Sun is shining, the weather is sweet, yeah Make you wanna move your dancing feet now To the rescue, here I am Want you to know, y'all, can you understand?
When Bob Marley recorded “Sun is shining” in 1971, he was all about the Jamaica family writ large. And the 9,000 Jamaicans who come to work on Canadian farms every year, can relate. They repeatedly sign up to the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) with the belief that they are “to the rescue”, bringing sunnier days to their families.
Pearnel Charles Jr., Jamaica’s minister of labour and social security, personally sent off the first group of 2025 on January 6. They were heading for destinations in Ontario and New Brunswick. This is the run-up year to the 60th anniversary of the program that has, since its inception, contributed US$3.1 billion in worker
According to the World Bank, remittances from wages represent almost 19 per cent of Jamaica’s GDP and rank second only to tourism in foreign exchange contributions.
“The success of the Overseas Employment Programme (OEP) depends on the attitude, conduct, and behaviour of our ambassadors, you, the workers,” shared the Honorable Minister at the January 6th event and reported in Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner. He went on to add “When you excel, you unlock doors for many more Jamaicans to benefit from this opportunity.”
Administrative changes
Appointed in May 2023, Hon. Charles has spearheaded a reimagining of the program by incorporating the motto: “leave no one behind.” While a recruitment process identifies candidates who will best adapt to the cultural and working conditions in Canada, workers found to be deficient in language or numeracy skills are supported with educational enhancement and appropriate
jobs in Jamaica. His approach, preparing Jamaican workers for future success, has been informed by the experience he previously gained as minister of agriculture and fisheries. He’s a strong believer in the flourishing 4-H program and the network of agricultural colleges across the island.
Hon. Charles was barely into his tenure as labour minister when he became embroiled in the controversial report of the UN Special Rapporteur, Tomoy Obokata, on contemporary forms of slavery. In August 2023, Mr. Obokata generated headlines in both Jamaica and Canada when he alleged Canada’s temporary foreign worker programs were a breeding ground for abuse.
For many Jamaicans, the Special Rapporteur’s report was an affront to their pride and threatened their jobs. The resulting public storm prompted Hon. Charles to travel to Canadian farms and to speak directly with Jamaican workers.
Continued on page 3
This Schooley family photo includes Jamaican workers, some of whom have been travelling to Apple Hill Lavender Farm, Windham Centre, Ontario for 40 years. That’s reason enough to celebrate the apple and lavender harvest, but for Jamaicans, 2025 represents another milestone. It’s the 59th year for the Caribbean country to send workers to Canada. L-R: Evon Tomlin, Willie Leslie, Jennifer Schooley, Harold Schooley, Roy Campbell, Phillip Robinson, Courtney Stanley, Carlton Fowler. Photo by Lauren Miller.
AT PRESS TIME…
Grocery Code of Conduct to be operational in June 2025
The Board of Directors of the Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct (OGSCC) has appointed Karen Proud as the organization’s first president and adjudicator. She brings extensive leadership experience in the retail and manufacturing sectors, along with deep expertise in regulatory compliance and stakeholder collaboration. She will officially assume the role on March 17, 2025.
Michael Graydon, chair of the Board, commented, “Karen’s exceptional ability to foster collaboration across diverse stakeholders makes her uniquely suited to lead the implementation of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct. Her leadership will be critical to ensuring the Code delivers fairness, transparency, and accountability across Canada’s grocery supply chain.”
The office is funded by the Government of Canada with a budget of $1.2M. She will oversee the implementation of the voluntary Grocery Sector Code of Conduct. Her responsibilities include fostering compliance, providing guidance on the Code’s interpretation, resolving disputes, monitoring practices, and reporting on progress annually. Through her role, she will promote collaborative and ethical business practices, ensuring the Code evolves alongside industry needs.
The Grocery Sector Code of Conduct represents a significant step forward in fostering predictability and fair dealing across the industry. The OGSCC is committed to having the Code fully operational by June 2025, strengthening Canada’s food and grocery systems for the benefit of all Canadians.
Ms. Proud previously served as president and CEO of Fertilizer Canada, where she led initiatives to support sustainable agricultural practices and strengthen relationships with industry and government partners. She also held executive roles at Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada and the Retail Council of Canada, where she championed initiatives to support small and medium-sized businesses, enhance supply chain efficiency and improve policy advocacy on behalf of the industry.
Source: Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct January 9, 2025 news release
Registration is open for CPMA Annual Convention & Trade Show
Online registration for the 2025 CPMA Annual Convention and Trade Show (CPMA 2025 Fresh Week) which will be held in Montréal, Quebec, is open.
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) Annual Trade Show is Canada’s
largest event dedicated to the fresh fruits and vegetable industry. This year’s show marks CPMA’s 100th anniversary and will take place April 8-10 at the Palais des Congrès, featuring 690 booths representing more than 300 companies from around the world including, major growers, importers and exporters, and more.
Attendees who register as full delegates have access to activities that offer unique opportunities to enrich their industry knowledge and grow their business in Canada. These include the trade show floor, business sessions, and social events such as the Chair’s Welcome Reception, CPMA’s After Party, Awards Brunch, the Delegate Breakfast, and the Annual Banquet.
On Tuesday, April 8th, CPMA will host a Sustainability Session at the Westin hotel. This is an industry-led, hands-on halfday workshop designed to equip those responsible for sustainability in their firms with the knowledge, connections, and insights necessary to develop and execute their sustainability reporting strategy. Following the Annual Convention and Trade Show, the Women In Produce Summit will take place Friday, April 11, at the Westin hotel. This half-day event will feature keynote speaker Marcy Grossman, who will set the stage for interactive discussions the power of diplomacy and leadership.
Industry members can register as full delegates for CPMA 2025 and benefit from early bird registration rates until February 21st.
NEWSMAKERS
Ontario Apple Growers (OAG) welcomes Chris Hedges, Vanessa, as the new chair for 2025. A firstgeneration apple grower, he farms with his wife in Norfolk County. He also owns and manages Ontario Orchard Supply selling orchard supplies to fellow apple growers. Past OAG chair Cathy McKay is the new vice-chair. Together, they are joined by directors Keith Wright, Jeremy Veens, Joe Van De Gevel, Brian Gilroy, Kyle Ardiel, Robert Shuh, Kara Pate and Quinton Gibson
The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) has appointed Matt Marchand as the new public affairs and policy analyst. With an extensive background in business, government, and community engagement, he brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership and innovation to the organization. He holds a Masters of Economics and Political Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His academic background is complemented by an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor which has aided him in his previous roles as president and CEO of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The Agricultural Adaptation Council (Ontario) has elected its 2025 board of directors. Joining the board to represent horticulture is Joann Chechalk. The other horticulture representative is Tracy Gubbels. The executive consists of Peggy Brekveld, returning board chair, with Sara Wood as vice-chair. Scott Buchan continues as board treasurer and Sarah Acchione was elected to serve as board secretary.
The Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct has appointed its first president and adjudicator: Karen Proud. She will assume the role March 17, with a mandate to oversee the implementation of the voluntary code. She was formerly with Fertilizer Canada, FHCP and the Retail Council of Canada.
Best wishes to John Jaques, who has retired after 40 years in building Sunshine Asparagus, Thamesville, Ontario and serving for 12 years as chair of Asparagus Farmers of Ontario. Among many industry achievements, he has served as: past chair of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association, chair of its Safety Nets committee, past chair of the finance committee of Canadian Horticultural Council, past chair of Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council, director on board of Fox Seeds, director on the North American Asparagus committee, and inaugural chair of Ontario Fresh Vegetable Growers.
MacEwan University, based in Edmonton, Alberta welcomes Angela Santiago, co-founder and CEO of The Little Potato Company Ltd., as the university’s 38th Allard Chair in Business. Individuals selected for this honorary position possess exemplary business acumen, demonstrate remarkable leadership skills and have made significant contributions to the community.
The Ontario government has appointed Nevin McDougall as chair of Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO), effective January 18, 2025. He has served on the board since 2020 and brings decades of international business leadership experience. He replaces outgoing chair, Dr. Lorne Hepworth who has been in the role since 2019. Hepworth presided over the completion of three major research centre build projects, renewed ARIO’s 10-year strategic plan and helped modernize the Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario Act.
Chris Hedges
Matt Marchand
Karen Proud
John Jaques
Jamaica shines in the Great White North
Continued from page 1
During the post-COVID, postSpecial Report period, Althea Riley has helmed the Jamaican Liaison Service in Toronto, Ontario. Hired in 2005, she has since risen through the ranks to become chief liaison officer in Canada. From this vantage, she’s keen to highlight her minister’s first acts: the addition of two new liaison officers, one in Kentville, Nova Scotia and the other in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Kentville office was opened in 2023. Then, in January 2024, two new sub-offices were also established in Ontario, one in Simcoe and the other in Niagaraon-the-Lake, complementing the existing sub-office in Leamington.
Riley works closely with local worker communities to plan recurring social events, including domino tournaments, a favourite pastime for Jamaicans. So far, there are plans for 11 events across the country in 2025 to recognize long service, and to raise awareness of the various liaison offices. These gatherings are centered around serving traditional Jamaican food –curried goat, jerk chicken, rice and peas as well as sweet potato pudding. JN Money, a global remittance service, plays an important role as a valued sponsoring partner.
“One of our Jamaican workers celebrated 45 years at a Leamington, Ontario operation,” says Riley. “We also recognize those who have given 10 and 25 years of service.”
Accommodation changes
“We’ve seen some real change in the quality of accommodations in the last two years,” shares Riley. “And with that comes improvement in interpersonal relationships. During the pandemic, employers realized the need to make more meaningful investments in accommodations. It is safe to say most accommodations meet or exceed the required standards.”
Alongside such changes has been the launch of Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association’s (OFVGA) More than a Migrant Worker campaign which puts workers front and centre in telling their real-life
experiences on Ontario farms to the media. Besides creating public awareness, OFVGA works with the Ontario government to provide welcome kits at the airport to arriving workers.
Increased focus on cultural sensitivity caused beef jerky to be appropriately replaced by plantain chips and dried fruit in the welcome kits.
“We’re really not beef jerky people,” quips Riley.
The important takeaway here is that workers are being more broadly consulted about their needs and what they find helpful.
Beyond providing a personal welcome at the airport, Riley and her team from the Jamaican Liaison Service visit each participating farm three times per year. The first visit provides reinforcement and support on employment contract details. The second visit is timed to enable a mid-season operational assessment. And the final visit allows liaison staff to conduct an exit interview with each worker. Interestingly, feedback from these interviews highlights that many workers would like to work in Canada for an eight-month term, and not surprisingly, all are appreciative of improvements made to their accommodations.
Harold Schooley is a farm employer with a long history of bringing Jamaicans to work on his Apple Hill Lavender farm near Windham Centre, Ontario.
In fact, his father heard so many good things about Jamaican workers, that the relationship began in the second year of the program in 1967.
“We wouldn’t be in business without them,” says Schooley, who operates 50 acres of apple orchards and lavender and several acres of medicinal herbs.
“We went through several years when it was mandatory to advertise locally for workers before applying for offshore help,” recalls Schooley. “We received two responses in that time for apple pruning. One was an Indigenous man who was here only for pruning. The other was a nurse looking for fresh air on the weekends. My point is that offshore workers don’t take jobs from Canadians.”
Two years ago, Schooley replaced the farm’s original bunkhouse with a new facility, designed to house up to 12
workers. It provides all the comforts needed for Ontario’s changing seasons such as heating, cooling, full laundry facilities plus enhanced safety features such as fire walls, smoke containment doors on bedrooms and batteryoperated fire alarms and exit lighting.
The investment was made with an eye on the future of the farm, operated now by Schooley’s two daughters, Melissa and Jennifer. The sisters have expanded to grow more than 50 medicinal herbs in Windham and on another farm near Niagaraon-the-Lake. The expansion is targeted towards consumers of medicinal herbs in Canada’s Indigenous, European, Indian, South Asian and Oriental communities across Canada while still complementing their existing lavender business.
Here again, Jamaican workers are playing a significant role in the growing, harvesting, drying or distilling and processing of these crops. They are thus trained in both the CanadaGAP-certified apple enterprise as well as the GACP-certified lavender and herb enterprise.
“These well-trained and co-operative workers are invaluable to us and our food safety certification,” attests Schooley.
Public awareness changes
“Stories such as these are happening all around the
country,” says Stefan Larrass, OFVGA senior policy advisor, who has organized grower panels on the topic of building modernized TFW housing, including at this month’s Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention.
“My role is one of a listening post and an advocate for alignment of policies between provincial and federal governments,” Larrass says. He explains that the agencies of Western Agricultural Labour Initiative (BC), Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (ON), and FERME (QC) act on the contracts signed between employers and workers, and their respective governments. He notes that the Jamaican Liaison Service, as well as similar offices from other countries, have staffed up to actively address and resolve problems occurring at the farm level.
“Not every dispute is between employer and employee,” Larrass points out. “Sometimes individual workers don’t see eye to eye. These disputes are best resolved by citizens of their own country.”
Consistency and accountability are difficult to evaluate within the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and its many moving parts. Anecdotal evidence reflects that improvements are being made not only in accommodations but also to social programs aimed at supporting the physical and mental wellness of workers while they are away from their families.
Jamaica’s national pastime is dominoes, an activity that brings people together and fosters social wellbeing. Liaison officer Althea Riley and grower Harold Schooley would likely be the first to say that today, SAWP relationships are benefitting from the domino effect of mutual good will.
The Grower is “Digging Deeper” with Althea Riley, chief liaison officer for the Jamaican Liaison Service in Canada. A veteran of the service since 2005, she oversees several offices across Canada and the welfare of almost 9,000 Jamaican workers. In the last two years, a reimagined recruitment program has led to more interaction in Canada and a feedback loop for continuous progress. This podcast is sponsored by Cohort Wholesale.
Althea Riley, chief liaison officer for the Jamaican Liaison Service in Canada, is surrounded by farmworkers on one of her farm visits. Photo by Jeff Tribe.
CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST
NOVA SCOTIA
Trials in NS apple orchards probe powdery mildew
KAREN DAVIDSON
The 2024 growing season in Nova Scotia was hot and dry –unusual for the Maritime climate – but conducive to powdery mildew in 5,200 acres of apple orchards. It was perfect timing for a two-site trial on learning more about management of Podosphaera leucotricha, the foliar disease that impedes the fruiting structure of the tree.
“We had good disease pressure to compare the treatments,” says Michelle Cortens, tree fruit specialist, Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation, Kentville. “Pressure from powdery mildew has been increasing in recent years possibly due to fungicide resistance development, lack of fungicide products for chemical rotation and climate change resulting in improperly timed sprays.”
Thanks to funding from the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and the federal Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Cortens was the lead investigator of trials situated on two cooperating farms: Eisses Farm, Centreville with Paula Red apples and Autumn Acres, Grafton with Honeycrisp apples.
The goals were to study the efficacy of two conventional and three biological products in controlling or suppressing powdery mildew. Secondly, the
Michelle Cortens, tree fruit specialist, Perennia Food & Agriculture Corporation.
RIMpro software model (www.rimpro.cloud) was evaluated in hopes that this decision-making tool would help growers to refine application timing of fungicides. Now that Nova Scotia has weather stations posted around the province, more accurate data are available. And lastly, Cortens wanted to identify fungicide resistance of existing product mode-of-action groups, a follow-up to resistance monitoring conducted in 2012.
“Part of the rationale for these trials is that there is a shift to apple varieties that are more susceptible to powdery mildew,” explains Cortens. “The dryer periods are not typical. And there is a lack of fungicide products for
Table 1: Treatment list and product details for two field trials on Paula Red and Honeycrisp in 2024.
A visual diagram developed by Perennia for apple leaf powdery mildew disease rating on fully expanded terminal leaves. On a scale from 0-6, as a per cent of leaf area infected, 0) no infection, 1) <1% infection, 2) 2-5% infection, 3) 6-20% infection, 4) 21-40% infection, 5) >40% infection, and 6) full leaf area infected (unavailable, not shown).
rotation.”
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As the trial progressed, Cortens and field research technician Jenna Bekkers developed a visual diagram of disease development in apples that rates severity of powdery mildew infection. It’s important to evaluate newly infected leaves – not the flagshoots from the previous season. Here’s why. Powdery mildew overwinters in infected buds and symptoms emerge the following year as flagshoots. This means that flagshoots represent last year’s infections and thus serve as a source of disease but do not represent the current season’s treatment success. Cortens and Bekkers standardized the process of visual assessment (see visual).
At the end of the trial, Cortens observed enough infections of powdery mildew for treatment comparisons of incidence and severity at the two field sites. In a repeated single-product program, only the industry standard Nova [340 g/ha] applied two or three times as protective sprays notably reduced the incidence and severity of powdery mildew. When the industry standard Luna Tranquility [600 mL/ha] and the test product Gatten [690 mL/ha] were applied protectively three
times they also trended toward some suppression of the disease under high pressure. The remaining biological and conventional products under evaluation did not give adequate control when compared with the untreated control in the current study.
“Biological products will be more finicky to use,” says Cortens. They do not have the efficacy that we are used to with conventional fungicides. They have a place but we continue to learn how to use them under the right conditions.”
While monitoring infection risk according to the RIMpro decision support tool using onfarm weather stations, it was observed that the RIMpro model overpredicted infections likely due to the variability of weather forecasts. The conditions for infection are not transparent, but a user might still find the interpretation of weather conditions helpful along with other advice.
Her additional counsel: “Growers still have to understand the disease of powdery mildew, incorporate the weather forecast and interpret the data for themselves. These tools don’t replace the orchard manager.”
CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST QUÉBEC
Novafruit partners with Les Entreprises Pitre in strawberry production
Novafruit, a Québec-based nursery specializing in the propagation of strawberry plants, is expanding its activities through a new partnership with Les Entreprises Pitre, one of the largest berry producers in Canada. This association will allow Novafruit to quadruple its production capacity by investing in the first phase of constructing a new site dedicated to the soilless cultivation of strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry plants, creating more than 50 new jobs.
This development plan will enable Novafruit to better serve its customers by deploying new genetics from international hybridization programs adapted to the realities of soilless and sheltered cultivation, while continuing to innovate and integrate advanced production techniques.
The new site will be established in the Upper Laurentians, adding to the existing facilities. This nursery, incorporating the most modern technologies, will be located in a forested area characterized by its physical isolation from other fruit production sites, thus reducing potential contamination sources and the presence of pathogens. The location in a cold climate, at high latitude and altitude, will allow these new infrastructures to fully benefit from the advantages of northern conditions, improving floral initiation and plant vigour.
“Novafruit’s goal has always been to lead the small fruit industry in adopting innovative production systems by offering producers a combination of new
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Buy BC helps
British Columbians will experience a wider variety of local food and beverage options as more farmers and small businesses get support through Buy BC.
Through the Buy BC Partnership Program, $2 million is available to support those eligible to participate in provincewide marketing projects to help boost awareness, demand, and sales of B.C. products. The funding will help additional local food and beverage companies and industry associations share their stories with more people around the province.
One example is Rad Jamz and Preserves in Kelowna, which uses only B.C. produce with a focus on the Okanagan region for its high-quality jams, jellies and preserves. The company used Buy BC funding to attend a trade show and promote its products through a series of advertising campaigns that included print and digital components.
plant types and varieties,” said Simon Parent, founder and president of Novafruit. “This collaboration consolidates the achievement of this goal and will position Novafruit as a worldclass company.”
“The fruit industry is undergoing profound transformation and will be called upon to evolve from in-ground cultivation to soilless cultivation to meet current
more farmers will integrate this method into their business models, as has happened in Europe over the past 25 years. We are combining our expertise, networks, knowledge, and the strengths of our teams to advance the industry towards more resilient agriculture.”
For more information: link to: novafruit.ca and entreprisespitre.com.
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GREENHOUSE GROWER
Topline Farms hires Chris Veillon as vice-president, marketing
Topline Farms, a family-owned leader in premium greenhouse-grown produce, has appointed Chris Veillon as vicepresident, marketing. A seasoned brand marketing expert with two decades of experience in the greenhouse produce industry, Veillon will spearhead Topline Farms’ marketing initiatives to enhance brand visibility and drive growth across North America from Leamington, Ontario headquarters.
Veillon brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge in brand strategy, consumer engagement, and innovative marketing approaches. Known for creating successful product and brand campaigns and having a deep understanding of the industry,
Veillon is poised to help take Topline Farms’ marketing efforts to the next level.
“Adding someone of Chris’ caliber to our team is a game-changer,” said Ken Green, president, Topline Farms. “His experience and leadership in the fresh produce industry will help us grow the Topline Farms brand and create greater awareness for our greenhouse-grown fruits and vegetables across North America. We are thrilled to have him onboard as we continue to expand our footprint in the market,” said Green.
Veillon will lead Topline Farms’ efforts to connect with retailers, consumers, and partners, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of the greenhouse produce
industry supply chain.
“I’m thrilled to join the Topline Farms’ leadership team and contribute to building a relevant and impactful family-owned brand in fresh produce,” said Veillon. “The opportunity to highlight the quality, innovation, and sustainability behind Topline Farms’ products is exciting, and I look forward to driving meaningful connections with partners across the industry,” said Chris Veillon.
For more information about Topline Farms, visit www.toplinefarms.com.
Source: Topline Farms January 6, 2025 news release
Reduce the risk of falls with these best practices
While business booms for Ontario’s greenhouse industry, health and safety professionals have noted a concerning trend: injuries from falls have been increasing. “Between 2020 and 2023 we have noticed a sharp increase in falls among greenhouse workers,” says Nicole Sherman, health and safety consultant with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS).
According to injury statistics from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), the number of workers who experienced an injury after falling to a lower level has increased in recent years, but the majority of fall injuries have been occurring when workers slip or trip while working at ground level. “Many of these injuries seem to be related to the walkways and floors that workers are walking on, so it
really comes down to the condition of the walking surfaces,” says Nicole.
Good housekeeping procedures are essential
Hoses, extension cords, uneven ground, water, and debris from the plants or other materials are all common things that contribute to slips, trips, and falls in greenhouses. “It’s generally a combination of things that causes a worker to slip or trip, so the best way to prevent falls is to keep walkways and work areas clear and dry,” says Nicole. “It’s not enough to tell workers to keep walkways clean. Employers should develop and document detailed housekeeping procedures that are specific to the work area and the equipment being used.”
Housekeeping procedures
should be specific about where certain equipment goes when it’s not in use. Procedures should also include a schedule outlining how often a particular area is supposed to be cleaned up. Assigning a clean-up crew is an effective way to ensure clean-up is done because it allocates resources to the task. “Specify when it is going to be done, how it is going to be done, and who is going to do it,” says Nicole.
Once robust housekeeping procedures are in place and workers have been trained, the final piece is monitoring and enforcement. “Housekeeping procedures need to be followed up with monitoring and enforcement by supervisors,” says Nicole. It’s important for workers to know the expectations when it comes to housekeeping and understand why it matters. As
part of training, discuss the impact a fall injury can have on their life and explain how following housekeeping procedures reduces the risk.
Five ways to prevent falls in greenhouses
Whether it’s from falling off a ladder or slipping on fallen produce, greenhouse workers are getting hurt. In addition to establishing detailed housekeeping procedures, here are five things employers can do to reduce the risk of falls and protect their workers.
1) Train workers on the hazards and controls. Good training is always one of the most important things employers can do to protect workers. Clearly explain what the hazards are and what controls have been put in place to reduce risk. Make sure everyone understands safe work procedures. If language is a barrier for some workers, use pictures, a translation app or translator to get the message across. Verify understanding by observing the worker complete the task safely.
2) Complete regular maintenance and inspections. Conduct pre-use inspections on all equipment and applicable structures (e.g., ladders, rail systems, scissor carts) before use
to ensure everything is in good working order. Pay particular attention to water systems. If not properly maintained, water systems have the potential to leak, and leaky equipment will quickly create a slip hazard.
3) Assess the use of extension cords. If workers are relying on long extension cords stretched out across walkways to get their work done, it may be time to install more electrical outlets. “This will eliminate this trip hazard by removing the need for permanent use of extension cords,” Nicole points out.
4) Monitor regularly. Supervisors should check work areas regularly to ensure clean-up procedures are being followed. Don’t wait until someone gets hurt before realizing that a clean-up task was misunderstood or not completed.
5) Give workers time to complete the job properly. “Feeling rushed at work is common, but we have to be careful because when workers feel pressure to work quickly, that’s when they cut corners,” says Nicole. Ensure your workers have the time required to follow proper procedure.
Protect your workers and your business by taking action to prevent falls.
Source: WSIB
GREENHOUSE GROWER
Ecoation forms digital partnership with Mucci Farms
Ecoation, a leader in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Yield Forecasting, is partnering with Mucci Farms, one of North America’s premier greenhouse growers.
This alliance follows years of successful collaborations and technology trials, with Mucci Farms choosing Ecoation’s advanced digital platform for all its greenhouse facilities across the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario, Mucci Farms gains access to real-time insights on crop health, pest pressures, and yield forecasting, enabling its growers to improve productivity, reduce treatment usage and advance sustainable practices.
Ecoation’s platform combines machine learning, data analytics, and in-field sensing technology. These tools provide Mucci Farms with early alerts on potential pest and disease issues and detailed insights into yield trends. This proactive approach enables Mucci Farms to make informed decisions that increase efficiency and align with its goals of high quality and sustainable operations.
“For years, we’ve sought a technology
partner who truly understands the complexities of greenhouse operations,” said Bert Mucci, CEO of Mucci Farms. “Ecoation’s platform offers unparalleled insight into our crops, allowing us to make data-driven decisions that align with our commitment to sustainability and innovation. Adopting advanced tools such as Ecoation’s IPM and Yield Forecasting platforms is essential to remain at the forefront of agriculture.”
Dr. Saber Miresmailli, founder and CEO of Ecoation, shared his excitement, “Mucci Farms is one of the most advanced and modern greenhouse operations in the world,” said Dr. Miresmailli. “Their commitment to quality, efficiency, and environmental stewardship is inspiring, and we are honoured to support them as their digital partner. Together, we aim to elevate the greenhouse industry through innovative technology and sustainable practices.”
“Ecoation’s technology has transformed how we operate,” Mucci explained. “In greenhouse production, timing and accuracy are critical. Ecoation provides an unprecedented level of insight, enabling us
to monitor our plants’ health with unmatched precision. This empowers us to make timely and well-informed decisions that are beneficial both for our business and for the environment.”
“Ecoation’s platform provides the actionable intelligence we need to operate at our best,” said Mucci. “With their technology, we have greater clarity and
control over our operations. It’s not just about increasing yield but also understanding the conditions that lead to quality, enabling us to deliver better products to our customers.”
Source: Ecoation January 8, 2025 news release
Manulife Investment Management takes minority stake in Nature Fresh
Nature Fresh Group Inc. (“Nature Fresh”) has announced a minority investment made by Manulife Investment Management (“Manulife IM”), on behalf of its agriculture clients, in Nature Fresh. This new investment will help to position Nature Fresh for further success and will leverage the combined expertise of both firms to drive continued growth in the controlled environment agriculture sector.
Peter Quiring will remain the majority shareholder of Nature Fresh following the transaction, and commented, “We are excited to partner with Manulife IM, whose deep knowledge and long-term vision in the agriculture sector align perfectly with our goals. This minority investment represents a strategic collaboration that will help us accelerate
innovation and enhance value for our customers and stakeholders.”
Oliver Williams, global head of Agriculture Investments at Manulife IM, added: “Nature Fresh has built an impressive legacy in the industry, and we are thrilled to support their next phase of growth. This investment reflects our confidence in their vision, leadership, and commitment to advancing their sustainable agriculture practices. We see significant potential in this new relationship to create a lasting impact, and we are eager to contribute our experience and resources to help Nature Fresh achieve its long-term goals.”
Nature Fresh is a pioneer in sustainable greenhouse agriculture, producing premium fruits and vegetables year-round
through advanced technology and innovation. Committed to quality and sustainability, Nature Fresh provides customers with fresh, flavourful, and safe produce.
As part of Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, Manulife IM is a leader in bringing natural capital solutions to investors around the globe and is the largest manager of natural capital in the world. It manages nearly 400,000 acres of prime farmland in major agricultural regions of the United States and in Canada, Chile, and Australia as part of its comprehensive private markets strategies.
Source: Nature Fresh Farms January 16, 2025 news release
Peter Quiring
GREENHOUSE GROWER
Koppert launches a new application device for biocontrol
Leading biocontrol company, Koppert, has unveiled the Natutec Airobreez, a cutting-edge application device designed to offer its customers enhanced precision, efficiency, and labour savings in distributing beneficial organisms in crops. Tailored for low to mid-tech covered environments, Airobreez is suitable for any crop utilizing biological control.
The Airobreez is a handheld blower that uses a unique gentle airflow to disperse natural enemies safely over crops.
“We’ve never seen our beneficial insects arrive at their destination in better condition or more evenly distributed,” says Maikel van Essen, product manager at Koppert. “The Airobreez sets a new industry standard for handheld blowers, not only in performance but also in usability. By releasing beneficial insects through a gentle, controlled airstream, we ensure the organisms reach their destination in optimal condition, with mortality rates below 2%.”
Van Essen further explains,
“The Airobreez incorporates a double-duct system (priority patent pending in the Netherlands) ensuring uniform coverage with an effective range of up to four meters. In addition to its extremely low mortality rates, this is where the Airobreez also stands out in its competitive landscape. No other device covers the range from zero to one metre as well as a four-metre radius. Its patented linear airflow guarantees even distribution as you move through the crop and its unique paddle dosage system
allows consistent and precise dosage throughout its use.”
With a closed dosage system that includes 15 settings, the Airobreez is designed to ensure every product is applied with pinpoint accuracy. “Our customers can trust that no material is lost during application, which is crucial for both efficiency and cost-effectiveness,” adds van Essen.
Addressing labour and efficiency challenges
As labour costs continue to rise, workers are scarce and the manual application of beneficial organisms becomes more demanding, the Natutec Airobreez offers a marketoriented solution for growers. The device's innovative design ensures not only precise distribution but also significant labour savings. Growers can reduce time spent on pest management by up to 80 per cent, allowing them to focus on other critical tasks in their operations.
Van Essen emphasizes the Airobreez's user-friendly nature:
“It's incredibly lightweight, making it easy to handle during
extended use. The two carrying modes ensure comfort and convenience. Plus, it’s designed to be easy to clean, so growers can maintain it with minimal effort, even in demanding environments.”
By offering growers a seamless, precise, and efficient way to release natural enemies, the Airobreez transforms the way biological pest control is practised, merging the best of nature with cutting-edge technology.
The Airobreez is the latest addition to Koppert’s Natutec range, a portfolio of technologydriven solutions for the application of biocontrol products. Designed to empower customers, the Natutec range offers:
• Seamless application of biological control products, even in hard-to-reach or large-scale crops
• Improved effectiveness of biological control methods through uniform distribution.
• Increased efficiency and significant labor savings up to 80%
Source: Koppert Canada January 8, 2025 news release
Canada’s horticultural sector rings in $7.4B in farmgate value
According to Statistics Canada, the farmgate value of potatoes, greenhouse vegetables, field vegetables and fresh fruits totalled nearly $7.4 billion in 2023. Those figures will be undoubtedly higher when
2024 numbers are calculated. This is a significant increase from the $6.8B reported in 2022.
In terms of overall value, Ontario leads the way ($3.368 B) with Québec following ($1.469B) and British Columbia in third place ($1,213B).
Potatoes earned $1.967B or 24.34 per
cent of the total horticultural farmgate value.
Greenhouse vegetables comprise almost one-third of the total value of horticultural crops with $2.471B or 30.58 per cent of the total horticultural farmgate value.
Field vegetables brought in $2.297B or 28.43 per cent of the total horticultural farmgate value.
Fresh fruits tallied $1.346B or 16.65 per cent of the total horticultural farmgate value.
For more insight, look to the Statistic Canada chart supplied January 8, 2025. The $7.4 billion is calculated by subtracting the value of mushrooms.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is reporting that an employer in the farming sector was fined $75,000 and banned from the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program for five years for failing to provide required documentation to inspectors, being absent from a scheduled meeting with inspectors, and failing to demonstrate they were operating a legitimate business. This penalty was laid in the period of April 1 until September 30, 2024.
Canadian HR Reporter lists Toor Vineyards, Oliver, British Columbia with a fine of $118,000 and is permanently banned from the program.
The Government of Canada monitors employer activity through a strict employer compliance regime. It has taken additional steps in recent years to
combat program misuse, improve the quality and reach of inspections, and increase penalties for non-compliant employers.
Recent inspection data highlights the reach and impact of these improvements. Between April 1 and September 30, 2024, ESDC conducted 649 employer compliance inspections, of which 11 per cent were found to be non-compliant. Penalties for non-compliant employers have increased in comparison to the previous year. During this sixmonth period, ESDC issued $2.1 million in Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMP), more than double the amount in the same period in 2023. Inspections during this time resulted in 20 employers being banned from the TFW Program, a fivefold increase from the same time span last year.
Banned employers range from a seafood product preparation and packaging operation to an employer in janitorial maintenance.
To combat program misuse and increase worker protections, ESDC has implemented stricter guidelines for AMPs. In 2023, penalties increased from $15,000 to $45,000 and a five-year ban for employers who do not provide documents and who are found to be claiming a business that does not exist or exists illicitly.
Beginning in fall 2024, the same penalties also apply to employers who refuse to meet with inspectors and who do not attend inspections. Additionally, employers who are not actively engaged in their business operations now face penalties of $15,000 for each negatively affected temporary foreign
worker, rather than a total fine of $15,000 for non-compliance.
ESDC also significantly expanded its efforts to monitor and combat Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) misuse, implementing the following key changes:
• more rigorous oversight in high-risk areas, when processing LMIAs and conducting inspections;
• eliminating attestations from professional accountants or lawyers as proof of business legitimacy to help ensure job offers are genuine; and
• increased use of Ministerial Instructions to suspend positive LMIAs in cases of suspected Program misuse or illicit activity, preventing employers from hiring additional workers.
These changes have allowed ESDC to prevent suspected
Program misuse or illicit activity at an earlier stage and to apply stricter application standards. The Government of Canada continues to work closely with provinces and territories, industry stakeholders, labour organizations, and migrant worker support organizations to ensure the TFW Program supports compliant employers with genuine labour market needs, while prioritizing the health and safety of temporary foreign workers in Canada.
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada January 17, 2025 news release
kimberly.taylorlindo@nutrien.com
KAREN DAVIDSON
PERSPECTIVE OF CHAIR & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Working in support of protecting domestic food production
SHAWN BRENN & ALISON ROBERTSON
Traditionally, the chair and executive director of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) have always each prepared and given a report on the activities of the year gone by to the membership at the annual general meeting.
Truthfully, it’s always been a bit of a challenge to write two separate reports that don’t overlap – and that’s because the chair and executive director at this organization work very closely together.
WEATHER VANE
That’s why, this year, we’ve decided to take a joint, leadership-focused approach in our reporting to the membership.
The full report will be presented at the AGM in Niagara this month, but here are some highlights from the year that has been and our perspectives looking ahead to 2025.
Government relations
Our advocacy work continues to focus on the big files common to all growers: labour, environment, crop protection, safety nets and property/ infrastructure/energy/food safety.
We spent time this year getting to know our new Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Rob Flack, and introducing him to our sector and the issues that matter to fruit and vegetable growers.
Building relationships with elected officials and their political support teams, as well as with staff from the various ministries, is a key part of our approach. This means regular contact throughout the year as well as special events such as farm tours and our Queen’s Park outreach day.
Federal files
Although most of our advocacy is focused provincially, we also work on federal files where we closely support efforts by Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC).
A big win for our sector this past year was Bill C-280, the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act. Although FVGC and Canadian Produce Marketing Association led this file, the OFVGA provided considerable behind-the-scenes support. Decades in the making,
it became law just before Christmas 2024 and ensures suppliers of perishable produce are paid in case of buyer bankruptcy.
Looking locally
Over the past few years, there has been a growing frustration with municipalities on issues such as worker housing regulations, storm water management, development charges, building permits, wastewater issues and more. OFVGA is developing a municipal engagement strategy, and we have hired an additional policy analyst to support our team in this area.
Public outreach
We’re actively involved in general public-facing communications on issues such as the importance of protecting our ability to grow our own food. As well, our work on the More than a Migrant Worker initiative continues to grow, catching the attention of the public, government, other agriculture industry stakeholders and source countries such as Jamaica, where
Rarely do we capture tender fruit orchards at rest. In this case, Meyers Fruit Farm is the setting near Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The candycotton glow of the trees brings calm while contemplating the global winds of change. This would be a good moment to take two sniffs and exhale. The physiological sigh will reset your nervous system. Photo by Marcella DiLonardo.
The Grower reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Any errors that are the direct result of The Grower will be compensated at our discretion with a correction notice in the next issue. No compensation will be given after the first running of the ad. Client signature is required before insertion. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is the sole owner of The Grower. All editorials and opinions expressed in The Grower are those of the newspaper’s editorial staff and/or contributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the association. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either whole or in part without the prior written consent of the publisher.
OFFICE 355 Elmira Road North, Unit 105 Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 CANADA Tel. 519-763-8728 • Fax 519-763-6604 The Grower is printed 12 times a year and sent to all members of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association who have paid $30.00 (plus G.S.T.) per year for the paper through their commodity group or container fees. Others may subscribe as follows by writing to the office: $30.00 (+ HST) /year in Canada $40.00/year International Subscribers must submit a claim for missing issues within four months. If the issue
officials have expressed interest in having some of our team visit the Caribbean Island to highlight the workers’ lives at home.
Governance
Our organization devoted a significant amount of time to governance issues this past year and once completed, will set us up well to complete our strategic planning process this year. The goal is to make sure the organization is as prepared as it can be to face any challenges that may come at our industry.
The year ahead
Looking to 2025, possible federal and provincial elections give us the opportunity to engage with all political parties and encourage them to prioritize the importance of keeping our domestic food production system strong.
Maintaining our ability to grow our own produce and keeping as much control as possible over our own food system will become even more important as we face challenging trade issues and political headwinds from the United States and its new administration.
A key objective for OFVGA this year is to ensure there is recognition and understanding by government of the value of domestic fruit and vegetable production to our economy and to Canada as a whole. If ever our sector, our food system and our country needed the support and pride of government, it is now –and we will work hard to ensure the necessary trust and confidence in our homegrown fruit and vegetable production system are there.
It’s hard to predict what may come at us, but we are fortunate that our organization is in a strong financial position, and that we have strong and experienced leadership at the board level, and a talented and dedicated staff team. This means we have the resources to do what needs to be done to work on behalf of growers both provincially and federally.
Shawn Brenn is a potato grower and chair of OFVGA. Alison Robertson is executive director.
OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS
SHAWN BRENN ALISON ROBERTSON
URBAN COWBOY
Expert doubts Trump will meddle in Columbia River Treaty update
These days, with political leaders in both Canada and the U.S. pounding their chests over trade and resources, rhetoric is running high.
But away from the din, another story is emerging.
In British Columbia, the collegial approach being taken to modernize the storied Columbia River Treaty is giving hope, and maybe even a template, for continued Canada-U.S. cooperation.
While U.S. President Donald Trump and his Canadian adversaries duke it out, wellmanaged Columbia River water is surging efficiently and effectively between the two countries, thanks to the treaty. It’s benefitting producers and
consumers on either side of the border.
“There’s a saying that whisky is for drinking and water is for fighting,” says Glen Lucas, British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association policy consultant and former general manager. “This treaty is there to prevent fighting and give stability.”
The Columbia River Treaty dates back to 1961. That’s when Canada and the U.S. agreed on an extensive dam and water management system for the 2,000-kilometre-long flood-prone Columbia River, the second longest river in Canada and sixth longest river in the U.S.
In a capsule, the Americans needed downstream flood control, a reliable water supply and electrical power for the northwest. For its part, Canada needed a way to manage and profitably harness the mighty Columbia’s flow, to sell hydro-electricity.
So the two countries came together, strategically built dams in Canada and the U.S. (all paid for by the U.S.), and the treaty was enacted.
The negotiation process, however, had huge flaws.
Indigenous people were not involved in the planning, despite the exterminating impact of dams
on the salmon fishery, a keystone of the Indigenous way of life.
And agriculture? It was mostly forgotten.
But over time, the bones of the treaty have proved to be sound for both countries.
For example, irrigation water made available through the treaty has been instrumental in boosting horticulture’s fortunes in Washington state, helping it become America’s leader in apple production.
On this side of the border, Canada benefitted from what was called the “Canadian Entitlement” – one-half of the value of the hydro-electricity generated by releasing water from dams in Canada that subsequently created electricity in the U.S.
So with an eye to the future and nearly 60 years of experience with the original treaty behind them, negotiators set out in 2018 to modernize the document. Last July 2024, they announced an agreement in principle had been reached.
The terms call for Canada to receive additional compensation, some of which policy consultant Lucas hopes will be used to support the apple sector in the Okanagan, which competes in Washington State’s shadow.
Time will tell; the agreement has a one-year implementation period in which details such as compensation distribution are being worked out.
But overall, the agreement -and the drive to modernize it -- is being held out by many pundits as an example of the cooperation that’s possible between Canada and the U.S. It’s not about who won or lost in the modernization…at least, not right now.
Doubts have risen though about whether Trump in particular will
be able to resist meddling in the treaty’s modernization.
But based on the benefits that accrue to the U.S., Lucas thinks the treaty’s safe.
“Trump won’t touch this,” he predicts. “It’s really a good deal for the U.S.”
Owen Roberts is a past-president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and a communications instructor at the University of Illinois
OWEN ROBERTS
Uniting Ontario communities through food and farming in 2024
JESSICA McCANN
Thanks to the continued support of longstanding partners such as the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA), 2024 was another successful year for Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO). Through collaboration with OFVGA and other partners, FFCO facilitated numerous opportunities for farmers, agribusinesses, and the public to engage, building confidence in Ontario’s food systems. These initiatives brought together farming and nonfarming communities, allowing consumers to interact directly with Ontario’s farmers while learning more about agriculture.
In 2024, FFCO and OFVGA partnered on initiatives designed to spark conversations about Ontario's fruits, vegetables, and migrant workers. Additionally, Nicki Scott, representing the OFVGA and Ontario Potato Board (OPB), served on the FFCO board of directors, further strengthening this partnership.
More than a Migrant Worker (MTAMW)
OFVGA’s MTAMW project partnered with FFCO to host a food industry professional tour in Ottawa, engaging 37 professionals from various sectors, who toured McGregor’s Produce to meet seasonal workers and hear directly from them. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with one attendee sharing, “The tour increased my knowledge about farming, and the crucial importance of seasonal workers.”
In addition to in-person events, digital outreach is vital to FFCO and OFVGA’s shared work. FFCO conducted five photo/video shoots and 23 interviews for the MTAMW campaign, hosted in partnership with the OFVGA. FFCO interviewed farm workers at Schooley Orchards (apple and lavender), DVS Farms Inc. (Brussels sprouts and peppers), Sandy Shores (asparagus and peppers), and The Neighbourhood Organization, which supports newcomers to Canada, including seasonal
agricultural workers.
Farm tours
2024 marked a significant milestone for FFCO's farm tour program, celebrating its 100th tour since its inception in 2004. Over the past two decades, the program has featured 258 farms and food processing facilities. This year, FFCO focused on modifying the program to reach to new audiences.
FFCO also hosted four culinary student tours, engaging 143 students from Niagara, Fanshawe, Lambton, and Centennial Colleges. These tours visited various farms including: Zekveld’s Garden Market, Freeman Herbs, Algoma Orchards, Mountain Orchards, and a Nortera field, providing firsthand experiences of Ontario’s agricultural diversity.
FFCO would like to extend our thanks to all of the farm owners who have opened their gates to host tours in the past two-decades. Without their ongoing support, FFCO would not be celebrating 100+ successful farm tours.
Breakfast on the Farm
FFCO hosted three Breakfast on the Farm (BOTF) events, attracting 24,800 guests. Partnering with OFVGA, these events featured Ontario-grown fruits and vegetables. At the first event, 10,000 apples donated by OFVGA and Ontario Apple Growers were distributed to guests. The Ottawa and Perth County events featured locally grown strawberries and apples.
Digital outreach
Through the Faces Behind Food campaign on Instagram and Facebook, FFCO shared the stories of 103 individuals from across the agricultural and food sectors. The campaign reached 2.5 million Canadians, and in 2024 featured commodities included potatoes, onions, apples, cherries, peaches, strawberries, ginseng, and more.
Additionally, FFCO hosted nine Virtual Food and Farming
Field Trips, reaching more than 45,000 people. These virtual tours provided accessible learning opportunities about Ontario's fruit and vegetable production, including visits to a market garden, apple farm, and herb farm.
Events and outreach
FFCO participated in numerous events throughout 2024, including 18 days at the CNE, where FFCO and members showcased an innovative, theatrestyle FarmFood360 kiosk. This interactive exhibit allowed visitors to experience Ontario fruit and vegetable farms through virtual reality, attracting 7,470 viewers. The kiosk was also featured at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF), engaging 1,800 attendees.
Training and workshops
FFCO facilitated 30 training sessions for industry leaders and first responders in 2024, covering topics such as agricultural media training, Speak Up training, and livestock emergency response. Through FFCO’s resource library, 15,325 materials were distributed to schools, fairs, individuals, and organizations, further supporting public trust in agriculture.
Opportunities for engagement
FFCO remains committed to fostering opportunities for members to connect. This year, FFCO hosted quarterly #OntAg communicators calls, tri-annual Member Forum meetings, and regular discussions with likeminded organizations across Canada.
To learn more about FFCO's initiatives, visit www.FarmFoodCareON.org and subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter. Comments and questions can always be directed to FFCO staff directly at info@farmfoodcare.org
Jessica McCann is communications coordinator for Farm & Food Care Ontario.
Feb 3-6
COMING EVENTS 2025
North American Strawberry Growers’ Association and North American Raspberry Blackberry Association Annual General Meeting, Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Feb 5 Digital Harvest & Minister’s Conference, Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax, NS
Feb 5-7 Fruit Logistica, Berlin, Germany
Feb 11 Canada’s Agriculture Day
Feb 11 Leamington Greenhouse Grower Expo, OGVG office, Leamington
Feb 12
Feb 12-13
Leamington Greenhouse Grower Expo, Roma Club, Leamington
Southern Interior Horticultural Show, Penticton Trade & Convention Centre, Penticton, BC
Feb 14 British Columbia Cherry Association Annual General Meeting, Trinity Baptist Church, Kelowna, BC
Feb 16-19 International Fruit Tree Association Annual General Meeting, Hyatt Regency, Rochester, NY
Feb 18 Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association Annual General Meeting, Niagara Falls, ON
Feb 18 Berry Growers of Ontario Annual General Meeting, Niagara Falls, ON
Feb 19-20 Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Niagara Falls Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, ON
Feb 20 British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association Annual General Meeting, Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre, Penticton, BC
Mar 4 Ontario Fresh Grape Growers Annual General Meeting, Grape Growers of Ontario Board Office, St. Catharines
Mar 6 Ontario Potato Conference, Delta Hotel, Guelph, ON
Mar 11-12 Pacific Northwest Cranberry Congress, VIRTUAL 9 am-noon
Mar 11-13 Fruit & Vegetable Growers of Canada Annual General Meeting, Hilton Québec, Québec City, QC
Mar 20 Ontario Hazelnut Association Symposium, Guelph, ON
Mar 24
Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers Annual General Meeting, Sheraton Four Points Inn, London, ON
Mar 25-26 Minor Use Priority Setting Meeting, Gatineau, QC
Mar 27 Ontario Tender Fruit Growers Annual General Meeting, Hilton Garden Inn, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
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 10 Farm & Food Care Ontario Annual Conference, Grandway Events Centre, Elora, ON
RETAIL NAVIGATOR
Packaging is getting more complicated
If you missed the news about Metro’s new automated fresh distribution centre opening in Toronto on October 29, 2024, here’s a recap and why you should think about the implications for your enterprise.
Metro, one of Canada’s top five retailers, has invested nearly a billion dollars over the last seven years to modernize how it moves product around Québec and Ontario. The new facility uses a case order machine to load pallets for shipping to Metro’s 277 Ontario stores, including Food Basics. It has metal racks that are 80-feet tall and are used for short-term storage. Automated cranes move cases up and down the racks.
The system uses information about incoming shipments and store orders to configure pallets that are efficient for transportation. The benefit is that each store receives exactly what it needs, reducing waste.
This automated system should spark some curiosity in how it may affect your packaging, one of the most challenging components of your marketing spend. Often, we think of packaging as part of cost of goods, which is true, but it is also where you probably invest a lot of money to communicate with consumers and customers. When you add up the cost of packaging over 12 months, it is probably more than what you are spending on other sales and marketing initiatives.
It is a complicated process to develop and implement packaging, so you need to invest the time to get it right. Here are 10 different factors to consider when developing new packaging or assessing the effectiveness of your current packaging.
1. Communicate your value proposition
Your packaging needs to communicate the value proposition to your target market. We see many products that focus on the features of the product but what really drives consumers to buy are benefits. Example, the feature of compostable packaging allows the consumer to reduce plastic packaging waste.
These benefits can be a challenge to communicate in a tiny space but when you can achieve this, the messaging is powerful.
2. Stand out on the shelf
Consumers make the decision to buy in the store, at the shelf. Your packaging has to stand out and include colours that resonate with your target market. When you are in the design phase, take the mock-ups to the store and put them on the shelf. Stand back and take a look. Do they jump out at you and deliver the message you need? Some designs look great on a computer screen or even in your office, but they do not work in the retail environment under different lighting.
3. Minimize damages or shrink
The last thing you want is to produce a product, get it packed and then see it bruised or damaged on the store shelf or in the consumer’s home. We know retailers and consumers are both focused on getting the most from what they buy. Retailers call it shrink and consumers think of it as food waste. Your packaging should protect the integrity of your product through the entire journey. If you have some unique attributes in your packaging to protect the product, share these with customers and consumers.
4. The most cost-effective solution
There is no doubt most packaging is expensive. You probably have a few options to consider with different prices. You need to consider each option and the value that increased costs will deliver to customers and consumers. People are more focused on prices, so you need to ensure if you are using a more expensive option that there will be a return on your investment. This is probably one of the most challenging aspects of packaging design.
5. Regulatory compliance
In Canada, we have lots of regulations that impact packaging. From font sizes to required components to grades to bilingual language, there are a lot of rules to understand and comply with. Your graphic designer should have the knowledge to ensure you are compliant. If they do not, you will need to find someone who does have this skillset. Definitely, you do not want to print a run of packaging that is non-compliant. Ouch! Retailers expect compliant packaging before ever seeing the product.
6. Maximize shelf life and fridge life
A packaging solution that delivers more shelf life on your products for customers and consumers can be the difference. The longer the retailer has to sell the product, the better. Despite modern, efficient distribution networks it takes time to get products through the network and into the
store. There are many benefits when you can make the claim your product has a shelf life that is 20 per cent longer than other products in the category. This will also have a positive impact on your repeat purchases from consumers. When they see a product performs well in their fridge or fruit bowl, they will be more likely to buy again next time.
7. Comply with customer’s distribution requirements Metro, as mentioned, and other retailers are changing how they move products through their automated distribution networks. Talk to retailers about their future plans. Perhaps there are things you should consider in
models of store formats and regularly ask the question if there are any changes to merchandising philosophy or fixtures.
9. Sustainability still matters There is more focus on price right now, but consumers and retailers are still looking for more sustainable solutions and
kitchen. You also need your customers to find your products easy to use. One big consideration here is scanning the bar code. Before you print any packaging take the mock-up to the store to ensure it scans properly.
Packaging is an opportunity and a challenge. A great package
Access crop protection insights to grow your most marketable crop.
PETER CHAPMAN
Go-and-grow at the 2025 show
KICK-OFF PARTY
Feb 18, 7:45 pm – 11 pm
Canada’s premier horticultural event welcomes exhibitors and convention attendees the evening before the doors open at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre. This social gathering follows the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association banquet.
The Back Bar – TGI Fridays Restaurant Wyndam Fallsview Hotel Lower Lobby 6455 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls, ON (across the street from Fallsview Casino)
For the best value, review registration packages. Purchase two 2-day registrations at full price and receive 15% off the third, fourth and fifth full conference registration. This discount applies only to online registrations made in a single transaction. Children under 16 years old are free. This show is a business-to-business event. That said, the public is welcome to attend.
Early bird pricing ends on Feb 12 at 5 pm. On-site registrations are accepted with payment by VISA, MASTERCARD or cheques only. Cash sales will not be accepted.
For exact pricing, go to: www.ofvc.ca
Who will take the titles for Ontario Sweet Cider and Ontario Craft Cider? The winners for both competitions will be announced through social media accounts of Ontario Apple Growers, Ontario Craft Cider Association and ONcore.
The Ontario Sweet Cider Competition will be held off-site at the Simcoe Research Station on February 12.
The Ontario Craft Cider Competition will be held off-site at the Ontario Apple Growers office in St. Catharines on February 18. Entrants will be accepted in the categories of Modern Cider, Specialty Cider, Traditional/Heritage Cider.
Link here for entry deadlines and drop-off details: www.ofvc.ca/ONCraftCider.html
Feb. 20, 7:45 am – 9:15 am The Lounge, 2nd Floor
Grape grower, businessman and all-round citizen from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Joe Pillitteri will be edutaining his morning audience. Combining his comedian antics and sober second thought, he’ll share his journey on navigating work and family commitments, mental health challenges and how humour can lift the load. His talk: The Joy of SurThriving. Pre-registration is required.
Go-and-grow at the 2025 show
AWARDS AND AGMS
The Market of the Year Award will be announced by Farmers’ Markets Ontario on Feb. 19. The association is also having its annual general meeting at 3:30 pm Feb. 19. The Ontario Lavender Association will be holding its annual general meeting on Feb 19, also at 3:30 pm.
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
POSTER DISPLAY
Growers, researchers and extension specialists alike look forward to the poster session. Look for results from research trials, including pest management, crop production and new cultivars.
For more details, contact Cara McCreary, poster session chair or Denise Beaton, co-chair.
TRADE SHOW
See you on the red carpet. Exhibitors and growers share two acres of space with the latest
Straight up, with ice! Drop by for your gourmet fruity snack at the booth of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association and The Grower at Booth # 921.
Get on board for an agri-career
community.
KAREN DAVIDSON
Want to work in horticulture? There’s never been a better time to join the industry according to the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC).
In a 2023 study conducted by The Conference Board of Canada, on behalf of CAHRC, the results found a 15 per cent increase in job vacancies compared to the number of jobs in 2022 that could not be filled by Canadians and residents of Canada.
The report, titled Sowing Seeds of Change, states this is due in part to Canada’s aging population as more than 85,300 people - 30 per cent of the workforce - are expected to retire over the same period. The labour market information report says temporary foreign workers (TFW) will play an important role in narrowing the domestic labour gap. However, even with a projected increase in TFW employment by 2030, an estimated 20 per cent or 22,200 positions will remain vacant.
“Labour shortages are one of the most serious issues in agriculture because they have a direct impact on local food security, economic development and the sustainability of the sector,” says Jennifer Wright, CAHRC executive director.
Here are profiles of three careers that spotlight the range of skills required. Coincidentally, all of these profiles are of people under 30.
Social media coordinator
In April 2024, the Ontario Potato Board (OPB) took a leap forward in hiring a part-time social media coordinator. McKenna Smalley was the successful candidate, presenting a resumé that was perfectly aligned with the board’s goals. Not only had the recent Carleton University journalism graduate grown up on a potato farm near Mount Albert, but she had skills in social media content creation and strategy.
In the last year, Smalley has significantly raised the profile of Ontario potato farmers and the techniques for bringing a crop to market. Using her video-making skills for Tiktok, the platform now has 4,000 followers for the association. She says total followers number 5,000 when adding the channels of X, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Each of the social media channels has their own unique demographic of followers.
Every month, she presents a matrix of interviews and messaging for review by Kevin Brubacher, general manager, OPB. There is always a keystone interview with a grower. She has travelled the province to interview growers from Sudbury to Leamington, Alliston, Waterdown, Delhi, Beeton, and Shelburne.
Interestingly, growers are considered the prime target with the general public second.
The X account, formerly Twitter, is a hub for Ontario growers to engage and a place to build a potato-loving
To her credit, Smalley has added other clients to her roster of social media outreach. As is often the way, the learnings from other accounts are then leveraged for the Ontario Potato Board in a cycle of continuous learning.
IPM technician
Heather Anderson is tickled to be working as an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technician for Royal Brinkman Canada, a provider of fertility, crop protection and hygiene services to the greenhouse industry. At 26 years of age, she is leveraging her University of Guelph Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture.
“I chose courses that were crops-related and mostly in horticulture,” says Anderson, staffing the company’s booth at the Canadian Greenhouse Conference. “I’m interested in the growth cycle of plants because it’s something tangible. I have an interest in food security and helping to reduce pesticide use. I want to be hopeful about the future.”
She was a student gardener at Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton during her university studies. After graduating in 2020, she worked as a propagation technician in Puslinch, Ontario at a cannabis company. She learned about cloning, mother plants, and a lot about the basics of growing plants.
Her resumé and her evident passion landed her a job in Integrated Pest Management with Royal Brinkman in July 2023.
“It’s been a challenge to learn a new part of the industry,” says Anderson. “But I’m around plants in a greenhouse, working as an IPM technician in the Guelph and Niagara areas.”
In cucumbers, she’s looking for thrips, spider mites, white flies and loopers. She’s been taught to look behind the leaves and to note patterns. As well, she looks at the bigger picture of nutrition and environmental conditions.
“I deal with bugs on a daily basis, but I need to be aware of the entire life cycle and how biologicals can affect different stages.”
Her role is rewarding in that she’s learning through experience while building trust with growers on how biologicals can work in a greenhouse environment through the seasons.
“This is a great job for work-life balance,” she concludes, “although I must say that a hand lens is my best friend.”
Grower development liaison
The burgeoning greenhouse industry has provided more than 32,000 jobs in Ontario. There are many roles for young people such as Jorden Fehr. Understanding plant cultivation is crucial, but the possibilities for building a career are endless. He’s recently joined Mastronardi Produce headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario.
“Growing up in Leamington, a career in horticulture
felt like the natural path for me,” says Fehr. “I was immersed in the greenhouse industry from an early age, thanks to my dad, who has been part of the field for more than 30 years. Spending summers working alongside him, I gained invaluable experience and developed a deep connection to the industry. As I learned more, I realized the vast array of career opportunities the horticulture sector offers.”
In 2021, Fehr graduated with a degree in Business Finance from St. Clair College. While he wasn’t as focused on the cultivation of plants themselves, he developed a keen interest in the broader horticulture industry. He was particularly fascinated by the journey that fruits and vegetables take — from being grown in greenhouses to ultimately making their way to grocery stores. It was the entire process and the logistics behind it that captured his attention the most.
How is he pairing his person passions with career? Curious by nature, Fehr is motivated to learn every day.
“One thing I quickly realized is that no two growers operate the same way,” says Fehr. “Each grower has their own unique strategies, whether it’s in the cultivation process or the management of their greenhouse. This diversity allows me to continually ask questions and expand my knowledge.”
Working for a produce marketer, he is frequently faced with various challenges that require creative problemsolving. One of the most rewarding aspects of his role is the opportunity to address issues and offer solutions at both the grower and marketing levels. Additionally, networking is another passion that aligns perfectly with his career
“I regularly meet with multiple growers each week, which gives me the chance to learn about their journeys, understand their thought processes, and gain insight into how they approach business,” says Fehr.
In November 2024, Fehr joined Mastronardi Produce, the largest producer and distributor of greenhouse-grown produce in North America, after serving as a financial analyst in the greenhouse industry. In his new role as grower development liaison, he’s responsible for relationship management, grower communication and expanding the grower base under the Sunset brand.
“The potential for growth and career advancement within Mastronardi was a major factor in my decision to join the company,” he says. “The culture here is dynamic and entrepreneurial, with every team member empowered to make an impact, knowing their efforts and creativity will contribute to the company’s continued success.”
Interested in an ag career? There’s no better place to explore than the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention.
Student daily package is $35. Valid student ID card is needed for onsite registration. Early bird pricing ends February 12 at 5 pm.
McKenna Smalley, social media coordinator, is pictured at the potato research trials in Elora, Ontario.
Heather Anderson, IPM technician, Royal Brinkman Canada.
Jorden Fehr, grower development liaison, is pictured in the black cap examining the greenhouse crop.
Dogs trained to detect egg masses of spotted landerfly
KRISHNA RAMANUJAN
Growers and conservationists have a new weapon to detect invasive spotted lanternflies early and limit their spread: dogs trained to sniff out egg masses that overwinter in vineyards and forests.
A study, published Dec. 26 in the journal Ecosphere, found that trained dogs –a Labrador retriever and a Belgian Malinois – were better than humans at detecting egg masses in forested areas near vineyards, while people spotted them better than the dogs in vineyards.
To improve early detection and rapid response – the most effective strategy for controlling the pest after it invades an area – growers, conservationists and land managers might supplement human surveys with trained detection dogs.
The spotted lanternfly, which was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, has since spread to 18 other states, including New York, where the invasive, destructive insect feeds on and kills a wide range of woody host plants, including grapes, apples, hops, and maple and walnut trees.
“A spotted lanternfly infestation in a vineyard can cause 80 per cent to 100 per cent mortality of the vines in one growing season,” said Angela Fuller, the paper’s corresponding author and professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and leader of the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
Infestations also increase the amount of insecticide that growers need to use, which can increase costs by up to 170 per cent in a growing season, Fuller said.
The two dogs were trained to detect the scent of spotted lanternfly egg masses by professional trainers at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and Working Dogs for Conservation. In years past, the teams have trained dogs to detect other invasive insects, plants and pathogens.
In the study, designed to compare how well humans and dogs can detect the pest’s eggs when they overwinter, Fuller and colleagues chose 20 vineyards in Pennsylvania and New Jersey known to have lanternfly infestations. They then mapped out transects along vineyard rows and in adjacent forests. Humans surveyed for egg masses one day, while leashed dogs with a human handler scanned the same transects on separate days, so human scents didn’t influence the dogs.
People detected 1.8 times more egg masses than dogs in vineyards, where female adult lanternflies lay eggs on vines and support poles. “It was pretty easy for humans to see them, because they can do a systematic search, up and down a vine or pole,” Fuller said. Dogs searched more randomly in the vineyards, which made their surveys by smell less systematic and effective. Humans found 31 egg masses per hour versus 24 egg masses per hour for dogs.
In adjacent forests, where many spotted lanternflies overwinter and then emerge to infect vineyards, dogs had 3.4 times more
detections than humans. “The dogs find egg masses by smell,” Fuller said. “So, in a very complex environment, it’s easier for a dog to smell something than it is for a human to see something that is small and cryptic.”
In addition to doing well in complex environments, the dogs do well in ituations where the scent isn’t everywhere and the target is found in low densities, before lanternflies have spread throughout an area. In forests, dogs found 7.6 egg masses per hour versus 6.7 per hour for humans.
One caveat: The dogs spent more time searching than humans, so overall, dogs found many more egg masses than humans in forests. “The extra time that dogs take to find them is not as important as it is to find them in the first place, because you need to detect the egg masses in order to eradicate them,” Fuller said.
In other findings, the researchers used a
computer model to estimate occupancy rates – the probability that a particular area has the spotted lanternfly. They found that occupancy was higher in the vineyards than in the forests, and higher on metal poles than on vines. Also, the transects in the vineyards that were closest to a forest had a higher occupancy than those that were farther away from the forest. This is likely because lanternflies don’t disperse very far, and often fall out of trees or are carried by wind.
“If you’re searching in a vineyard close to the forest, that’s more likely where they’re going to be,” Fuller said.
Krishna Ramanujan is a writer for the Cornell Chronicle.
Editor’s note: The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness will have more information on spotted lanternfly in booth #312.
Provide Agro
At Provide Agro, the search is always for the latest global technology that’s suitable for Canadian environments. Four years ago, Netherlandsheadquartered Greefa came out with its newest defect-sorting system called Performance Plus.
“This quickly became the leading external defect sorting
system as we were now able to segregate defects such as limb rubs from punctures, further helping keep fruit that would have been destined for juice,” explains Sean Bartlett, business unit manager, Provide Agro. “Most other competitors have also come to this point in the last two years so the competition has been strong.
In 2024, Greefa started
working with higher-end computers with greater Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to use not only artificial intelligence but also deep learning.
With the introduction of iQS Pro, Greefa is taking a significant step forward in fruit sorting, initially focusing on apples and later expanding to other types of fruit. This new technology builds on years of experience in
developing iQS systems. By combining elements of the original software with an advanced deep learning system, Greefa has created a robust and reliable foundation. Thanks to extensive development and investment in the right hardware, such as specialized camera wavelengths and a dedicated camera housing, this system is fully optimized.
The power of deep learning offers significant advantages over traditional machine learning methods. One of the most notable improvements is the more robust defect detection. In the past, customers required separate dec-files for each fruit variety, whereas now, in most cases, a single dec-file can sort multiple varieties. This makes the system more efficient and easier to use.
The robust dec-files also enable customers to achieve a high sorting level much faster,
resulting in time savings and increased productivity.
In addition, iQS Pro offers flexibility in the use of base files. These files include standard defect recognition, such as hail, which already provides sufficient differentiation for most customers. For specific needs, where they require distinctions between light, medium, and severe hail damage, additional splits can be added. The base recognition remains unchanged in this process, ensuring the system stays consistent and easily shareable. This means that customers can continue to work with the same dec-files regardless of their specific requirements. Interested? Provide Agro booth can be found at Booth #823.
Crop Tracker
Croptracker will be showcasing product updates to all users, including members of Ontario Tender Fruit and Ontario Apple Growers, who have access to the full suite of Croptracker software. The company will be demonstrating its complete farm management software at booth 1022 including offering a chance for visitors to scan a tree with Crop Load Vision.
The Spray record-keeping module has had some significant improvements and feature updates to support more granular chemical storage management. Users can now create multiple chemical storage sheds and while spraying, Croptracker will create automatic withdrawals from the closest storage for more accurate location-based chemical inventory management.
The mobile app has significantly expanded offline capabilities to include Packing and creating pallets without an internet connection and to view spray plans for accurate tank mixing and chemical applications out in the field.
In spring 2025, following a year of testing and development with a trusted long-term customer, Croptracker will be releasing an update to the Punch Clock module to include employee performance reviews. Users can attach individual employee assessments to worklogs to help support employee management and training.
For users with an API connection to Croptracker, endpoints and documentation have been updated to support bulk replanting and increase Crop Load Vision information exporting.
Several features have been added to better support carbon emission calculations and reporting.
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By recording sprays and production practices in Croptracker, users are able to aggregate input emissions, fuel consumption and energy use for scope 1 and 2 reporting. New features will be released in 2025 to compile and export emission totals in formats that support government and industry
Cohort Wholesale
Biopolin is an innovative biostimulant designed to enhance pollination efficiency and improve crop quality.
This cutting-edge product features Slow-Release Technology, which extends the attractiveness of flowering crops for pollinators. It strategically attracts honeybees, bumblebees, mason bees, and other beneficial pollinators to target crops, while minimizing their foraging on competing plants.
Key benefits:
• improved pollinator activity, maximizing the efficiency of pollination.
• targeted attraction: Directs pollinators to the desired crops, enhancing their effectiveness.
• flexible application, suitable for a variety of crops, including apples, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, and strawberries.
Application:
• Apply once at the start of flowering and, if needed, repeat for long-blooming crops (10–12 days after the initial treatment) or after heavy rainfall.
• Best applied in calm, rain-free mornings for maximum effectiveness.
• Recommended rate: 2 liters of Biopolin per 500–750 liters of water per hectare. Available in convenient 1L and 5L packaging. “Biopolin has had excellent feedback, with growers stating it is well worth the investment,” shares Trevor Latta, national commercial manager. Interested? Cohort Wholesale can be found at Booth #809.
emission reporting programs. New updates are available to the post-harvest inventory management modules, including Packing, Processing and Receiving to better support increased traceability reporting requirements, such as FSMA 204. This includes expanded recall reports and more PTI standard label formats. New in 2025, Croptracker will also offer voice pick compatible labelling to help
make more efficient shipment and storage management.
Starch Quality Vision will be available to try in the booth and has had a year of increased training to improve the accuracy of the Cornell scale results and better support a broad range of iodine testing procedures.
See Croptracker at the OFVC in booth 1022 at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre, February 12-20.
Autonomous weeders step up to relieve laborious tasks
The Orio is
in a mineral soil carrot field with a traditional mechanical cultivator. At that time, the research technicians were using a system from Tillet & Hague which used a camera to see the crop rows and keep the implement centered between the rows. The Orio has a three-point hitch, allowing growers to use whatever implements they already have as long as they fit and weigh under 500 kg.
Are self-driving robots, named FarmDroid FD20 and Orio, the future of Canadian horticulture?
University of Guelph researchers will soon find out.
New funding from the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Government of Ontario and the University of Guelph, supports the first study to compare these cutting-edge robots to conventional methods.
Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald, professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture within the Ontario Agricultural College, is leading this three-year project, which began in 2023, at the Ontario Crops Research Centre –
Bradford.
“The robot addresses real issues that growers are dealing with right now,” says McDonald.
“Not only are we providing feedback to the manufacturers, our technicians have been extremely innovative in improving the designs. We’re excited about the potential of these agricultural robots to transform the future of farming practices in Ontario and beyond.”
Developed by robotics companies FarmDroid and Naïo Technologies, the two robots, which cost around $150,000 to $250,000 can be used for a number of crops: onions, beets,
carrots and more.
The hoods
in this
were 3Dprinted and can be rotated and raised to fit various crops and growth stages. This set-up can apply a non-selective herbicide between the crop rows while applying a selective herbicide or fungicide directly to the crop.
Farm Droid, an autonomous seeder and weeder, has been tweaked, reports Geoff Farintosh, University of Guelph research technician. An increase in speed was achieved in 2024 by 3Dprinting custom seeding discs, designed to drop seeds in groups of three, similar to transplants. Initially, the electronically actuated seed valve was a bottleneck, as it needed to activate for each seed. By reducing the activation frequency, we increased the seeding speed to approximately 550 meters/hr. Technicians are exploring larger modifications to the seeding unit
robot's maximum speed of 950 meters/hr during seeding.
“It’s a solar panel on wheels,” as McDonald describes it. The robot has a better environmental footprint and can be controlled through the app, allowing users to dismiss alerts such as a rain warning, so the robot can continue working.
The other robot, Orio, is an electric tool carrier for weeding, cultivating and seeding, producing less greenhouse gases than tractors. The innovative design of McDonald’s group, has a broadcast and hooded sprayer specific for the Orio.
its nutrient status in a second – a process that typically takes days. That capability will tell the growers what part of the field is deficient in a nutrient and where they should focus.
The Orio can operate at speeds of up to 5.5 km/h and is compatible with more traditional seeding units. In 2025, the team plans to trial onion seeding with both robots in grower fields to assess their performance and identify the most effective
People want their robots to multitask,” McDonald says. As such, she is also evaluating a new technology developed by Picketa Systems for real-time nutrient
The Picketa System was initially developed for potatoes, but the company is now expanding to other crops. “We’ve been collaborating with Picketa to develop a model for onions, which is already showing promise,” says Farintosh “We’ve started training the system to work with carrots and celery.”
The Picketa LENS (Leaf Evaluates Nutrient System) leverages spectrometry to deliver real-time insights into leaf nutrient levels. While the system requires substantial data to build accurate models, there are encouraging trends between the LENS predictions and lab results across several of the 13 macro and micronutrients it evaluates.
The robots might one day be capable of grabbing a leaf with a mechanical hand and identifying
Farintosh says the most significant challenge at this stage is still reliability, especially early in the season when growers depend on their equipment to perform consistently. During seeding in 2024, the robot had a few issues, most often a stuck seed valve. While this wasn’t a major issue for a 10-acre trial, it’s an area that needs improvement to ensure growers feel confident using the robots on larger fields that require timely planting. Weeds are also becoming increasingly herbicide-resistant. Some crops don’t have approved herbicides. Orio can be equipped with a mechanical weeder that is herbicide-free.
“Having additional technology takes stress from the tractor operators,” McDonald says. “We anticipate that these robots are going to be an integral part of the operation. That allows you to use your human resources in a different way.”
McDonald adds her team of students hired to work on the farm and her research technicians have had valuable experiential learning opportunities through this project.
“Getting academia and industry to collaborate in innovative ways, right on the cutting-edge, has been one of many positive things about this study,” she says.
Interested? Find out more from Geoff Farintosh, University of Guelph research technician speaking on February 20 in Room 203, Second Level at 9:30 am. Topic: Grower experiences with robotics and technology.”
L-R: Tim Horlings, chair Holland Marsh Growers’ Association visits with Barry Kent.
David Klyn-Hesselink
Econse Water Purification Systems Derek Davy
2024 fruit and vegetable claims primarily due to precipitation and disease
2024 presented many unique challenges for Ontario growers. While farmers in some areas of the province had favourable planting conditions, other areas received excess rainfall, leading to yield and quality losses for some.
Agricorp worked with the federal and provincial governments to respond to these challenges.
Changes were made to deadlines across programs to give producers more time and flexibility to make business decisions, including extending enrolment deadlines for Production Insurance.
It was an average year for fresh vegetables and better than expected given the wet conditions. The season started early, with growers taking advantage of some early heat. However, wet conditions persisted and severe weather events impacted pockets of customers across the province, posing challenges for planting and harvesting in June and July.
While temperatures were moderate throughout the summer with timely rain, disease pressure increased with perfect conditions for late blight. Drier conditions at the end of August and throughout September made for optimal
harvest conditions and reduced disease pressure but, for some crops, the damage had already occurred.
For Ontario fruit crops, the early warm weather provided optimal temperatures, pushing trees and vines out of winter dormancy a bit earlier than normal. Most fruit crops started to bloom one to two weeks earlier than normal. Localized frost affected some regions, but early on it was difficult to assess the full impacts of the damage.
September was below average for rainfall, but temperatures were average, creating an optimal growing environment for most fruit crops to mature.
Overall, fruit crops fared well, with average to above-average quality and yields meaning a low claim year across the board.
Grapes and strawberries did have some disease pressure in some areas, while tender fruit experienced some localized freeze/frost at the beginning of the season.
Business Risk Management programs
Ontario fruit and vegetable growers are making important decisions now about their business risk management options for 2025.
The programs that Agricorp delivers help growers protect their valuable businesses against risks such as large income declines, adverse weather, lost markets, and increased costs. Different programs cover different risks.
See table 1.
More on Production Insurance
Production Insurance offers acreage loss and average farm yield-based coverage. Premiums are cost shared by government: the government pays 60 per cent of premium costs and 100 per cent of the administrative costs.
Production Insurance was designed to keep premium rates stable, and rates have remained affordable when compared to the value of commodities that farmers are currently insuring.
Fruit renewals were mailed to customers in December 2024. Vegetable growers have until May 10, 2025 to apply for or make changes to 2025 coverage.
Growers who participated in 2024 will receive renewal packages in early April.
Acreage loss for fresh market vegetables
For acreage loss coverage, growers can insure up to 37 fresh market vegetables and 113 crop classes on a per acre basis (versus
total acreage).
This coverage offers:
• Lower premiums because growers can pool the risk for like crops into 4 different commodity types
• Flexible insured peril options (hail only, frost only, hail and frost, or multi-peril coverage)
• Abandonment threshold coverage
• Loss in storage coverage
• Graded harvest commodity coverage
• Unseeded acreage coverage
• Replant or salvage coverage
Here’s a look at 2024 participation in acreage loss coverage, as of January 10, 2025. Note that participation has remained stable while the value of coverage (liability) increased by nearly $10 million in the last four years. Premiums also remained stable and affordable with the government paying 60 per cent of the cost.
In 2024, there were payments of approximately $6.17 million.
See table 2.
Table 3 a breakdown of 2024 coverage by commodity types (as of January 10, 2025). The top three causes of loss paid were precipitation ($3.3 million), disease ($1.9 million), and flood ($389,000).
Average farm yield coverage for fresh market vegetables
Average farm yield for fresh market vegetables coverage gives growers a guaranteed level of production unique to their farm.
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Table 2: *Includes both government and customer premiums paid
Table 1
Table 3
fruit and vegetable claims primarily due to precipitation and disease
Table 4: *Onions include seed, set and Spanish; peppers include bell and banana
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Coverage is based on comparing a grower’s actual yields to their average historical yields for each crop.
Under this coverage, growers are covered for losses due to adverse weather, disease, pests, wildlife, or other uncontrollable natural perils. Available coverage includes unseeded acreage, replant, salvage benefit, and production loss.
Here’s a look at 2024 average farm yield coverage. As of January 10, 2025, Agricorp has processed $330,000 in total claims. The top three causes of loss paid on these plans were precipitation ($270,000), disease ($43,000) with other perils ($17,000). Agricorp staff continue to collect yields for these crops and adjudicate claims. See table 4.
Average farm yield coverage for fruit
Production Insurance coverage gives fruit growers a guaranteed level of production unique to their farm. Coverage is based on comparing a fruit grower’s actual yields to their average historical
More on SDRM
With Self-Directed Risk Management for Edible Horticulture (SDRM), growers establish an account with
yields for each crop.
Under this coverage, growers are covered for losses due to adverse weather, disease, pests, wildlife, or other uncontrollable natural perils. Available coverage includes coverage for quality or production losses.
Main perils paid are frost ($3.1 million), hail ($1.94 million), and precipitation ($0.5 million). See table 5.
More on AgriStability
AgriStability provides whole farm coverage that is designed to cover large declines in net income caused by production loss, increased costs, or market conditions.
It protects the income of the whole farm instead of one commodity at a time. If a farmer's program year margin falls below 70 per cent of their average historical net income (reference margin), AgriStability helps to offset the difference.
The compensation rate has increased from 70 per cent to 80 per cent, meaning higher payments for eligible farmers. Farmers have until April 30 to apply or make changes.
Agricorp to help mitigate the risk associated with farm business. Eligible growers received deposit notices in September 2024. They can make a deposit to their SDRM account and the
Ontario government will also make a contribution. The last day to make a deposit for the 2024 program year is February 1, 2025.
UNRESERVED SEMI RETIREMENT ONLINE AUCTION
For MILES PRODUCE LTD. of Waterford, consisting of tractors, forklifts, irrigation equipment, sweet corn equipment, farm equipment, vehicles and trailers & miscellaneous items found around the farm. Everything selling unreserved, except JD 5100MA tractor which sells on last high bid confirmation. Items located at 1701 Old Highway 24, Waterford, ON, N0E 1Y0. Viewing March 13th – 15th from 9:00am to 3:30pm.
CLOSING TUESDAY MARCH 18TH @ 10:00 AM ONLINE BIDDING OPENS FRIDAY MARCH 14TH @ 8:00AM
TRACTORS & FORKLIFTS: JD 5100MA, hi-clearance vegetable tractor, 659hrs, selling on last high bid confirmation; 3 (three) MF 394H, hi-clear vegetable tractors, All have been serviced at Dey’s, field ready, very clean; JD 7200, cab, 4wd, 9111hrs, purchased new; JD 6400, cab, 2wd, bar axles, weights, 10,817hrs; Toyota 15 forklift, 4000lb, side shift; Toyota 3FG forklift, gear shuttle; IH 140 w/ cult, 12 volt, side dresser, all original; IH 140 w/ cult; Toyota 15, 3000lb forklift, side shift (stays until Saturday March 22nd).
IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT: 7 Cadman 4000S wide body, tandem travelers, 1250’ hose; Cadman 4500 tandem traveler, 1250’ hose; 2 Cadman 4000S tandem travelers, 1 w/ 1200’ & 1 w/ 1100’ hose; Quantity of Cadman reel parts; Approx. 444 Wade Rain 6”x30’ irrigation pipe (sold in lots of roughly 85 pcs each per lot); All types of 8” & 6” suction hoses & pipes; Lama Rota Senior Model LF8A, automatic 6 head irrigation filter; Large selection of Wade Rain 6” t’s, valves, adapters, plugs, hydrants & elbows; water metering unit; Large quantity of 6” Wade Rian male to female flat hoses; skid of 4” trickle line w/ valves; Cummins 300hp irrigation motor, Berkley pump & power primer, showing 4891hrs; 4 Perkins irrigation motors w/ Berkley pump & power primers, varying from 2083hrs to 5095hrs; Christians IH 6 cyl irrigation motors w/ Berkley pump & power primer; Cat 3208 irrigation motor w/ Cornell pump & power primer; Rovatti T4K 100/2E, 1000rpm pump.
SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT: 3 Monosem Std 2 row pto air corn planters to plant over plastic poly planters; Williams 3pth plastic unraveller for 10’ rolls; 3 Kennco 3pth plastic layers; Rain Flo 1800 mulch lifter; Kennco 3 row, 3pth bed maker; 3pth reel winder for plastic; 25 rolls of 2000’ of frost cloth; Novugryl P22, 52.5” wide (5 lots sold per roll with 4 rolls, 1 lot with 3 rolls & 1 lots with 2 rolls); 16 skids of sand bags for frost cloth, sold 4 skids in a lot; 10 (ten) 20’ steel bottom wagons w/ sides & lights for sweet corn.
EQUIPMENT: Case IH Ecolo-til 2500, 5 shank, 3pth sub soiler w/ extra parts; JD 714, 11 shank soil saver w/ levelling bar; Case IH 5100, 21 run soybean special straight grain drill w/ press wheels; JD 825, 6 row, 3pth cult; 6 & 4 row, 3pth cults; Salford 9’ “S” tyne cult w/ double rolling harrows; 3pth V Ditcher; MF #35 1 prong sub soiler; JD 7’, 3pth blade; 1550 & 1250 gallon plastic tanks w/ valves; 2 (two) 3200 gallon plastic water tanks on stands; Endress 25/45 single phase pto generator; SplitFire log splitter w/ Honda motor; Nobili 8’ tri-turator 265 offset, 3pth mower; Sullair 185 compressor, JD diesel; Tandem fert spreader (always shedded); Onan GenSet w/ Cummins diesel, Stanford 1 phase; 2 (two) 7.5’ material buckets to fit Terex TLB.
VEHICLES & TRAILERS: 2006 Chevrolet 2500HD, cand & 1/2, 4x4; 1999 Ford F350, 4x4, Power Stroke; 1994 Ford 3/4 tonne passenger van; Chevrolet 70 steak truck; 24’ flat for roll off truck; Chevy C645 truck w/ rack & hoist; 40’ container w/ 4 side doors & end door; 2000 Wilson 48’ drop deck trailer; 4 (four) 53’ van trailers for storage; 48’ van trailer for storage.
MISCELLANEOUS: 4 Powell bulk kilns (to be moved at new owners’ expense); 1345 litre fuel tank, on trailer w/ pump; propane cage, propane tanks; steel racking; 2 Honda transfer pumps; 5 (five) 45 gallon drums or methyl hydrate; cultivator parts; IH 140 cult parts; drawbars; weights; bird bangers & more!
VIEWING & PICKUP: VIEWING ONLY from Thursday, March 13th to Saturday March 15th from 9:00am to 3:30pm ONLY! Loading Wednesday March 19th to Saturday March 22nd from 9:00am to 3:30pm.
PLEASE NOTE: After many years in the sweet corn business, Kevin & Bev are retiring from it but they are continuing to cash crop. A very nice selection of well cared for & mostly shedded equipment. They take great pride in everything they do. Everything sells UNRESERVED, except the JD 5100 which is selling on last high bid confirmation.
TERMS: A 5% Fee applies to all items to a maximum $2,000 (Buyer’s Premium & Internet Fees) per item. Payments will be received by cash, cheque, debit, credit, certified cheque or bank draft, E-Transfer & Wire Transfer (a three percent charge will apply to all credit card payments $2000 and above). Onsite collection for 2 days only, Wednesday March 19th & Thursday March 20th from 9:00am to 3:30pm. All Payments are due by 12:00pm on March 20th. Invoices will be emailed out after the auction closes! If needed, financing MUST be prearranged prior to bidding. Items to be removed by Saturday March 22nd with paid invoices only. No exceptions! Owners and Auctioneers are not responsible for accidents during viewings or loading. Owners & Auctioneers are not responsible for items not picked up after final loading day. Auctioneers described items with information provided by owners. All items are to be inspected/viewed by purchaser.
SELLING FOR: MILES PRODUCE LTD. KEVIN & BEV MILES FOR MORE INFO: KEVIN - 519-427-7545
AUCTIONEERS
TOM HAMULECKI
519-421-6957
MIKE HAMULECKI 519-535-0202
AUCTION OFFICE 519-424-1562 FOR PICTURES
Table 5
FOCUS: ONTARIO FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONVENTION
FEBRUARY 19-20, 2025
BMO underscores trends that will affect Canadian agriculture in 2025
AARON GOERTZEN
BMO Economics regularly publishes analysis of economic and industry developments in Canada. Here is my topline view of key economic trends affecting agriculture and what to expect in 2025.
The world economy is holding up. Economic growth in the U.S. has continued to exceed expectations, allaying earlier fears about the possibility of a Fedinduced recession. Brisk growth south of the border is acting as a crucial pillar of support for the global economy, given the loss of momentum in Japan, Europe, Canada and even China. Interest rates are still elevated in most countries, but global growth should remain relatively stable in 2025 as long as geopolitical and trade risks don’t spiral.
The low-flying loonie. The weak Canadian dollar is acting as a broad support for domestic agricultural prices, which would likely be more than 10 per cent lower under a more neutral exchange rate. The flip side, however, is that imported inputs are also costlier.
Expensive inputs. Although fuel, fertilizer and feed costs have come partway back to earth, other inputs have remained pricey and the overall farm costs have remained near record highs. Farm equipment prices have been a notable pain point, as many of the most sophisticated (and expensive) agricultural implements are imported from the United States and elsewhere.
Interest rates coming down the mountain. The Bank of Canada is likely to continue lowering rates to shore up the economy and keep inflation near target. And with the economy now operating below capacity, it’s expected that the Bank of
Canada will not only let off the brakes but tap the gas. As a result, we have pencilled in a slightly stimulative policy rate of 2.50 per cent by the end of 2025, implying another 0.75 percentage points in cuts from here (likely putting prime at 4.7%). Longerterm fixed rates should also trend lower over time, though five-year borrowers will still be resetting
into higher rates.
Looser labour market. With the softer Canadian economy, labour availability challenges are largely a thing of the past. It is also notable that the farm sector has been exempted from new restrictions on Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker program, which will hinder international hiring in other industries.
Trade turmoil. Agricultural products are frequently targeted during trade wars, and even if Canada is spared direct U.S. tariffs, trade actions by China have the potential to strand U.S. farm products in North America and depress benchmark crop prices (as occurred with soybeans in 2018).
Prodigious productivity growth. Over the longer term, the agriculture sector has posted a standout performance against an otherwise weak productivity backdrop in Canada. Since the late 1990s, total labour productivity in Canada – the main determinant of living standards – has increased by a lacklustre 31 per cent, and it has declined outright over the last
few years. In the agriculture sector, labour productivity has surged 190 per cent over the same period, spurred by investments in technology and the adoption of new and innovative processes. Few sectors
of the economy can hold a candle to that performance.
Aaron Goertzen is a senior economist with Bank of Montreal. He authored this article January 2025.
New packing line improves labour productivity at Mountainview Orchards, Beamsville, Ontario. Photo by Marcella diLonardo.
Fruit Logistica spotlights nominees for Innovation and Technology Awards
The shortlist of the 2025 Fruit Logistica Innovation Awards (FLIA) has been released by the leading trade show for the global fresh produce business. Winners of the annual awards for outstanding innovations from the entire fruit and vegetable value chain are chosen exclusively by trade visitors which takes place in Berlin from February 5-7, 2025.
ALDINA strawberries
Frutania GmbH, Germany www.frutania.de
“ALDINA” is a marketing concept for a particularly tasty strawberry variety destined for German consumers. Discount super-market chain ALDI SÜD is marketing a single strawberry variety in the country guaranteeing growers a large market throughout the entire season. The message to consumers is that the value chain is sustainable and reliable.
The Onix orange has a wow effect with its skin colour shimmering bright orange and burgundy red. The pulp features natural pigments, is juicy, has a strong flavour and is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. The Spanish-grown Onix oranges have a particularly long shelf life. This innovative product is marketed as a “sustainable citrus fruit wonder” and targets the premium consumer segment.
Halloweena pumpkins
Genesis Fresh, Spain www.genesis.amfresh.com
Halloweena is a new mandarin-variety in the shape of a pumpkin. It is easy to peel, practically seedless, sweet in flavour – and an ideal Halloween snack due to its shape and shiny skin. It represents an attractive and healthy alternative to the usual treats. The fruit is cultivated sustainably to strict standards in Spain and ripens just before Halloween. According to Genesis Fresh in Spain, growers can look forward to record yields.
Savoy cabbage with pointed heads Bejo Zaden, Netherlands www.bejo.com
Samantha is the world's first savoy cabbage with a pointed head (an innovation from Denmark). It weighs less than 500 grams per cabbage. With its compact shape, firm leaf structure and distinct colour, it stands out on supermarket shelves and can be prepared in many ways. It offers an entirely new cabbage experience, slightly sweet in taste, rich in fibre and vitamins, and is suitable for salads, wok and barbecue dishes. Sealing options extend the shelf life and ensure less waste.
This product comes from rainforests, the first to be grown without artificial irrigation, available year-round. Against the backdrop of growing consumer demand and global water shortages, the company is presenting a sustainable solution while providing smallholders with a secure living wage.
The winners will be announced February 7. In the New Digital Age, innovation contenders can come from anywhere: Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Hungary, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Cyprus.
LiDAR-based drones
ABZ Innovation, Hungary www.abzinnovation.com
The Hungarian manufacturer ABZ Innovation equips drones for use in orchards and vineyards with a LiDAR-based situational awareness system. With the help of real-time 3D mapping, the drones recognise even minor obstacles such as thin wires or hazards and maintain dynamic height control. The GPS-free system maintains its distance to uneven tree canopies and optimizes the crop-spraying height. This results in less use of chemicals.
FarmRoad Irrigation Module
WayBeyond, New Zealand www.waybeyond.io
The FarmRoad Irrigation Module from New Zealand helps farmers to optimize their water consumption. The dashboards are AI-driven and combine local climate data with sophisticated water demand models. Using automated drip and runoff calculations, farmers can adapt their irrigation planning to crop needs and local conditions on a daily basis. The system recognizes early signs of crop stress, which enables timely intervention.
RYPEN Case Liner
It’s Fresh, United Kingdom www.rypen.io
The RYPEN Case Liner keeps fruit in transport crates fresh and crisp for longer. According to the British manufacturer, It’s Fresh, customers have observed an average of 85 per cent fewer defects on grape transports. RYPEN technology captures excess ethylene molecules inside the crates and binds their structure. It produces no chemical oxidation, emits no substances and does not affect the fruit.
Croptimus platform
Fermata, Cyprus www.fermata.tech
The Croptimus platform provides farmers with image analysis technology that enables them to detect diseases or pest infestations on vegetables in the greenhouse at an early stage. Fermata markets Croptimus as software as a service (SaaS). The programme does not require its own hardware, and instead analyses images from installed cameras and smartphones (innovation from Israel). It offers a flexible solution that results in up to 50 per cent less scouting.
CATsystem Citrosol, Spain
The CATsystem from the Spanish manufacturer Citrosol is an intelligent consumption system for use in the post-harvest sector. The evaluation system measures concentrations of fungicides and other solution components in production facilities online and in real time and adjusts them immediately. The advantages are optimum dosage levels, less waste and chemical pollution, greater sustainability and detailed traceability. The system is compatible with other Citrosol devices and can also be installed on older dosing systems.
2025 FLIA nominees
2025 FLIA Innovation Award Technology nominees
TRAVIS CRANMER & KATIE GOLDENHAR
Alternaria leaf spot and head rot have become increasingly difficult to manage in Brassica vegetable crops grown in Canada. Brassica greens that are marketed for the leaves have zero tolerance for Alternaria lesions. On cabbage and Brussels sprouts, lesions on the buds make the crop unmarketable and while the leaves of broccoli and cauliflower are not sold, Alternaria spores can cause black streaking on the curds and florets and results in an entry point for secondary pathogens (Figure 1).
Based on a 2023 survey of Ontario commercial Brassica vegetables, several Alternaria species have been associated with disease symptoms. Alternaria alternata, A. brassicae, A. brassicicola, A. arborescens and A. tenuissima, with A. brassicicola being the most common species detected in 66 per cent of the samples (N=67).
Seeds of many Brassica crops can be infested with Alternaria spores that may be suppressed by a fungicide or a hot water seed treatment. Weeds in the Brassicacaea family can also harbour this fungus, spreading disease to Brassica crops by wind. Prolonged periods of leaf wetness at 15-25°C (59-77°F) promote infection. High humidity and temperatures greater than 14°C (57°F) favour spore development. Management strategies can reduce the amount of inoculum in the field. Incorporate crop debris as soon as possible. The
fungus overwinters on crop debris and the sooner infected leaves are below ground to break down, the less chance that they will serve as inoculum in a yet to be harvested crop.
When overhead irrigating, choose to irrigate in the early morning when the crop is already covered in droplets of dew, and you are not extending the period of leaf wetness any further.
In broccoli, consider spacing plants further apart to allow for better air circulation. Choose broccoli cultivars with a dome head that sheds water droplets after rain. Excess moisture helps Alternaria spores germinate and those spores punch holes in the cells of the florets. These infections may act as entry points for bacterial pathogens to infect the heads and ultimately reduce storability.
Historically, Alternaria management has relied greatly on broad spectrum control from the fungicide chlorothalonil. Chlorothalonil (Bravo ZN and similar products) was re-evaluated in 2018 and the number of applications allowed on head and stem Brassicas such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower decreased from five to one application per season.
The fungicide resistance action committee (FRAC) outlines resistance management recommendations based on the fungicide group (how it targets the pathogen) and the number of applications being used to control a disease (amount of selection pressure). FRAC groups 3, 7, and 11 fungicides are all single-site inhibitors and are inherently
more susceptible to resistance development than multisite fungicides such as chlorothalonil. According to the FRAC, group 7 and 11s are classified as a high risk of fungi, such as Alternaria species, developing resistance. To reduce the selection pressure, FRAC group 7 products in a spray program should not make up more than three total applications throughout the field season.
Table 1 outlines what is currently registered on cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower for Alternaria leaf spot in Canada. Some products with duplicate FRAC groups were excluded from this table since they are only registered on cabbage. If FRAC guidelines are followed and a different FRAC group is applied in subsequent applications, a total of 11 fungicide applications is the most that can be applied per season if Alternaria management is required. For long season crops such as Brussels sprouts and storage cabbage, this leaves several weeks of the crop without protection and if conditions are favourable, can lead to yield loss.
In addition to limited availability of different fungicide groups, some Alternaria species are potentially becoming resistant to group 11 fungicides. In the 2023 species survey, all isolates were tested for the G143A genetic mutation that can confer resistance to group 11 fungicides as a result of an amino acid substitution of glycine by alanine at the 143 position. This mutation is known to occur in many fungi but is not the only mutation that can allow fungi to become resistant, for example, Alternaria solani (causal agent of early blight in tomatoes and potatoes) resistance to group 11s is attributed through the F129L mutation. The majority of Alternaria alternata, A. arborescens and A. tenuissima isolates were positive for the G143A mutation. The most common Alternaria species associated with Brassica Alternaria disease, A. brassicicola and A. brassicae, were negative for this mutation. This means that if your field has a predominate population of A. brassicicola or A. brassicae, group 11s may still be effective, however more work is needed to know if there is another
mutation present in these isolates. There are other fungicides that are in various stages of registration with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) that could provide control if registered in Canada and provide alternative fungicide groups for resistance management. Adavelt (florylpicoxamid, group 21), Allegro 500F (fluazinam, group 29) and the FRAC group M4 fungicides, folpet or captan, would offer control which could help reduce the risk of resistance to single site fungicides in group 3, 11 and 7. During this past field season, a field fungicide efficacy trial conducted at the University of Guelph Ontario Crops Research Centre – Bradford showed promising results for Allegro 500F and Folpan 500 SC. In this trial, all fungicide treatments, which included fungicides in group 3, 7 and 11, provided a significant reduction in the number of lesions on leaves and improved the marketability of the heads (Figure 2). The trial was inoculated with isolates of A. brassicicola
Continued on next page
Figure 1. Alternaria damage on a broccoli leaf.
Alternaria is becoming a major concern for Brassica growers
Continued from page 26
The final report from the 2024 broccoli Alternaria fungicide trial is posted on www.ONvegetables.com and the results can also be viewed as a poster at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC).
With limited fungicide options available and marketability being highly affected by Alternaria diseases, Brassica vegetables are becoming a difficult crop to grow. Depending on how conducive the field season is for disease development, a significant amount of acreage is lost every year due to Alternaria fungi.
For more information on Alternaria disease management in Brassica vegetables, attend the OFVC Brassica Alternaria session the morning of Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
Travis Cranmer is a vegetable crop specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness. Katie Goldenhar is a plant pathologist for the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
www.ONvegetables.com.
Controlling onion maggot without Lorsban
1. Several onion maggot larvae feeding on a recently transplanted onion in a commercial onion field, May 15, 2024. For onions started in the greenhouse for transplanting, seed treatments may wear off before or soon after they are transplanted in the field. No
TRAVIS CRANMER
This will be the second growing season that Lorsban, or other chlorpyrifos products, will not be used to manage onion maggots in onions in Canada. Onion maggot management now relies predominantly on Sepresto 75 WS, a neonicotinoid seed treatment. The seed treatment is working well protecting direct-seeded onions from onion maggot larvae, but for onions started in the greenhouse for transplanting, the seed treatment may be worn off before or soon after transplanting in the field, leaving these newly transplanted onions at risk for large amounts of onion maggot damage.
The onion maggot is the larval stage of the onion fly (Delia antiqua). A single larva can kill up to 20 plants early in the season and when populations are left unchecked, high onion maggot populations can reduce plant stands by more than 50 per cent. Early generations of onion maggot can kill onion transplants (Figure 1) and later generations can cause distorted growth and open wounds making it easier for fungal pathogens such as Fusarium to gain entry and reduce the storage life of the bulb.
In Québec, Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) has been used for more than a
decade to manage onion maggot on roughly 2,500 acres of onions. In Ontario, four growers released sterile flies on a weekly basis to keep onion maggot in check in 2024. Flies are reared in a facility at the Phytodata Research Company in Sherrington, Québec. Pupae are irradiated, dyed pink (to allow them to be distinguished from the wild population on sticky cards), and are shipped to release points where growers allow flies to emerge in emergence boxes and then release them on the edge of onion fields on a weekly basis.
In 2018 and 2019, before the phase-out of chlorpyrifos, two growers opted to release sterile flies as their onion maggot management strategy going forward and stopped using Lorsban or Sepresto 75 WS for onion maggot management. These two field sites in Scotland (Brant county) and Exeter/Thedford (Huron county) were monitored up until the 2024 field season. Sticky cards were monitored weekly and sterile flies could be differentiated from wild flies by the pink dye. Both of these locations had very different onion production systems, and both were several kilometers from other large onion fields. At the Scotland site, onions were transplanted and planted at a rate of 140,000 plants per acre while at the Exeter location, seeds
Figure 2. Average wild flies per sticky trap per week at the dry bulb onion field site near Scotland. Wild/fertile fly counts at the release fields in 2024 (dark and light green) peaked at 3.6 and 4.7 flies/trap/week.
were broadcast at a rate of ~8 million seeds per acre and harvested as onion sets.
The sterile flies were released every week at these two locations, and these sterile male flies mated with the wild female flies, resulting in unfertilized eggs that would never hatch. Once all of the onion fields in the area had sterile fly releases, the overall population of wild onion flies in the area plummeted over several years. At both locations where sterile flies were released, onion fields were transplanted or seeded yearly within ~3 km of the previous year’s field. Many years the fields were directly adjacent to the previous year’s field, yet populations of wild flies in 2022, 2023 and 2024 were all lower than the levels prior to 2022 (Figure 2). At harvest, fewer bulbs were found to have maggot damage, fewer bulbs were distorted, and as a result, there were fewer culls linked to onion maggot feeding.
The overall number of flies released per season depends on the current level of onion maggot pressure. Releases generally start at around 100,000 flies/ha/season and are reduced once levels fall to an acceptable rate. In Québec, growers have been releasing an average of 16,000 flies/ha/season in dry onions and 25,000 flies/ha/season in green onions over the past several years.
Left unchecked, it may take several years for onion maggot populations to reach destructive levels where onion maggots cause 25-50 per cent damage, but if populations increase to those levels it will also take several years of sterile onion maggot releases to crash the population down to a manageable level that results in the same level of control as Lorsban (or other chlorpyrifos products) once provided.
In our two long-term areas of study, sterile fly releases have completely replaced insecticides aimed at onion maggots at both locations, and the amount of onion maggot damage has dropped below levels that were observed in the last decade when chlorpyrifos was used.
A full report of the 2024 results is now posted on www.ONvegetables.com. If you are interested in applying this management strategy on your farm, please contact myself at travis.cranmer@ontario.ca, or Anne-Marie Fortier at afortier@ phytodata.ca. While sterile fly releases generally start the first week of May, Phytodata requires time to rear and sterilize additional flies.
Travis Cranmer is a vegetable crop specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness.
Figure 2. Average number of Alternaria lesions per broccoli plant from a fungicide trial conducted near Bradford, ON in 2024. The final report is posted on
Figure
sterile flies were released in this area.
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Bridging borders and building futures in the potato industry
New year, new position, same column!
Some of you may know me from my previous life as the crop protection manager at the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC). I’m happy to be returning to this guest column in my new role as the general manager of FVGC’s Canadian Potato Council.
Potato Expo 2025 – Orlando
In the early weeks of January, I was fortunate enough to visit Potato Expo for the first time. This is the largest annual potato industry conference and trade show held in North America, and it was truly impressive to see this many people gather in representation of a single commodity.
My biggest takeaway was that, despite some differences with our American neighbours, we share a remarkable number of similarities in our issues and concerns. This is especially evident as both of our governments navigate unpredictability and everyone strives to understand the new normal.
Neonicotinoids
The USA Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has lagged behind the Pest Management Regulatory Association (PMRA) in its regulation of neonicotinoids. In the last five years, Canadian growers have lost some uses of the neonicotinoids, however, the fact that PMRA did a thorough scientific review and permitted continued use where risk appropriate, is viewed as good news by the Americans. A Potato Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program at Iowa State University is actively working toward finding viable alternatives to neonics, including looking at both cost and effectiveness, and they reported that the program has been promising so far. Of course, these are American solutions, but I’m very intrigued to see the outcomes, and how they might be applicable in Canada!
Potato Sustainability Alliance (PSA)
The PSA is composed of grower associates, grower organizations, processors, fresh marketers, buyers, NGOs, and allied industries in both Canada and the U.S., including the Canadian Potato Council. What makes its program unique is that there is huge cross-industry buy-in to reduce the burden of reporting while demonstrating and utilizing the benefits of what growers are already doing to support sustainability initiatives. This July 2025, the PSA will be hosting its summer symposium in Charlottetown, PEI!
Overall, my experience at Potato Expo highlighted the ongoing need to strengthen relationships between Canadians and Americans. It became clear that we share more common ground with our neighbors than we often realize. The event showcased the
power and potential of the industry when everyone comes together in one space, with common objectives in mind.
Crop protection: the potato perspective
Potato growers’ concerns are not so different than those of the other fruit and vegetable commodities, which is highlighted by the inclusion of crop protection as one of the four strategic priorities in the Canadian Potato Council’s new three-year strategic plan.
PMRA
There have been a lot of concerns about re-evaluations this year, especially with the PMRA’s “transformed” way of handling things. We’re already seeing some changes – some positive and some still to be determined.
PMRA’s Transformation Initiative is now moving from a funded three-year program into PMRA’s day-to-day operations. Not all of the consultations are finished yet, and funding for certain essential programs is still in question, but we have seen some improvements through the process.
One of the major pillars of the PMRA’s transformation initiative is modernized business practices. However we are still waiting for resolution on this front. Changes come with a lot of hurdles, and while we might see more details and further consultations in March of 2025, it will probably be a while before anything is finalized.
Another pillar of transformation is the collection of real-world data, including water monitoring and pesticide use information. Overall, we’ve seen positive changes in this space, and realworld data will help the PMRA
make decisions based on practical conditions. However, the status of ongoing permanent funding for these important projects is still in question, which is very concerning.
CPC and FVGC have been seeing good communication and collaboration from PMRA scientists, especially their drive to obtain accurate and real-life information about how potatoes are handled and grown. This information is critical in helping them understand the realities of potato production in Canada. If you receive surveys from FVGC and/or CPC, please fill them out! Your contribution as a grower is absolutely essential.
Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)
Since 2021 it’s been clear that most people, especially the public, do not understand MRLs. The PMRA has made big changes to their notification process and consultations, and has made plain language summaries a priority. As markets open up (hello Indonesia!) these MRL consultations and clarity are an interesting but positive change.
Resistance
Lastly, potato growers continue to have concerns with resistance and resistance management, especially with Colorado potato beetle. This was a topic of discussion in the latest CPC meeting. Advice: be proactive about resistance testing in your region, as there are regional differences in resistance profiles, and to follow best management practices. Any loss of efficacy is troubling, especially when there are limited tools at a grower’s disposal.
With an election on the horizon, however, a lot can change. CPC and FVGC continue to advocate for policies that support growers and ensure they have the tools they need to succeed. Although the world, and the current political climate, is unstable and unpredictable, growers and industry are in this together. By working collaboratively, we can achieve success for everyone.
Caleigh Hallink-Irwin is general manager of Canadian Potato Council.
PMRA extends tank mixing label amendments to December 2025
In 2022, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) released updated guidance to stakeholders with new product label requirements related to tank mixes. Given the large volume of applications currently in process, PMRA is extending the deadline for registrants to update their product labels and marketing, promotional and extension material related to tank mixing to December 20, 2025. Provinces and other providers of extension material, as well as users, will have the same revised
implementation timeline.
For more details and updated information related to timelines and compliance requirements, please see PMRA Guidance Document, Tank Mix Labelling. For more information, link to: https://www.canada.ca/en/healthcanada/services/consumerproduct-safety/reportspublications/pesticides-pestmanagement/policies-guidelines/ tank-mix-labelling.html
Source: Health Canada January 20, 2025 news release
CALEIGH HALLINK-IRWIN
Syngenta and TraitSEQ are using AI to develop biostimulants
Syngenta and the pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) company TraitSeq are combining forces to use the full power of AI for the development of innovative, high-performance biostimulants.
Syngenta, a world leader in developing the next generation of biologicals products for agricultural use, will use its extensive knowledge of crop biology to complement TraitSeq’s proprietary AI methods to identify highly specific indicators of a plant’s cellular state called biomarkers. When activated, these biomarkers can indicate how well a plant is responding to efforts to boost its health or to block the effects of external, abiotic stressors.
Biostimulants are products applied to plants, seeds or the root environment that enhance natural plant processes, leading to an improved nutrient use efficiency, increased tolerance to abiotic stress or better crop quality. Biostimulants are a vital and growing component of sustainable agriculture, yet their performance can vary depending on environmental factors such as temperature and local climate.
Syngenta has extensive data across different branches of science – such as
genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenomics. Using TraitSeq’s sophisticated proprietary platform, scientists from both teams hope to leverage AI to analyze complex biological big data, to uncover the intricate molecular interactions that impact a crop’s ability to utilize available nutrients in the soil. Once specific biomarkers can be identified, scientists hope to be able to quickly and accurately assess the efficacy of a new biostimulant in enhancing plant health.
The development of such biostimulants also fits with Syngenta’s efforts to support farmers’ transition to regenerative practices and its commitment to sustainability.
Syngenta’s recently launched Portfolio Sustainability Framework (PSF) rates Syngenta’s products for sustainability and stakeholder alignments into three tiers. New products are also included with the aim to shift the portfolio towards the top tier.
Camilla Corsi, Head Crop Protection Research & Development, said: “At Syngenta, we are accelerating the pace at which we innovate, to deliver solutions farmers urgently need. Technologies such as TraitSeq’s AI-driven platform enable us
to revolutionize our research, attain important data-driven insights, so that we can develop the next-generation of sustainable solutions faster – while further strengthening our pipeline of innovative agricultural technologies.”
Dr. Joshua Colmer, CEO of TraitSeq, said: “This partnership highlights how TraitSeq’s versatile platform can transform agricultural input development by uncovering predictive biomarkers that directly link molecular insights to biostimulant performance. By equipping Syngenta’s innovation pipeline with these capabilities, we aim to optimise and
accelerate the development of new biological solutions, which will support farmers in adopting more sustainable agricultural practices.”
Biostimulants offer an important solution to farmers seeking to improve the sustainability of their farming operations while addressing challenges arising from an increasingly constrained toolbox of available agricultural technologies and evolving consumer demands.
Source: Syngenta January 9, 2025 news release
Syngenta divests Farmore vegetable seed treatment to Gowam Seedtech
Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, a global leader in crop protection, and Gowan SeedTech LLC, a global, family-owned agriculture solutions business headquartered in Yuma, AZ, have entered into a sale agreement with Gowan acquiring Syngenta's FarMore Technology Vegetable Seed Treatment Platform in the United States.
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The FarMore Technology Platform is a precise on-seed application of separately registered seed protection products combined into proprietary recipes for use on vegetable crops.
The transaction includes the divestment of certain specific Syngenta trademarks, recipes, registrations, and other assets
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used in the FarMore Technology Platform in the United States. Syngenta also has agreed to supply its proprietary vegetable seed treatment products to Gowan for its use in FarMore Technology offerings.
“We believe that with Gowan's strategic focus on servicing U.S. vegetable growers and Syngenta's active ingredient innovation, breeder-producers and seed
technology companies alike will benefit from this transaction and our continuing collaboration,” said Jeff Cecil, head of North America Crop Protection Marketing.
“We are looking forward to building on this precision application technology, with a renewed focus and expanded offerings in the future,” said Alex Deckey, Gowan SeedTech
business manager. This transaction closed on December 30, 2024, and the financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. Syngenta and Gowan will work together over the next several months to facilitate an orderly transition.
Source: Syngenta Group January 7, 2025 news release
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BITS & BITES
New intake period for Youth Employment and Skills Program opens Jan 27
Agriculture and Agri-Food has announced that applications will open for the Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) on January 27, 2025. Supported by an investment of approximately $13.5 million, YESP helps young Canadians access employment opportunities and gain valuable work experience in the agricultural sector.
This funding will help address some of the pressing labour issues the sector faces by supporting approximately 1,200 jobs and by fostering the next generation of agriculture and agri-food workers.
DRC expands jurisdiction
During the June 2024 Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) board of directors meeting, directors approved amendments to the DRC Operating Rules to eliminate the requirement that disputes involve products entering commerce in Canada, Mexico, or the United States.
Prior to these amendments, members could only file a Notice of Dispute (NOD) to initiate the informal mediation process if one of the parties was in Canada, Mexico, or the United States. For example, if a DRC member in Chile had a dispute with another member located in Asia or Europe, the DRC would not be able to accept an NOD.
The jurisdiction expansion allows the DRC’s Dispute Resolution Rules (particularly informal mediation, formal mediation, and arbitration services) to operate without jurisdictional limitations as long as both parties are members of the DRC at the time of the dispute, a DRC arbitration clause is included in the contract, or if the parties voluntarily sign an arbitration agreement to resolve the dispute using DRC.
Significantly, this enhancement does not alter how our members conduct their business; instead, it simply expands the accessibility to our dispute resolution services, allowing members to trade with confidence anywhere in the world.
Source: Dispute Resolution Corporation January 7, 2024 newsletter
Eligible applicants include producers, agri-businesses, industry associations, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous organizations and research facilities. Applications from Indigenous employers will be prioritized for the 2025-2026 program year.
The YESP supports agriculture employers with the cost of hiring Canadian youth with an additional focus on those who face employment barriers.
Employers can apply between January 27 and February 24, 2025, for their application to be
considered.
The YESP offers support for up to 50 per cent of the cost of salaries and benefits, up to a maximum of $14,000, to agriculture and agri-food employers hiring Canadian youth.
Application forms for AAFC’s YESP are available through the webpage and additional information can be found by contacting aafc.yesp-pecj.aac@canada.ca or calling 1-866-452-5558.
Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada January 9, 2025 news release
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