the crop protection industry.
The Honourable Ruby Sahota, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic
Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), along with the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade and Member of Parliament for Oakville, visited Gastronomous Technologies (Gastronomous). Minister Sahota also met with representatives from the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), a national not-for-profit organization that connects the Canadian food ecosystem to fresh insights, ideas, and technologies to grow their business and increase their
innovation capacity.
Minister Sahota announced more than $9.3 million for agri-food companies and organizations: Agrocrop Exports Ltd., CATTLEytics Inc., Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network, Original Foods Limited, VEL Bars and Vive Crop Protection, supporting their growth, productivity and competitiveness in the agri sector across southern Ontario.
“By investing in food innovation, we’re strengthening Canada’s food ecosystem, creating jobs, and advancing technologies
that will shape the future of the sector and unlock productivity,” said Dana McCauley, CEO, Canadian Food Innovation Network. “With this funding from FedDev Ontario, we’re empowering foodtech entrepreneurs to turn their bold ideas into commercial success for themselves and the food companies who are their customers.”
Source: Government of Canada March 4, 2025 news release
Crops Target Rate (L product/ha) Application information REI (days)
