NEWSMAKERS

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association has honoured Sam Silvestro with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. The fresh produce veteran of 40 years is currently an executive consultant for national brands and has previously held senior roles at Sobeys and Walmart Canada, including special projects manager, director of produce, and director of merchandising. He has been involved in a number of government committees on food safety and import and export of food products.

Charles Stevens, past chair of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association and apple/blueberry grower from Newcastle, has been appointed to the Greenbelt Foundation by the Ontario ministry of environment, conservation and parks. His three-year term runs until March 2026. The Foundation oversees activities such as the promotion of agriculture and viniculture, research, public education, land stewardship and land acquisition across the Greenbelt.

Cathy McKay, chair of the Ontario Apple Growers, is now the representative to the board of directors of the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association. She’s an apple grower from Port Perry. Dave Enns, Niagara-on-the-Lake, has joined the board as tender fruit representative.

The Keystone Potato Producers’ Association (KPPA) Board has announced that Susan Ainsworth will be the next general manager effective September 1, 2023. Until then, there’s a transition with outgoing general manager Dan Sawatzky. Ainsworth has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba and recently completed a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Shannon School of Business at Cape Breton University. She has worked in various roles within the potato industry in Manitoba during the past 26 years and has experience at numerous levels including retail, government, post-secondary education, industry, and on farm.

Berry Growers of Ontario’s 2023 board of directors will be chaired by Alex Chesney. Supporting her is Dalton Cooper. Directors include: Tom Heeman, Nick Vranckx, Alexandre Henrie, Dave Klyn-Hesselink, Phil Moddle, Andrew Phillips, Tyler Nightingale

Moon Stacker

White skinned pumpkin with a super-thick, bright yelloworange 昀esh. Very oblate shape with ribs, perfect for staking as its name implies. Pairs beautifully with blue, pink and red stacking varieties. High eating quality 昀esh. Long storage capacity.

Sales Representatives

Eastern Montérégie & Maritime Provinces Marie-Pierre Grimard, P. Tech marie-pierre.grimard@norseco.com

The Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, based at Brock University, welcomes Dr. Malkie Spodek, scientist in entomology and Dr. Jennifer Kelly as scientist in oenology, effective May 1, 2023. Spodek is a Hemipteran specialist, which includes scale insects, psyllids, whiteflies, aphids, cicadas and leafhoppers.

A shout-out this month to Glen Lucas who is marking his 25th anniversary as general manager of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association. Climbing a ladder comes naturally, even when it’s taking down the annual meeting posters. Photo by Myrna Stark Leader.

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Central and Eastern Quebec Stéphanie Gosselin, Agr. stephanie.gosselin@norseco.com

418 254-1469

Central & Eastern Québec Yves Thibault, Agr. yves.thibault@norseco.com

418 660-1498

Organic & Small-Scale Farms Katherine Jouvet, Agr. katherine.jouvet@norseco.com

514 386-0277

450 261-7468

Western Montérégie Marie-Hélène Monchamp marie-helene.monchamp@norseco.com

514 968-2906

Ontario Warren Peacock warren.peacock@norseco.com

519 427-7239 MB, SK, AB & BC Ben Yurkiw ben.yurkiw@norseco.com

604 830-9295

Canadian Steve Hawkins has been appointed president and CEO of crop protection company ADAMA, effective May 1, 2023. He has spent his entire career in agriculture, beginning in sales with GROWMARK in Canada before joining one of Syngenta’s legacy companies, ICI Canada, nearly three decades ago. As ADAMA’s senior vice president, Americas since 2021, he has overseen its North American and Latin American businesses.

Heartfelt condolences to the family of Peter and Kate Vander Zaag, Alliston, ON who lost their youngest son Jonathan, 24, in a fatal farm accident on their potato farm on March 31, 2023. A mechanical engineering graduate of University of Western Ontario, he is remembered as a charismatic young man who embraced agriculture’s newest technology.