The Grower July 2014 by The Grower

JULY 2014

CELEBRATING 134 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

VOLUME 64 NUMBER 07

LABOUR

Help! How to strengthen relationships with seasonal workers

This Jamaican crew takes a breather from picking cherries on a 33°C July day. Murray Por teous, in red, says that Ontario’s increase in minimum wage to $11 per hour has forced him to trim his labour force from 57 to 43 workers this year. Maintaining good working relationships is key to productivity. Photo by Glenn Lowson.

INSIDE Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech X-Change sold Page 2 Tabletop lettuce excites retailers Page 6

Berry news

Page 16

www.thegrower.org P.M. 40012319 $3.00 CDN

KAREN DAVIDSON WATERFORD, Ontario -Delroy didn’t leave on a jet plane this year to work on an Ontario fruit farm. The Jamaican veteran of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) was digitally fingerprinted and then matched to his home country’s citizenship files. The system discovered a glitch in his records: a minor police charge in his late teens. After 14 years of blemish-free service in Canada, he was no longer eligible to come. Biometrics, now used by the Canadian government to screen visitors from 30 countries, is having its intended – and unintended -- consequences. Officially launched in 2013, the program is keeping those with criminal records out of the country. But it’s also tripping up dozens of Delroys with minor infractions who have sought-after, Canadian

farm experience. “Quite a few people were found through screening,” says Murray Porteous, chair of the Human Resources Committee, Canadian Horticultural Council. “I lost Delroy – not his real name – one of my best workers. While that’s good for national security, it’s been horrendous for farmers getting the paperwork processed.” The more intense level of scrutiny means that farmers must file requests for workers 14 weeks in advance, often before they can estimate crop yields and precise needs for harvest labour. That’s an extra two weeks compared to usual practice. For example, Charles Keddy, a strawberry grower in Kentville, Nova Scotia, must first advertise for local workers in December. If no one applies or is suitable for the work, he then receives a labour market opinion that allows him to search for foreign workers to arrive by the first of April. “I totally agree with a

Canadian-first employment program, but after 40 years, we know that locals won’t wait around for another three months to start trimming strawberry plants at minimum wage,” says Keddy. “I believe that the process for hiring temporary foreign workers is going to become more difficult.” In Quebec, this season’s hurdles have been particularly onerous with up to 200 workers delayed from Guatamala. The long waits have been worsened by an extra layer of bureaucracy between the federal and provincial governments. “It’s similar to the Jamaica issue but multiplied by 10,” says Denis Hamel, executive director of FERME, the Fondation des Enterprises en Recrutement de Main-Oevre agricole etrangere. Stocky Guatamalan workers are well suited for hand-picking in the strawberry and lettuce industries. But the requirements for seven extra documents has

stymied many Guatamalans from filing on-line applications. FERME has hired extra clerical staff of its own to help process applications but now there’s a domino effect in Guatamala. The embassy there is overwhelmed with hundreds of applications, stamped ‘urgent.’ The lack of workers has already affected Quebec’s asparagus industry which reports unpicked produce. Now the pressure is critical for picking field strawberries. It’s an untimely dilemma for an organization that’s celebrating its 25th anniversary. Despite years of expertise, the crisis underscores how the landscape for labour continues to change. Indeed, media attention on foreign workers, especially in the restaurant industry, has brought a level of political scrutiny that extends to federal minister of employment and social development, Jason Kenney. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PAGE 2 –– JULY 2014 THE GROWER

NEWSMAKERS

AT PRESS TIME… Trade show to move to Hamilton

Launch of Water Meter Pilot Program The Water Adaptation Management and Quality Initiative (WAMQI) and Farm & Food Care Ontario have launched

À la cart has arrived The Grower’s retail columnist Peter Chapman has just published his first book: à la cart. This is an excellent primer for understanding how Canada’s retail grocers make decisions. Chapman points out that customers and consumers are not the same. The customer pays a business for a good or service. The consumer purchases a product for personal consumption. “I have seen many great products that do not succeed because the supplier has only focused on the consumer,” writes Chapman. “It’s critical to understand who

The board of directors of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) has announced John Kelly will be the new executive vice-president effective July 1. He succeeds Art Smith, who has retired after 12 years with OFVGA. For the last four and a half years, Kelly was vice-president of Erie Innovation and Commercialization, driving diversification initiatives in the former tobacco belt of southwestern Ontario. He has held executive positions with various companies including KeliRo Company Inc., MaRS Landing, Land O’ Lakes, Ralston Purina, Rhone-Poulenc Canada Inc. and Aventis CropSciences Inc. as well as the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Agr) and Ph.D. from the University of Guelph and a Master of Science from the University of Alberta. your customer is and that they are focused on today and into the future.” Selling product to the retail trade includes challenges such as: • Large retailers can exert influence over suppliers • Selling product to large retailers can be intimidating to smaller suppliers • A small number of category managers can have a significant influence over the success or failure of a producer or processor • The retailer has made the investment in the store so they control what goes in • Product specifications and standards are often challenging for producers and processors to meet • Central distribution is difficult for some producers and processors to accept • Central procurement often requires travel and developing relationships with people in different regions • Retailers have their own language and they expect suppliers to understand the terms and words they use For insight on how to meet these challenges, the book can be purchased on www.amazon.com.

EXPERIENCE

EXPLORE

ENJOY

SHOP

V I S IT

H A R V E S T O N T A R I O 2 0 14

Canada’s Fruit & Veg Tech XChange has been sold to 20/20 Show Productions Inc. based in Belle River, Ontario. This will represent the second agriculture trade event managed by president Stuart Galloway who launched the Chatham-Kent Farm Show last year. “We’re really not trying to be a conference-based show but rather a trade-based show,” says Galloway. The format is moving from an outdoor, demonstration-focussed event to an indoor event with 70,000 square feet of exhibitor space at the Careport Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. The event is slated for November 19 and 20, 2014. The origins of the horticultural show go back to 2011 and 2012 at the site of Blueberry Hill Estates in Norfolk County. “We knew the event had to be scaled down and regionalized to serve Ontario companies and Ontario producers,” said Jordon Underhill, president of ROI Event Management. “This is exactly what 20/20 Show Productions has mastered as their craft and we are confident in our decision to transfer the event to their guidance.” To reflect the new regional positioning, the trade show will be renamed Ontario Fruit and Veg Growers’ Show. Exhibitor enquiries can be directed to www.ontariotradeshows.com or Stuart Galloway at 226-363-0550.

a pilot program to encourage the installation of water meters for irrigators and vegetable wash water facilities. A 50 per cent incentive -- up to $750 per farm - is available to purchase water meter equipment. “You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” says Bruce Kelly, environmental program lead, Farm & Food Care Ontario. “Installing a water meter to monitor the water flow to one specific zone or section of your operation will help evaluate new schedules and plan equipment changes or upgrades.” A water meter provides an instantaneous reading of the flow for the application (e.g. irrigation system) and helps to diagnose if the system is operating as designed. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis with a program maximum of $7,000. All installations must be completed by December 31, 2014. Recipients must complete a survey about lessons learned from the pilot. For more information, contact Micah Shearer-Kudel at micah@farmfoodcare.org.

FFREEE

Cash b k Coupo i id !

Members of McLean Berry Farms, Lakefield, Ontario are seen posing on this year’s cover of Harvest Ontario 2014. The directory to onfarm retail markets, farmers’ markets and farm attractions is available free through local Ontario Home Hardware, Home Building Centres, Home Furniture locations and select Ontario Tourism Centres. Pictured L-R: Sam McLean, Luke and Cyndi Leahy, Erin and Ben McLean.

ARIO THE FACE OF FARMING IN ONTA

Sam McLean, Luke & Cyndi Leahy, Erin & Ben McLean. Mclean Berry Farm, Lakeﬁeld, Ontario.

www..Harvest Ontt i

The Ontario Produce Marketing Association recently elected its board for the upcoming year. Chair is Steve Bamford of Fresh Advancement. Directors include: Frank Bondi, Sobeys Ontario; Joe Didiano, Tomato King; Houman Madani, Metro Ontario Inc.; Greg Maffey, Walmart; Virginia Zimm, Faye Clack Communications Inc.; Frank Spagnuolo, Loblaw Inc.; Chris Cockle, POM Wonderful; Derrick Rayner, EarthFresh; Dave Overall, Windmill Farms. Total membership now stands at 248. Food and Beverage Ontario is the new name of the organization formerly known as the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors. Executive director is Steve Peters. Niki Bennett has joined the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers in the capacity of interim science coordinator until January 2015 when Leanne Wilson will return. Niki will be responsible for coordinating research, pest management and education initiatives during this time. Mastronardi Produce received top honours for their newest product Y.E.L.O. Youth Energy Life Om at last month’s United Fresh trade show in Chicago. The yellow cocktail tomato took home the title for 2014’s Best New Vegetable. Michael Hoffort has been appointed the president and chief executive officer of Farm Credit Canada for a five-year term effective July 1. The 26-year veteran of the lending agency leads a portfolio of more than $26 billion. The board of directors is appointed by the Canadian government upon the recommendation of the minister of agriculture and agri-food. Congratulations to Gord Surgeoner, recently inducted into Ontario’s Agricultural Hall of Fame. Since 1998, he’s been president of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, an organization that supports emerging technologies. Along his storied career, he’s been a University of Guelph environmental biology professor. He’s touched every segment of agriculture, most significantly chairing the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition and serving as an advisor for Guelph-based AgCare. It merged with the Ontario Farm Animal Council in 2011.

Gord Surgeoner

JULY 2014 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

LABOUR

Help! How to strengthen relationships with seasonal workers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Horticultural leaders are quick to point out that these problems are in other industries and that the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program is working well. “The strength of the program is that we review it annually,” says Ken Forth, president of Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS). “Any small problems get fixed immediately. Plus we have a liaison service with the arriving workers.” Rhonda Driediger, co-chair of the British Columbia Agriculture Council’s labour committee agrees: “Horticulture has not been an issue. We have had no labour market opinions declined.” Driediger manages 160 acres of blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and red currants in the Fraser Valley. For those seasonal workers who surmount the bureaucratic hurdles, there may be cultural hurdles upon arrival. That’s where a communications service by Margarita Caropresi is bridging the gap. A former employee of the Mexican consulate, she is publishing AtocTli, a print and online magazine for Spanish-speaking farm migrant workers and English- or French-speaking farmers. The free publication, www.atoctli.com, is as much for farmers as workers. For instance, farmers may be frustrated when employees don’t perform to directions after they’ve been asked ‘Do you understand?’ Workers will give an obligatory nod because that’s part of Latin American culture – to agree and not challenge

the supervisor. Caropresi suggests that one bilingual worker is necessary to translate and make sure that messages are clear. This is extremely important to ensure safety. Part of the cultural divide is also attributed to differences in food. Caropresi has identified recipes that are nutritious and familiar yet with ingredients that can be sourced in Canadian grocery stores. For example, sardines with tomatoes, are demonstrated in a video, complete with the can’s brand labels and cooking instructions. These are some of the simpler issues to resolve, but as Caropresi explains in her magazine, it’s tougher to address loneliness or health ailments. That’s why she’s published a pictogram showing all the body parts and translations. For farmers, it’s important to know the basic words for “my stomach hurts” or “I feel dizzy.” Having a printout makes it easier for workers to point to the specific area of concern. Source: AtocTli These are some of the tools that Me duele la rodilla (or any My knee hurts (o la parte Me duelen las My knees hurt Caropresi offers in both her magazine as part of the body that hurts) del cuerpo que duela) rodillas… well as seminars. She was invited by the Me duele el estómago… My stomach hurts Me duelen los dedos My fingers hurt Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island federations of agriculture to speak this past A él/ella le duele la rodilla His/her knee hurts (o la A él/ella le duelen las His/her knees hurt spring about how communication affects (or body part that hurts) parte del cuerpo que rodillas (or body (o las partes del farm safety and worker well-being. Her duela) parts that hurt) cuerpo que duelan) coaching as well as practical tools are welcomed as the horticultural industry No me siento bien I don’t feel well Me siento mareado(a) I feel dizzy adapts to higher wage rates and is pressed to work as efficiently as possible with Quiero vomitar I want to throw up Necesito ir al doctor I need to go to the doctor seasonal workers. I need help Tuve un accidente I had an accident As Caropresi would say to both parties: Necesito ayuda No estás solo. You are not alone.

INTERNATIONAL EUROPE

MICHIGAN

CALIFORNIA

Greenhouse sector cools down midst losses

Labour rate rises

Field tomatoes up 10% this season

Rabobank, a key agricultural lender in Europe, is warning of oversupply in the greenhouse vegetable sector. The problem is not just in the Netherlands but elsewhere in Europe according to Cor Hendriks, sector manager of horticulture, Rabobank. Greenhouse technology has exceeded market demand, producing yields ahead of multi-year averages. In addition, Hendriks says there are too many suppliers in the same assortment. He calls for collaboration among growers to provide more diversity in market segments. In 2012-2013, peppers racked up their fourth year of losses. Tomatoes, with larger segmentation, did better, but still suffered losses in 2009, 2011 and 2013. Cucumbers are holding their own. Source: Hortidaily.com

Michigan’s minimum wages are set to increase to $8.15 an hour on September 1. New laws set a gradual increase in the years ahead to $8.50 on January 1, 2016, $8.90 on January 1, 2017 and $9.25 an hour by January 1, 2018. From that point forward, the wage will adjust annually based on a five-year rolling average of inflation for the Midwest. Annual increases would take effect April 1 in each year after 2018, but no more than 3.5 percent. No increase would occur if the state’s unemployment rate for the preceding year was 8.5 percent or higher. In contrast, Ontario’s minimum wage increased to $11 an hour June 1. Source: HortiDaily.com

Where there are more secure water supplies, field tomato growers have secured contracts for 14 million tons of processing tomatoes in California. According to the USDA, acreage is up 10 per cent to 285,000 acres. The short crop in 2013 is spurring processors to rebuild inventories. Fresno County remains the top county for processing tomato acreage, but its contracted

acreage of 90,000 acres reflects a nine percent decrease from the number of acres planted last year. Yolo County ranks second in tomato acreage at 36,000, up three percent from last year. The 32,000 acres of processing tomatoes planned for San Joaquin County would represent a 52 percent increase from a year ago; Kings County, also at 32,000 acres, would see a 19 percent increase. Acreage rose 62 percent in Merced County, to 21,000 acres, and increased 45 percent in Colusa County, to 16,000. Source: FreshPlaza.com

CHILE

Blueberry exports drop 15% Shipments of Chilean blueberries (74,033 tons) fell by 15 per cent compared to the previous season reports the Fruit Exporters Association of Chile. Four factors contributed to the decline says president Ronald Brown. Last September, frosts severely affected about 14 per cent of the crop. Secondly, the U.S. imposed restrictions on several regions due to Lobesia botrana. Next, untimely rainfall and high summer temperatures affected yields. Finally, a port strike in San Antonio curbed shipments. Chile’s main market is still the U.S. and Canada which bought 50,660 tons, 25 per cent less than the previous season. Europe, South Korea and China purchased the remaining crop. Source: FreshPlaza.com

PAGE 4 –– JULY 2014 THE GROWER

CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST SASKATCHEWAN

University hosts haskap field day Haskaps are attracting much attention for their nutraceutical value. The University of Saskatchewan’s fruit breeder Bob Bors will be leading a haskap field day on July 18. The tour includes seven haskap fields as well as other fruit crops, with an opportunity to taste and sample many of the university’s seedling haskap plants. A mechanical harvesting and pruning demonstration will be helpful to potential growers. For a full agenda, go to www.fruit.usask.ca.

QUEBEC

Two new partners spread the news about fruits and vegetables The “I love 5 to 10 servings a day” campaign welcomes two new partners to help promote consumption of fruits and vegetables in Quebec: the Syndicat des producteurs d’oignons du Québec and the Fédération québécoise des producteurs de fruits et légumes de transformation. The total number of partners is now 10. Every campaign partner brings additional financial support and specific expertise on their product or products to expand promotion of fruits and vegetables. The “I Love” campaign, which was launched 10 years ago, encourages consumers to eat better, one serving at a time, by providing real-life tips about simple ways to add more fruit and vegetable servings to their diet.

“We’re really enthusiastic about working with the Syndicat des producteurs d’oignons du Québec,” says Quebec Produce Marketing Association (QPMA) executive director Sophie Perreault. “We want to help people find out more about yellow and red onions, which are delicious vegetables and every cook’s best friends in the kitchen. Among other things, we’ve already published a food guide, “Coup de cœur pour les oignons du Québec,” which has been a real success. We’re equally delighted to have the support of the Fédération québécoise des producteurs de fruits et légumes de transformation, that brings together hundreds of producers, as well as large Québec companies leading the processing sector.Together, we want to

show people that frozen, preserved or canned vegetables are practical solutions to help consumers enjoy great flavour and healthy ingredients at mealtimes.”

Coup dee cœur ur pour les du

oig gnons

Québ bec !

“We want to help people find out more about yellow and red onions, which are delicious vegetables and ever y cook’s best friends in the kitchen.” ~ Sophie Perreault

Syndicat des producteurs d''o oignons i d Québe du Q éb c

COMING EVENTS 2014 July 5, 6

Prince Edward County Lavender Festival, Hillier, ON

July 12, 13 Taste of Niagara Lavender, Great Mountain Centre, Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON July 13 – 15 Potato Marketing Association of North America Summer Meeting, Delta Prince Edward, Charlottetown, PE July 17

Ridgetown Vegetable Open House, Ridgetown, ON

July 18

University of Saskatchewan Haskap Day, Saskatoon, SK

July 19, 20 International Herb Association, “Savory Sagas – Herbs for Life,” Eaton Chelsea Hotel, Toronto, ON July 29

Ontario Apple Tour, Georgian Bay area, ON

July 30

What’s Growin’On Twilight Tour, 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Victoria farm, Vineland, ON

August 2

Food Day Canada

Aug 9, 10

Perth Garlic Festival, Perth, ON

Aug 12, 13 Introduction to CanadaGAP Seminar, Guelph, ON nsfgftctrainingservices@nsf.org Aug 17

Newmarket Garlic Festival, Newmarket, ON

JULY 2014 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

Disease control that adds up.

Pristine

Fungicide

Pristine® fungicide delivers exceptional broad-spectrum disease control, resistance management & the benefits of AgCelence®. With AgCelence, increased growth efficacy & stress management result in improved quality and higher yield potential, allowing you to get the most from your apples. For more information on Pristine fungicide, call AgSolutions® by BASF at 1-877-371-BASF (2273) or visit www.agsolutions.ca Always read and follow label directions. Technical support provided by

AgCelence and Pristine are registered trade-marks of BASF SE, used with permission by BASF Canada Inc. AgSolutions is a registered trade-mark of BASF Corporation, used with permission by BASF Canada Inc. © 2013 BASF. Image courtesy istock photo.

PAGE 6 –– JULY 2014 THE GROWER

INNOVATION

Tabletop lettuce is newest greenhouse product

Adrian and Jodi Roelands launched Living Boston and Living Salad Trio a few weeks ago through exclusive distributor, Koornneef Produce at the Ontario Food Terminal. This tabletop lettuce is grown on ebb-and-flood concrete floors, then packaged in a plastic sleeve for distribution. KAREN DAVIDSON Garden-variety lettuce just took a pedestal position in the produce department. Tabletop lettuce is different because of how it’s grown and consumed. It’s rooted in rockwool, a natural and compostable product, then packaged and sold in a plastic sleeve. Requiring no refrigeration because it’s still in its growing medium, the lettuce is retailing in the range of $2.99 to $3.99 per head. “This hydroponically grown plant stays on your counter, table or windowsill,” says Jodi Roelands, Roelands Plant Farms, Lambton Shores, Ontario. “It’s cared for like a houseplant – just add a little water -- until you’re ready to eat it which can be right away or a month after purchase.” Adrian and Jodi Roelands pioneered the growing technique in their southwestern Ontario greenhouse. Their four

acres are at a premium during the winter months propagating pepper, cucumber and tomato seedlings. But they wondered how to utilize the space in the summer months. Their water is already sterilized in a secure irrigation room, passing food safety requirements. With ebb-andflood concrete floors, grow lights and energy/shade curtains, they began experimenting with lettuce varieties. They settled on Boston lettuce and a salad mix consisting of red, green and red oak leaf. “It’s a win-win product for everyone,” says Adrian Roelands. “It’s great for store owners because there’s no refrigeration required and has outstanding shelf-life. We’ve worked closely with Will Willemsen, owner of Sunripe Marketplace grocery stores in London and Sarnia, to develop the product so we’ve had a lot of input from the retail end.” This product is different from living lettuces which are harvested with bare and exposed roots. “Ours is

Only rinssed containers can be recycled

Helps keep collec ction sites clean

Use all th he chemicals you purchase

Keeps collection sites safe for workers

Maintain you ur farm’s good reputattion

No o exccuse no ott to o! Now, take your empty e fertilizer containeerrs along for the ride! i

the first to be sold in a growing medium of this size,” explains Roelands. “Other companies grow on a floating raft system or a gutter system where the roots grow only in water. Ours are still in their growing medium so they don’t need to be put in cold storage at the grocery store or in the refrigerator at home.” As Willemsen explains, this product offers more value than lettuces traditionally sold in clamshells. Because it’s shipped in its sponge-like medium, the lettuce is still growing. With the open sleeve, this product appears more natural and fresher. At the end of its lifecycle, the rockwool block is simply composted. “It’s very exciting to have a new Ontario-grown greenhouse product to offer,” says Fred Koornneef, exclusive distributor at the Ontario Food Terminal. “It has low shrinkage. All the specialty stores have picked up this product and the major grocery chains are quite interested.”

JULY 2014 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

Disease control that adds up.

Pristine

Fungicide

Pristine® fungicide delivers exceptional broad-spectrum disease control, resistance management & the benefits of AgCelence®. With AgCelence, increased growth efficacy & stress management result in improved quality and higher yield potential, allowing you to get the most from your berries. For more information on Pristine fungicide, call AgSolutions® by BASF at 1-877-371-BASF (2273) or visit www.agsolutions.ca Always read and follow label directions. Technical support provided by

PAGE 8 –– JULY 2014 THE GROWER

CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL

Private insurance models for fresh produce industry A recently completed report on the feasibility of private insurance models for Canada’s fresh produce industry has been released. It was conducted by IAO Actuarial Consulting Services Inc. at the direction of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The purpose was to assist AAFC in evaluating the feasibility of establishing private insurance models under a payment protection scheme which would ensure payment to sellers of fresh produce in the event of buyer insolvency or bankruptcy. This is part of the efforts under the President Obama-Prime Minister Harper Regulatory Cooperation Council agreement to examine the potential for financial protection for U.S. shippers to Canada, that is afforded Canadian shippers to the U.S. AON was asked to analyze the frequency and severity of bankruptcies of buyers, to estimate the risk of buyer

insolvency and bankruptcy among Canadian buyers of fresh product and to examine potential solutions in the Canadian credit insurance market. More specifically, AON was asked to look at the feasibility and cost of implementing buyer or seller-funded models with focus on the buyer model. The report validates the horticulture sector’s belief that an industry-wide insurance model is not a viable solution to sellers of fresh produce in the event of buyer insolvency or bankruptcy. The CHC, CPMA and DRC continue to work with allied partners to ensure government adopts a similar model the PACA-framework available in the U.S. For a copy of the report, contact Anne Fowlie at afowlie@hortcouncil.ca

CFIA and USDA adopt revised potato cyst nematode guidelines Effective immediately, seed potato growers are eligible to export three crops without additional soil sampling and testing if fields have been tested twice and determined not to be infested with potato cyst nematode (PCN). In the past, seed potato growers were required to undergo sampling and testing for every crop of seed potatoes destined for the U.S. Small potato tuber samples may now be exported

to the U.S. without any additional soil sampling if the tested field is negative for PCN. Overall, the revised PCN guidelines will help farmers take advantage of trade opportunities with less paperwork and lower costs. While PCN does not pose a risk to human health, it is recognized internationally as a destructive plant pest of economic importance, and therefore, a quarantine pest for the United States and Canada. Growers who intend to

Photo by Glenn Lowson ship seed potatoes to the U.S. are encouraged to contact their local CFIA office for more information and to schedule any soil sampling and testing that may be required.

Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act consultations underway Industry Canada has launched consultations on the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act to make sure that the legislation remains effective, efficient, fosters

competitiveness, supports entrepreneurial activity and instills investor and business confidence. The CHC, through the Fresh Produce Alliance, will be submitting comments and reaching out to members to comment. This

is an important step in addressing Financial Protection for Produce Sellers. The comment period ends July 15.

Enter horticulture photo contest! The CHC is looking to substantially enhance its library of photos to reflect every facet of Canada’s horticulture industry, including all commodities and all seasons. Photos including people are of

particular interest. Those submitting photos on or before November 30, 2014 will be eligible to win a complimentary 2015 AGM registration. The winning photo will be revealed during the 2015 AGM and the

winner will be awarded an iPad. Photos should be in high-resolution format for use in CHC publications and website. Please send questions and entries to communications@hortcouncil.ca. If your

photo is too large to email, please contact us for upload information.

New site for CHC offices Staff members of CHC are looking forward to new quarters at 2200 Prince of Wales Drive in Ottawa. The move is tentatively scheduled for November 2014.

The ‘AQUA Wetland System’ “A new breed of constructed wetland”

Two new items this year! 1 Peck Size

New Size

“Pick your own” bags

“String bag”

8lbs Premier Containers (1983) Inc. applebags@live.ca

9054586565

AQUA Treatment Technologies Inc. designs and installs the ‘AQUA Wetland System’ (AWS) for tertiary treatment of many types of waste water including sanitary sewage, landfill leachate, dairy farm & abattoir wastewater, greenhouse irrigation leachate water & mushroom farm leachate water (i.e. manure pile leachate) and high strength winery washwater. The ‘AQUA Wetland System’ is operated out of doors and can achieve year-round tertiary treatment of wastewater. This sub-surface, vertical flow constructed wetland consists of sand & gravel beds planted with moisture tolerant plant species. Water is pumped vertically from cell to cell. There is no open or standing water. Treatment occurs through physical filtration & biological degradation. Plants shade & insulate the cells, cycling nutrients while preventing algae growth. There is no production of sludge. The AWS has been approved for use by the Ontario Ministry of Environment through over 40 Environmental Compliance Approvals. Recently the Region of Niagara began approving the AWS for treatment of ‘small flow’ winery washwater I.e. < 10,000 liters per day. Other agencies who have issued approvals include Health Canada, USEPA and OMAFRA. Recent projects include: 1) treatment of cider mill washwater at Bennett’s Apple and Cider in Ancaster 2) treatment of winery washwater at DiProfio Wines and Lincoln Farm Winery in Niagara 3) treatment of pond water at Hihojo Farms for supply of hog drinking water

For additional information please Contact Lloyd Rozema at: cell. 905-327-4571 email. lrozema@aqua-tt.com

JULY 2014 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER

Disease control that adds up.

Pristine

Fungicide

Pristine® fungicide delivers exceptional broad-spectrum disease control, resistance management & the benefits of AgCelence®. With AgCelence, increased growth efficacy & stress management result in improved quality and higher yield potential, allowing you to get the most from your vegetables. For more information on Pristine fungicide, call AgSolutions® by BASF at 1-877-371-BASF (2273) or visit www.agsolutions.ca Always read and follow label directions. Technical support provided by

PAGE 10 –– JULY 2014 THE GROWER

Welcome John Kelly

RAY DUC CHAIR, OFVGA On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to welcome John Kelly as the executive vice-president of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. After a lengthy search and interview process John stood out as a leader with vast experience in the Ontario horticultural industry. Much of John’s career has been focused on innovation and its implementation, an area that

will be critical to the future success of the fruit and vegetable industry in Ontario. Through his past work experience at Erie Innovation and Commercialization, Guelph Partnership for Innovation and Mars Landing (to name a few), John has made many contacts in both the provincial and federal governments. Most recently he was asked to sit on Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Strategic Agri-Food Advisory Committee. Since we are a lobby-focused organization, these contacts will be invaluable to the OFVGA. John also has a long history of leadership having led many boards of both public and privately held institutions. Family and community are also a high priority in John’s life. Together with his wife Cathy, he has four children Allannah, Rebecca, Jacqueline and Shannon. John has been recognized by his community for his volunteer work. I strongly believe John has the

Harold Schooley (L), chair of the OFVGA research section, is shown with John Kelly examining lavender cuttings at the Simcoe Research Station. Photo by Denis Cahill. experience and work ethic to pick up where Art has left off and take the Ontario fruit and vegetable

industry to the next level. I look forward to working closely with John over the next few months

and am excited about the opportunities he brings.

Best wishes to Art Smith for a happy retirement!

STAFF Publisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Editor: Karen Davidson, 416-557-6413, kdavidson@ecomente.ca Production: Carlie Robertson, ext. 221, production@thegrower.org Advertising: Herb Sherwood, 519-380-0118, advertising@thegrower.org 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 (+ G.S.T.) /year in Canada $40.00/year International Subscribers must submit a claim for missing issues within four months. If the issue is claimed within four months, but not available, The Grower will extend the subscription by one month. No refunds on subscriptions. P.M. 40012319

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC

Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director

Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Charles Stevens, Newcastle

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Apples Fresh Vegetable - Other Tender Fruit ON Asparagus Grws’. Mkg. Brd. GGO/Fresh Grape Growers Fresh Vegetable - Muck ON. Potato Board Small Fruit/Berries ON. Ginseng Growers’ Greenhouse Greenhouse

Charles Stevens, Newcastle Mary Shabatura, Windham Centre John Thwaites, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Ryder, Delhi Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Mac James, Leamington Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Ken Van Torre, Burford Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Don Taylor, Durham

Charles Stevens, Newcastle Harold Schooley, Simcoe Brian Gilroy, Meaford Ken Forth, Lynden Mark Wales, Alymer Murray Porteous, Simcoe

JULY 2014 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

PERSPECTIVE Transparency must accompany new technology and products

OWEN ROBERTS UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH I believe the sweeping changes taking place in crop protection -especially when it comes to traditional chemicals -- are for the best. But they’re going to take as much explaining to consumers as to farmers. Here’s an example of what’s happening. At the BASF media summit in North Carolina earlier this summer, the company

announced it was introducing an eye-popping 20 new crop protection products this year and into 2015. One of those new products is Pylon miticide-insecticide, brought on this spring to the Canadian greenhouse market. Pylon is a new class of chemistry, the first and only Group 13 insecticide registered for control of a broad spectrum of insect and mite pests, including populations with increased tolerance to other chemistries in both greenhouse ornamentals and greenhouse vegetables. It’s one of a number of new horticulture products BASF plans to introduce over the next few years. New classes of chemistry are among the alternatives to traditional chemicals for crop protection. Several reasons exist for this, including pressure from consumers. University of Guelph alumnus and Simcoe native Nevin McDougall, who is now the company’s senior vice president

of crop protection for North America, says consumers’ voices are “more prevalent in the dynamics of our industry.” For ages, at least for nonorganic farmers, the alternative to chemicals has mostly been other chemicals. That works for awhile, until weeds develop resistance to them, too. So BASF and other leading seed and crop protection companies are diversifying their approaches. In BASF’s case, it’s created what it calls a “functional crop care” division. Under this heading is an array of alternatives that complement the company’s conventional approaches, including so-called biological treatments that make seeds and plants stronger and more able to tolerate disease and tough conditions. To me, key to this new direction is the way BASF is offering management help to farmers. Since 2010, the company has hired 150 field staff, including

Student becomes the teacher. BASF technology development specialist Rob Miller (left) and Grower columnist Owen Roberts – formerly Miller’s communications professor at the University of Guelph – get reacquainted during a field trip at the company’s Holly Springs, North Carolina research farm. Photo credit: BASF

nearly 50 just in the last year, to visit farmers and not sell products, but rather, help optimize production and profitability. This is a great story. Efforts must now be made to help explain terms such as biological treatments to farmers, let alone consumers. There’s no question diversified crop protection is a good-news message. But so was the introduction of agricultural biotechnology two decades or so ago – and the industry blew it by not telling consumers what was going on. At the time, some said it was wrong to confuse or worry consumers about things they couldn’t see, such as molecular-level genetic modification. History shows this was an epic fail – antitechnology activists had a heyday with it, scaring the daylights out of consumers and making farming look like some nasty corporatecontrolled activity. To this day, a percentage of consumers don’t know what GMOs are, but thanks to the industry’s silence early on, there’s no question they think they’re bad.

At the BASF summit, company officials noted how farmers as well as consumers are craving information about new technology. They want to know what’s available, how to use it and how it works – not only for their own benefit, but so they have the ability to explain it to others too, such as the public. Farming is getting more complicated, a point which gives farmers the need and the license to explain advances such as methodic biological controls to consumers – once, of course, technology developers explain these advances to farmers. Transparency is essential. The age of social media, as well as urban sprawl and the local food movement, puts farmers and consumers closer than ever. The spotlight is on farming, and there are superb stories to show and tell about feeding people near and far -- stories about sophisticated, sustainable and responsible food production. The enlightenment and dialogue will be welcomed, and the timing is perfect for beating activists to the punch.

•

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PAGE 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JULY 2014 THE GROWER

Pesticide use data will help education efforts Growers asked to complete confidential, anonymous survey

Requested Own Use (GROU) program and product re-evaluations.

LILLIAN SCHAER Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fruit, vegetable and field crop growers are being asked to record their crop protection use this season through the confidential and anonymous Ontario Pesticide Survey. The results are important to demonstrate responsible use and support education efforts regarding future pesticide policy decisions. This includes minor use registrations, the Grower

Supporting crop protection registrations, GROU program â&#x20AC;&#x153;The information gathered through this survey clearly shows what products weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using and what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not. This helps us when we are lobbying for changes, like new registrations or keeping existing products available to growers,â&#x20AC;? says Craig

Hunter, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (OFVGA) expert advisor on pesticide issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having a handle on what products are being used, for example, helps us evaluate the potential impacts of product possibly being taken off the market and look at the ramifications of pesticide pricing policies in Canada.â&#x20AC;? Results also help OFVGA and other farm groups push for new product and minor use registrations, which is especially important for growers of smaller horticulture crops. The survey has been conducted every five years in Ontario since 1973. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a result of these studies over the years, we have records that are our proof that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using these products responsibly and using newer, safer chemistries,â&#x20AC;?

he adds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It also means that when we have a regulatory action looming, like a possible deregistration, we have recent evidence to show who is using what, which is especially important in the horticulture sector.â&#x20AC;? Confidential, anonymous and user-friendly The online survey was first launched in 2013 and has been extended to include the 2014 growing season. It is managed by Farm & Food Care and although it is being conducted on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, only the final collated results are being shared with government, says

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Walter Burkhardt 228 East and West Line, Niagara on the Lake, ON From Toronto take 401 to QEW to Niagara, take Regional Road 48/Niagara Street exit, go left onto Lakeshore, turn right onto East and West Line. See Signs! Tractors: TN85Fa NH 4x4 diesel tractor with cab, front weights, 2 sets of rear remotes (1332 hrs, 85 hp), TN75F NH 4x4 diesel tractor with cab (1329 hrs, 75 hp), M5700 Kubota 4x4 o/s narrow style diesel tractor, 2 sets of rear remotes (1011 hrs), 62 Same Vigneron diesel tractor, (1168 hrs), 158 MF o/s diesel tractor with 9.5 Y x 9.36 tires (European style), 580 B Case diesel loader/backhoe with 24" bucket, 2500 MF diesel tractor with Prolift Depot fork lift, Holder C 500 articulating turbo cab tractor with front mount sprayer. Vehicles: 1972 Ford LTD red convertible with white interior "as is", 1990 Mercedes silver coupe "as is", 1990 500 SL Mercedes-Benz Roadster black "as is", 1990 Corvette white "as is", 1995 F150 XLT pick up "as is". Equipment: 2001 Idrofolglia 5130 diesel mobile 6" irrigation pump (like new), Bauer TX plus 110 metre irrigation reel with traveller, Idrofolglia 100 metre irrigation reel with Turbo car, Turbo Mist 30p 500 gal stainless steel vineyard sprayer, Modified PMA 79.421 sprayer "as is", Vectur PMA.84 diesel harvester modified into a field sprayer "as is", Berkley 5" irrigation pump - pto driven, Wagner mobile blender planter, 5' Howard Rotavator #350-E351 3, 1650 HGM Sauerburger Multchcerat, 5' Fehrenbach 3pth mulcher, Bauer 4" irrigation pump, Wagner blender planter, Clemens grape hoe/hiller - side mount, Lipco recycling sprayer, Irrigation boom "as is", 5' Aerway aerator 3pth, Vicon 3 pth fertilizer spreader, Glencoe 3 pth 8' cultivator, diesel engine "as is", 6.5 hp gas Power Fist water pump, Wine destemmer and crusher, Speidel 180 litre hydro press, Clemens-Fiamat bottle filler and filling unit. Miscellaneous: Quonset building still bundled - new "as is", 16' x 75' beige vinyl house trailer "as is", 13 30' steel trusses! PLAN TO ATTEND THIS VERY TIDY SALE! 2 # -#

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project manager Bruce Kelly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All information is submitted online anonymously and categorized only at the county level, so what growers provide is confidential,â&#x20AC;? he says, adding that growers are asked to provide information on their use of all crop protection products, including herbicides, pesticides, insecticides and fungicides. Submitting the information is easy with simple pull-down menus that are pre-populated with product information from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency database, and growers can record their use at any time during the season, including on their smartphone while theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the tractor, says Kelly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Growers only have to enter how many acres they sprayed, how many times and at what rate. The products themselves can be selected from pull-down menus and the site will add the appropriate PCP number as well as calculate and tabulate everything behind the scenes,â&#x20AC;? he explains.

Apple and blueberry grower Charles Stevens is chair of both the OFVGA and Canadian Horticultural Council crop protection committees and firmly believes in the need for this type of data to ensure growers continue to have access to the crop protection materials they need. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In horticulture, we use a far wider variety of products than in cash crops as we have so many different diseases and insects,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The survey information helps us make sure that all growers get the right crop protection materials for their crops and are able to have them regulated correctly so we can use them properly.â&#x20AC;? For example, it is important for products to have proper Pre-Harvest Intervals (PHI) and Return Entry Intervals (REI). These are the restrictions on how soon after application people can re-enter a field to work with a crop, and are of particular importance in fruit and vegetable production where most farmers and their employees come into direct contact with their trees and plants in their fields and greenhouses. The survey is at www. ontariopesticidesurvey.com. Those without the Internet or who are not comfortable with computers can receive a hard copy from Farm & Food Care at 519-8371326, ext 292. Surveys are accepted by fax, email or postal mail. Lillian Schaer for Farm & Food Care.

JULY 2014 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER

RETAIL NAVIGATOR

Target stumbles out of the gate disappointing consumers.

PETER CHAPMAN In 2013, Target launched their ambitious entry into the Canadian marketplace. Target is a player in the Canadian food business, currently operating 127 stores in Canada. It has 1,797 stores in the U.S. and Target.com. In my opinion there are four key issues that have led to the disappointing launch in Canada: 1. The monumental challenge of opening 127 stores across Canada is huge. The reality is that new staff, renovated stores, new markets and a different consumer were more challenging than expected. Target should have been asking consumers to be realistic and exceeded expectations as opposed to

2. Consumers expected the Target they saw on their last cross-border shopping trip. Canada is a different market with different costs and competitors. Pricing will not be identical. We have a different currency, different taxes and a marketplace that has been created to satisfy a different consumer. If Target was naïve enough to think that Canadian consumers would not notice the difference that is a big gap in their strategy. It is interesting that we do not hear the same comparisons to Walmart in the U.S. Price leadership has its privileges. 3. It was surprising how few employees from the U.S. were in the stores when they opened in Canada. These are the people who understand systems and processes. Target should have relied on their U.S. employees more. 4. The lead-time for Target to make changes in Canada is very long, partially due to the long lead-time in many general merchandise categories and the complication of using Sobeys for food distribution. Most of the 2013 store orders for the Canadian stores would have been

completed in 2012, by people who did not understand the market. There were holes and over stocks, which needed to be reduced to sell. Total Target sales in Q1 (ended May 3, 2014) - $17 billion Target Canada sales in Q1 (ended May 3, 2014) - $393 million Online target.com (est 5% total) - $852.5 million Using these figures, the average sales per store in Canada are $238,037 per week and they are $676,533 in the U.S. Very different numbers to operate a business! If 15 per cent of Target Canada’s sales are food this will generate approximately $236 million per year or a market share of 2.5 per cent of the $90 billion food business. Here are my top considerations when developing relationships with Target:

c. Approximately 43 per cent have children at home d. About 54 per cent have completed college

1. Target needs some success in Canada. If you have opportunities that will generate traffic, sales and profit they will be listening.

4. You need to travel to the Target office in Ontario, close to the Toronto airport for your convenience!

2. Understand their consumer. a. Median age 40 b. Median household income $64,000

5. The control label program at Target does not get a lot of attention but they do have a solid presence. Understand the items

3. Learn about the Target culture at www.target.ca and www.target.com. Consumers are guests and their overall philosophy is Expect more. Pay less. Make sure as a supplier you hold up your end. Code dates and flawless execution. They need to focus on sales, not fighting with suppliers.

and where you fit. 6. They have a lot of new staff. Provide guidance about the marketplace and sales trends where possible. 7. When there are changes at the top, the pressure is on. Respect that the people working at Target will be under intense scrutiny to deliver results. Peter Chapman, a retail food consultant and professional speaker, is principal of GPS Business Solutions, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Peter works with producers and processors to help them navigate through the retail environment with the ultimate goal of getting more items into the shopping cart. pchapman@gpsbusiness.ca.

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PAGE 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JULY 2014 THE GROWER

NEW CROPS

Expect staggered bloom for lavender

This roadside field at Bonnieheath Lavender, Waterford, Ontario was photographed at its floral peak in mid-July 2013. Unfor tunately, it was destroyed by winterkill. Owners Steve and Anita Buehner plan to aggressively prune and replant, anticipating a full recover y in two years. With a renovated winer y and lavender boutique ready to open, they will be forging ahead with LavenderFest 2014 on July 5 and 6. Photo by Glenn Lowson. Type and Rank

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014

Angustifolia #1

Folgate

Bettyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blue

Royal Velvet

Dark Supreme

Royal Purple

French Fields

Royal Purple/Melissa

Imperial Gem

Royal Velvet

Fat Spike Grosso

Grosso

Impress Purple

Edelweiss

Grosso

Super

Edelweiss

Hidcote Giant

Edelweiss

Fat Spike Grosso/ Edelweiss/Gros Bleu

Gros Bleu

Lavandin

KAREN DAVIDSON Calendar-worthy photos may be in short supply this month as the Ontario lavender crop is recovering from a harsh winter. Many lavender-themed festivals will be challenged to be in full bloom. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Damage to lavender is significant, especially on the lavandins,â&#x20AC;? says Sean Westerveld, OMAF & MRA medicinal herbs specialist. The amount of damage depends on location and amount of snow cover last winter, one of the coldest in the last two decades in southern Ontario. Trials evaluating 27 cultivars

including both angustifolia and lavandin types are now proving invaluable as growers seek to build an agri-tourism industry. For all four years of the trial, the angustifolia â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Folgateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; had the least damage of all cultivars. Others have also earned consistently high ratings including Royal Purple, Royal Velvet, French Fields, Dark Supreme and Imperial Gem. In 2013, Simcoe Research Station trials proved that row covers are a good option to reduce damage to sensitive cultivars, that is most of the lavandins and a few angustifolias. The survival of Grosso lavender was significantly

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improved under both row covers. Straw resulted in complete plant death across the entire trial for both cultivars and is not recommended for winter protection. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As last winter proved, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so important that the Ontario Lavender Association has worked collaboratively with the University of Guelph and OMAF and MRA staff on this research,â&#x20AC;? says Anita Buehner, Bonnieheath Lavender, Waterford, Ontario. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t done those trials, we wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know which cultivars are winter-hardy.â&#x20AC;? Steve and Anita Buehnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showcase field -- photographed in July 2013 -- suffered almost complete damage. They plan to aggressively prune later this summer and then replant winter-hardy cultivars. Expect two years of growth before this field returns to its former beauty. As Westerveld points out, many growers rely on lavandins for sachets, dried bundles and essential oil production. However, lavandins arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully hardy in southern Ontario and will benefit from winter protection. Growers are encouraged to compare costs of row covers versus loss of plants. If cost is an issue, consider protecting enough plants for core products and agri-tourism events. Also keep in mind that winterkill can result from other factors such as disease, ice around the crown of the plant and flooding. In these instances, row covers will not help.

Typical damage to a Lavandula x intermedia (lavandin) cultivar â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Grossoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; showing only one patch of new growth on the side of the plant.

Row cover trial at the Simcoe Research Station. The treatments from left to right were uncovered, thin white row cover (Agryl P40), straw cover, and thick white row cover (Hibertex Pro). Photos by University of Guelph

JULY 2014 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

EXPORTS

Mexican market represents opportunity for Canadian potatoes KEVIN MacISAAC On May 19, Mexico’s border opened beyond the 16-mile radius which has been in place since 2000, for importation of potatoes from the U.S. The United Potato Growers of America has watched this development unfold with great interest over the past several months. Many were skeptical that the agreement would ever come to pass due to pressure internally from the Mexican grower organization. Today, however it is a reality, if it can keep from being derailed. Mexico is a large market. With a per capita consumption of 37 lbs. per capita and a population of 120 million people, it represents a home for a lot of spuds. With a lower consumption rate than the U.S., there is also room to grow demand. Mexico imported about 1.8 million hundred last year into the area represented in the border zone, and yet only seven per cent of the country’s population lives within that area. Potatoes command high prices in Mexico. However their consumer tastes are very different, recognizing only a minimum amount of russets with the bulk being in the long white (Alpha being the most popular), yellow, and red categories. These new rules allow potatoes to be shipped into cities with 100,000 or more occupants. Walmart currently has about 2,700 retail outlets in Mexico. Although the preferred venue of Mexican shoppers for purchasing potatoes is in bulk displays, the new rules state that fresh potatoes must

Photo by Glenn Lowson be packaged in 20 lb. bags or less. Chip potatoes being imported can however be transported in bulk, as long as the container or trailer is not unsealed before it reaches the processing plant. The other great window of opportunity is for the French fry trade. For the year ending March 2014, Mexico imported 111,377 tonnes (245,029,400 pounds) of fries from the United States. Currently many view the Canadian opportunity as one of backfilling a market into the U.S. as that country moves product to their southern neighbor. However with the proven expertise of Canadian exporters,

it may be an opening to export directly into the country of Mexico. Protocol will be fairly strict. Although the Mexican government is interested in increasing export trade from the country, they also do not want to introduce pests and have created phytosanitary requirements and specifications for control of quarantinable diseases. It is hoped that initially Mexico could allow Canada to use import permits similar to the protocol currently used for commerce between countries without a bilateral trade agreement. Other requirements such as washing, applying sprout inhibitor (chip potatoes do not have this requirement),

traceback, and labelling of Country of Origin, are all standard practices of Canadian packers, which should allow them to be approved for shipping to Mexico. Currently U.S. packers must be inspected and approved by APHIS. In addition many Canadian fields in potato production have undergone extensive field testing for potato cyst nematode to satisfy U.S. trade requirements. The freight advantage that Canada might have into the Mexican port of entry would be by water. Potatoes currently shipped into the Caribbean market enjoy that shipping route now, via Halifax, Saint John and Montreal. It would be imperative to maintain a pricing initiative similar to the U.S., or at least not below production costs, so that Mexico could not be considered a dumping ground triggering tariff repercussions. Likewise, any evidence that our potatoes introduced quarantine pests to Mexico could also add restrictions to the import rules. It has been more than 20 years since NAFTA was signed (at which time all tariffs were taken off the table), so it has been a long time in coming. The United Potato Growers of Canada will be watching intently to see if this market opportunity comes to fruition. Its significance is important in that trade to that country could result in imports between 12-20 million cwt. in the next few years. Kevin MacIsaac is general manager, United Potato Growers of Canada.

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PAGE 16 –– JULY 2014 THE GROWER Table 1. Organic raspberry yields (lb/acre) in high tunnels, east Lansing, MI. Variety

2011*

2012*

2013

Himbo Top

9,000b

7,500a

7,200

Joan J

11,500a

6,800b

6,700

Polka

9,500b

6,600b

6,200

(*numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different)

Organic raspberry production under high tunnels ERIC HANSON, DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY We started a project in 2009 to develop production recommendations for organic raspberry and sweet cherry production under high tunnels. The cherry work is headed by Greg Lang. Others involved in the project are John Biernbaum, Dan Brainard and Adam Montri (Horticulture), Rufus Isaacs and Matt Grieshop (Entomology), Annemiek Schilder (Plant, Soil and Microbial Science) and Vicki Morrone (Community Sustainability). The work is being conducted on the MSU campus in a 1.1 acre range of nine 26 x 200 foot interconnected tunnels (Haygrove Tunnels Ltd.) on a Spinks sandy loam soil. Three bays each are devoted to raspberries, sweet cherries, and mixed plantings of raspberries and sweet cherries. The raspberry bays were planted in 2010, each with a row of the varieties Himbo Top, Joan J, and Polka. Tunnels are covered each year with Luminence THB poly from May through October. Initial efforts in raspberries targeted fertility management approaches. We compared early spring applications of dairy manure-based compost and McGeary Organics 8-1-1 fertilizer, each applied at two rates. Products were incorporated in the row before planting in 2010, and applied to the surface in 2011 and 2012. Incorporated compost caused some salt damage to the raspberries. However, soil salt levels had declined to background levels by the following spring, indicating that tunnel soils can be easily leached by off-season precipitation when tunnels are uncovered during the winter. Both compost and fertilizer appeared to supply adequate nitrogen early in the season, but leaf levels were marginally deficient later in the season. Once the tunnel plastic is installed in May, the soil profile begins drying out except under the trickle irrigation line. Nutrient materials on the soil surface dry out and contribute little available N late in the season. Potassium and sulfur levels were also deficient after three years. In 2013, we began supplementing solid nutrient sources by fertigating weekly during the growing season with liquid fish (2-2-0).

This worked well and did not result in emitter plugging. Berry yields in 2011 and 2012 were unaffected by fertilization treatments, but varieties differed in 2011 and 2012 (Table 1). ‘Joan J’ was the highest yielding in 2011, and ‘Himbo Top’ was the most productive in 2012. Varieties produced statistically similar yields in 2013. Overall yields have been lower than typical for conventional raspberries

under tunnels, which can exceed 18,000 lb per acre. Several factors likely limited yields. Nutrient deficiencies and insect pests likely reduced yields to some degree. The 2012 season was very hot and yields may have been reduced by heat stress. The 2013 season was cooler. Plants began fruiting in early August, but volumes diminished by mid-September even though temperatures appeared ideal.

Organic raspberries in high tunnels at Michigan State University. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Registrations* for Spotted Wing Drosophila, 2014 Preharvest Interval

Re-entry period

Max # applications /year

Retreatment interval

315-420 g/ha

3 days

12 hours

7 days

Caneberries

315-420 g/ha

1 day

Grapes

350 g/ha

4 days

Strawberries

280 g/ha

1 day

Stone fruit

420 g/ha

3 days except 5 days for cherries

Entrust

Bushberries

333-444 mL/ha

3 days

5 days

spinosad 240g/L Group 5

Caneberries

333-444 mL/ha

1 day

Stone fruit

364 mL/ha

When dried except 8 days for hand labour in grapes (check the label) and 4 days for mechanical harvesting

Strawberries

292-364 mL/ha

Grapes

364 mL/ha

4 days mechanical harvesting 8 days hand harvesting

Exirel

Stone fruit

1-1.5 L/ha

3 days

12 hours

7 days

cyantraniliprole 100 g/L Group 28

Bushberries

1-1.5 L/ha

3 days

12 hours

5 days

Reg. # 30895 Malathion 25W

Sweet cherries

2.5-3.75 kg/ 1000 L water

3 days

12 hours

7-10 days

Product*

Crops**

Rate

Delegate

Bushberries

spinetoram 25% Group 5 Reg. #28778

Reg. #30382

malathion 25% Group 1B

malathion 85% Group 1B Reg. #8372

8VH D PD[LPXP RI / ZDWHU SHU KD

Ripcord cypermethrin 407 g/L Group 3 For suppression only

1 day

Use a maximum of 1000 L water per ha

Reg #14656 Malathion 85E

3 days except 5 days for cherries

Blueberries

1 L/1000 L water

2 days

Currants, Gooseberries

1 L/1000 L water

3 days

Raspberries, Blackberries

1 L/1000 L water

1 day

Stone fruit

610-855 mL /1000 L water 1 L/1000 L water

3 days

Grapes

880 mL/1000 L water

3 days

Bushberries

150 mL/ha

4 days

Caneberries Stone fruit Strawberries

150 mL/ha

2 days

Grapes

150 mL/ha

7 days

Strawberries

12 hours

12 hours except 2 days for training, tying and leaf pulling 12 hours except for 2 days for hand thinning on stone fruit; 10 days for hand labour on grapes

7-10 days

n/a

N/A

Reg. #30316 Please note: this is a reference sheet and does not replace the labels. Continue to check the product labels for more specific instructions and uses. * All products (except Exirel) are emergency use registrations valid to November 30, 2014. Exirel is fully registered. **Crop groups: 13-07A Caneberries includes raspberries and blackberries and other brambles. 13-07B Bushberries includes blueberries, currants, gooseberries, saskatoon berries, sea buckthorn, elderberries, etc. 12-09 Stone fruit includes apricot, sweet and sour cherry, nectarine, peach, plum

JULY 2014 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

BERRY FOCUS

Organic raspberry production under high tunnels CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 The most important insect pests have been spotted winged drosophila (SWD) and spider mites. Fruit infestation from SWD began in early September, 2011 and early August, 2012 and 2013. We applied alternating sprays of Entrust and Pyganic in 2011 and 2012. These treatments suppressed populations but timely harvest has also been critical. All fruit need to be harvested as they ripen and fruit that are over-ripe and drop must also be collected and discarded. Overripe or dropped fruit serve as breeding sites. These treatments suppressed populations. Spider mites were

a severe problem in 2012, due in part to our SWD spray program (which likely reduced predatory mite populations) and the hot and dry season. Predatory mites were introduced in 2010 and 2013, but their efficacy is not known. Costs and potential returns have been compiled in a spreadsheet (hansone@msu.edu to request a copy). Capital investments to establish one acre of raspberries under tunnels were paid off in the second year. Annual net profit after year one was estimated to be about $12,000. The primary drawback to this system, and the reason it cannot be recommended currently is the uncertainty regarding SWD management.

A comparison of organic raspberries in high tunnels

Coming event: North American Strawberry Growers Association Growers are invited to the 8th North American Strawberry Symposium to be held Feb. 3-6, 2015 in Ventura, California, U.S. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. This meeting of strawberry scientists and producers from around the globe promises to be remarkable. California, where nearly 90 per cent of U.S. strawberries are grown, features a unique coastal environment with its western ocean exposure, moderate temperatures, warm sunny days, and cool foggy nights – perfect for growing strawberries

year-round. Please reserve the dates of February 3-6, 2015 for the 8th North American Strawberry Symposium (NASS) – two and a half days of workshops, research presentations, poster sessions, a banquet, and other special events. The Symposium will be followed by a post-conference tour on February 7, which will encompass strawberry production in the region and opportunities to visit other horticultural operations. The Program Committee is committed to

making this a world-class research symposium for growers and scientists, and we eagerly look forward to seeing you in Ventura. Look for a mail-in registration form and more program details (abstract deadlines, keynote speakers, etc.) and opportunities for industry, organization and agency sponsorship on the NASGA website: http://www.nasga.org/ in July 2014. On-line registration will become available in September.

Berry growers’ networking events The North American Strawberry Growers’ Association holds a summer tour on August 20 and 21 in British Columbia. For more information, go to www.nasga.org.

The Ontario Berry Growers’ Association holds its annual twilight tour and season wrap-up on September 10. Location to be announced. Contact

www.ontarioberries.com or 613-258-4587 or kevinschooley@bellnet.

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PAGE 18 –– JULY 2014 THE GROWER

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JULY 2014 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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PAGE 20 –– JULY 2014 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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FOR SALE Orchard – Rite Wind machine Less than 100 hours Chevrolet 454 Propane powered Auto Start. $20,000 obo Call: 9059889971

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AUCTION

Advance Notice of Clearing Auction Sale (Farm Sold) For Birtch Farms and Estate Winery (Bob and Dyann Birtch) Saturday August 23rd 10 a.m. (Preview Fri, 11 - 4p.m.) Located 655514 - 15th Line RR 7 Woodstock. From HWY 59 take Oxford Road 17 east approx 3 miles to 15th line then north (watch for signs)

Consisting of Tractors, Farm and Orchard Equipment, Bakery - Kitchen - Winery Equipment, Retail Equipment and Fixtures, Playground and Related Items. (This is a very clean and well kept operation).

Jim McCartney Auction Service Ltd. 905-689-8778 Waterdown For photos check www.auctionsfind.com/mccartney

JULY 2014 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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Make me an offer! 49 Acre tile drained farm with well established, successful fruit arket near Fonthill on HWY 20. Four acres are zoned Highway Commercial. Old and new varieties of apples. Macs, Cortland, Spies, etc. Plus Mutsu, Gala, Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Fuji, etc. Also Bartlett and Bosc pears, plums, concord grapes and crabapples. Implement building and spray shed. Farm market has washroom, two coolers, built in grader and attrac tive sales area. Property has two drilled wells. Three bedroom bungalow with gas furnace and åfireplace and a wood burning fireplace, too. Basement is finished with washroom. Reason for sale: Retirement. Phone (905) 8922361 to view.

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PAGE 22 –– JULY 2014 THE GROWER

MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS

Science integrity at the crossroads

CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA NOTE: The following column was written before I had a call-back from PMRA to discuss the issue. They are in fact still working on this document. Nonetheless, the following expresses the very concerns I gave to them, in the hope that positive changes can be made before it is irrevocably too late. (CLH) Last year I had an opportunity to review a preliminary report on the re-registration of Captan. It challenged my good humour and led me, at least initially, to question the scientific integrity of those who had prepared the report. In the U.S., when the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) create a similar report they provide all the names of those involved. In Canada, the PMRA staff remains anonymous - something that I believe should be changed to provide transparency and accountability. This report ranks right up there in terms of poor scientific rigour, in my opinion. If I didn’t know better I would suspect it had been created by a political speechwriter who takes many words, few if any solid facts, and high “interpretive” license to pad out a ministerial release. There were literally dozens of examples where a resort was made to a ‘model’ in lieu of real data. There were equally dozens of cases where ‘worst case’ numbers were multiplied together, to in turn create an even worse case scenario. There was a liberal use of additional safety factors applied to the extremely conservative estimates, leading to a social protection

level that in the end effectively precludes the use of the product. In fact it was acknowledged up front that neither the U.S. EPA nor the European Union reviews had reached the same conclusions. I find it highly repugnant as a Canadian citizen that such a document could have been created by staff members who are supposed to be ‘neutral,’ of high scientific qualification, and who also have access to the full EPA review decisions and rationales which reached such different conclusions. It offends my sense of fair play and my confidence in ‘the system’ to see such work also being approved by managers with the final say. In a nutshell, I am appalled that in 2014 we see such documents at all! Back in 1996 when the U.S. announced the Food Quality Protection Act that led to complete reviews of all registered pesticides, there was great angst amongst growers and registrants. The cost to meet the data development came right out of growers’ pockets. The loss of many actives hurt us (and in many cases continues to hurt us) due to lack of suitable replacement technologies. It came as no surprise that Canada followed suit in 1998 with their ‘Re-Evaluation’ program. There were over 400 actives to be reviewed over 15 years, and we are still waiting for the last ones to be done, including Captan. There have been many actives reviewed for which we simply accepted the reports, in spite of some issues that were not pivotal enough to pursue. For some others, most of them more recent, we have had issue and have provided our comments and concerns. None of these, however, comes close to how poorly this review was done, nor to the impact the recommendation proposals could have on Canadian Growers’ ability to continue to protect their crops! In short, the proposals would effectively eliminate almost all important uses of Captan, in spite of the fact that it has been used successfully and safely here since

Fungicides such as Captan are impor tant in treating apple bitter rot. the mid-fifties. It continues to be an extremely important part of most disease control programs because of its many valuable properties. Used alone it has a wide spectrum of control on many fungi. It is also used extensively as a tank-mix partner to broaden the spectrum of control and to avert or prevent resistance development when the other partner has a very narrow control mechanism in a fungus. Captan is one of our key ‘broad spectrum’ mode-of-action fungicides, and one that should be rightfully credited with ‘saving’ the use of many other actives. These would soon be lost due to resistance development without Captan being available for use. I have to admit I was flabbergasted when I first perused this document since I knew that our government had already done a full review in 1980 (I sat through most of it) and its conclusions then were complete vindication of continued use. I looked in vain for mention of this report in the appendices and found none. This could be taken as an indication of the shallowness of the attempts of the review staff to search for the data. After all, the report is available in their own government’s library! (I checked) The document has other such omissions. Is it possible that this was done deliberately so as to be

able to simply rely on generic ‘models’ or to cross utilize other studies that, while not readily applicable, ‘would have to do’ to reach a pre-determined conclusion? It does seem to be disingenuous, for example, to omit health studies of actual Captan production/packaging plant workers that show a higher health level than the office workers at the same location. It also seems odd that actual growers’ health data from 60 years of use were also not accessed. That includes use when most of the current training in the use of safeguards and protective equipment gear were absent. It would include use patterns and rates no longer even on labels. Instead, ‘models’ of worst case scenarios were used to reach conclusions that defy common sense. Growers have long had a healthy ‘fear’ about certain pesticides. Rightfully so. On the other hand, they have held up Captan as a model of ‘safer’ chemistry. I see NO factual evidence of any reason to change this from the report. I DO see a reason to change my opinion of the quality of work being produced at PMRA if this report goes ahead as written. It is time that Health Canada look at what is being done in its name if such ‘work’ is representative of their values and goals. It

may just be happenstance that the poorest (in my opinion) reports have only arisen over the past five years. Has there been an insidious change in who is creating them, and how the work is done? Are there a few ‘hands of the devil’ at work to undermine the solid efforts of the vast majority at PMRA who I know do good work? It would be interesting to find out anonymously how other PMRA staff feel about these reports. In all conscience, this report should be shredded and a new start made. Anything less is unacceptable! In addition, they obviously need a completely different set of hands at the wheel to do this review again. It would behoove them to start first by consulting with the users and the manufacturers for information and use patterns/scenarios to avoid some of the systemic errors around use patterns. It would also make sense to consult closely with their EPA colleagues about their reviews and conclusions. In every instance where a ‘model’ was used, it should be replaced with real life data. Barring that, a duplicate set of models should be used, populating them with data from the most conservative and the most liberal approaches. Somewhere in between may be the ‘truth.’ Perhaps the PMRA needs to also include the names of all those who work on the report so some sense can be made of where continuing ‘poised’ decision-making is coming from. Fair is fair! No doubt some may assail my take on this, but I am not afraid to have my name attached to it. Are they afraid to stand behind decisions over their names? If we are to be truly ‘harmonized’ it includes both the initial registration AND all future re-evaluations. Anything less is a sham. POSTSCRIPT: I look forward to the next iteration of this report, and will remain steadfast in the defense of the continued (safe) use of Captan in Canadian Agriculture.

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JULY 2014 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

Capture insecticide now available in Canada FMC has announced it has received registration for bifenthrin, the active ingredient in Capture insecticide which will initially be available for potato and raspberry growers. Wireworms have become one of the major pests in potatoes for numerous growing regions of Canada. Wireworm damage can downgrade the quality of potato crops significantly, creating scars on the surface of and boring holes within daughter tubers. These lesions can make it difficult for processors to cut potatoes into french fries or potato chips, and reduce the marketability of table stock potatoes. “In potatoes, Capture insecticide is to be used as an in-furrow spray application

Crops benefit from Proline fungicide Bayer CropScience Canada has announced the label expansion of Proline, a group 3 fungicide that uses the active ingredient prothioconazole to provide broad-spectrum leaf disease protection. Proline is now registered to protect cucurbit vegetables, bushberries, low-growing berries excluding strawberries and small acreage grains. Important especially for blueberry growers, Proline can now be applied to lowbush blueberries in both the sprout and fruiting years and to highbush blueberries for protection against septoria leaf spot, blueberry leaf rust, valdensinia leaf spot and monilinia blight. This systemic, foliar fungicide has demonstrated increased floral bud numbers and fruit yield over untreated blueberries. According to recent trial results, Proline increases yield in lowbush blueberries by 24 per cent in comparison to leading competitor products. In cucurbits Proline provides systemic protection against fusarium wilt, gummy stem blight and powdery mildew. “Proline has been used for years by canola and cereal growers and now protects against some of the most concerning diseases for horticultural crops,” said David Kikkert, portfolio manager, horticulture, Bayer CropScience. “This foliar fungicide is a cost-effective tool that offers growers excellent disease control and provides a new mode of action in many horticulture crops.” For more information regarding Proline visit: BayerCropScience.ca/Proline Source: Bayer CropScience news release

at-planting,” states Mark McMillan, business manager for Eastern Canada with FMC. “This spray application creates a ‘zone of protection’ around the mother tuber and developing daughter tubers later in the season. The unique characteristics of bifenthrin allow for extended activity, reducing the wireworm damage on the potatoes.” For raspberry growers, the registration of bifenthrin will provide control of black vine weevil and obscure root weevil. The B.C. raspberry growers have required this product through emergency use registrations in the past two seasons. “We are a diverse agricultural chemical company with multiple products that have not been

Wireworms available to growers in this country,” says David Strilchuk, Canadian manager with FMC. “Bifenthrin is used on millions of

acres in the United States and other countries and it’s great that we are now able to launch it here.”

Capture will be distributed by UAP. Source: FMC news release

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Quadris fungicide 90-day PHI changed to one day Syngenta Canada Inc. has announced that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has removed the 90-day pre-harvest interval (PHI) requirement from the Quadris flowable fungicide label for use on potato crops. This label change does not affect the established Canadian maximum residue limit (MRL) for azoxystrobin, the active ingredient in Quadris, on potatoes. "The label change allows producers to use Quadris in-furrow on their short-season varieties for added protection against some

of the most damaging soil-borne potato diseases," said Eric Phillips, product lead, fungicides and insecticides for Syngenta Canada. Quadris is a Group 11, broad-spectrum, preventative fungicide with systemic properties. The popular potato fungicide is the only product on the market that can be used as an in-furrow treatment for protection against soil-borne pathogens of Rhizoctonia and silver scurf. Soil-borne Rhizoctonia attacks tubers, underground stems and stolons, resulting in

poor stands, stunted plants and reduced tuber size. Silver scurf, on the other hand, targets tuber skin. As the infection spreads, white, silvery lesions form on the tuber skin, which increases water loss, resulting in a reduction in marketable quality. Quadris provides overall protection against these diseases, reducing set loss and misshapen tubers while enhancing skin finish, leading to higher marketable yields at harvest. "Maintaining marketable yield is a vital goal of potato production. Quadris can now

be used as part of an integrated disease management program on short-season varieties to achieve this result," concluded Phillips. For more information about Quadris fungicide, please contact your local Syngenta Representative, visit SyngentaFarm.ca or contact our Customer Resource Centre at 1-87-SYNGENTA (1-877-964-3682). Source: Syngenta news release

New measure to battle Spotted Wing Drosophila this season Ripcord, a group 3 insecticide, has received PMRA’s emergency registration for the suppression of Spotted

Wing Drosophila on berries, grapes and stone fruit. The use is effective from June 1 until November 30, 2014.

The product is available through Engage Agro Corporation.

Facts on Canadian corrugated boxes The Canadian paper packaging industry’s environmental council is launching a new website specifically focused on corrugated boxes: www.corrugatedboxescanada.org. “There is information -- and a lot of misinformation -- about corrugated boxes scattered all over the place,” said PPEC executive director, John Mullinder. The website has sections on the different types of corrugated boxes and what they are made from; the renewability of Canada’s forest resource; box design successes; the mills’ high use of recycled content; and the widespread recyclability and recovery of old corrugated containers (OCC). There is a section on public policy issues such as landfill bans and responsible sourcing, and life cycle analysis. There’s even a quiz and a “Fact and Fiction” section. “Unlike most packaging materials,” said Mullinder, “corrugated boxes are made from a renewable resource that is continuously regenerated. The forest industry plants more than a thousand new tree seedlings per minute, and meets all provincial regulations on sustainable forestry.” He added that all council member mills were certified by independent third parties for the raw materials they used to make boxes, and that most of the corrugated boxes made in Canada were already 100 per cent recycled content. Most Canadians (96%) were able to recycle the boxes after use, and the national recycling rate was estimated to be 85 per cent. The council is urging provinces to ban old corrugated from landfills so that more could be recovered for recycling. Source: Paper & Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council news release

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