The Grower June 2015

JUNE 2015

CELEBRATING 136 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

VOLUME 65 NUMBER 06

LOCAL FOOD MATTERS

Local produce: hot demand for cool products

Local Food Week is celebrated June 1- 7 in Ontario (#loveONTfood). While it’s a perfect time to shine the spotlight on first-of-season produce such as asparagus, strawberries and rhubarb, it’s a tad early for the bulk of produce still to come. Not to worry. The Canadian supply chain from growers to retailers already have ambitious plans for more local food than ever. Factors such as the CanadaGAP food safety program and consumer demand are buoying that optimism. Photos (counter-clockwise)

by Denis Cahill, Glenn Lowson and Foodland Ontario.

INSIDE Aerosol pheromones target oriental fruit moth Page 7 Garlic has room to grow

Page 12

Focus: Containers and packaging Page 16

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

KAREN DAVIDSON Asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb -- get ready for your close-up. Locally grown produce is hot, but the challenge is keeping it cool.

With consumer demand on the upswing, growers are realizing that the cold chain is an important component to delivering improved quality, lower shrinkage and longer shelf life to retailers.

“Forced air systems are gaining popularity,” says Dennis Bering, refrigeration design and sales for Penn Refrigeration, St. Catharines, Ontario. “Growers are realizing the importance of rapid cooling. It’s everything to improving sales.”

The company is currently installing systems for peaches as well as leafy vegetables, broccoli and cauliflower. Several clients are upgrading refrigeration equipment for more consistent temperatures. The payoff? They

want to ensure consistent sales to retailers.

“Local, organic and domestic – those are the three focuses of Sobeys this year,” says Frank Bondi, director of national procurement, fresh produce for Sobeys. “The goal is to buy local as long as possible. There’s less delivery time to our distribution centres.”

That emphasis is playing out in several commodities. Bondi reports that Ontario-grown English cucumbers are now available 52 weeks of the year.

While Ontario-grown sweet potatoes were available for 40 weeks, the expectation is for more product to move into other provinces.

“We need more asparagus and more garlic,” says Bondi “ And consumers have a love affair with stone fruit. Retailers and customers prefer local. That’s why we’re talking to Vineland Research and Innovation Centre about organic peaches. We’re looking at all varieties of stone fruit – nectarines, plums – that

could be grown on the shoulders of the season.”

Does this year’s weakened Canadian dollar vis-à-vis U.S. dollar fall into this embrace for local? “We can’t use the exchange rate as a reason to go local,” says Bondi. “Not to the degree we’re sourcing from Canadian growers.”

Sobeys and other Canadian retailers are developing direct relationships with growers to fulfill their fresh produce programs. As Bondi explains, the first step is to have a food safety program in place. Depending on the commodity, that also means a cooling component.

Vegetable grower Jack Streef, Princeton, Ontario can attest to that trend. Streef Produce is doubling its sweet potato acreage to 120 acres.

“Retailers have grown confident in growers who are on the CanadaGAP food safety program,” says Streef. “The industry has stepped up to the plate.”

“We sold out earlier than

anticipated with last year’s inaugural crop,” he says. “The weakened Canadian dollar is going to affect our market – positively. There’s not going to be as much pressure from the U.S., with cost of trucking and exchange. A lot of consumers are paying more attention to local produce and freshness.”

CanadaGAP statistics show that more than 2,600 Canadian producers are enrolled with the fastest-growing segment at the farm level as certified packinghouses request food safety compliance from growers to meet retailer standards.

Ontario’s asparagus industry, for example, is now in growth gear with another 300 acres being planted, says Bernie Solymar, general manager, Asparagus Farmers of Ontario (AFO). With a total of 3,000 acres, that’s a sizeable increase for the years ahead. Those expansion plans are attributed to strong demand from retailers.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PAGE 2 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

NEWSMAKERS

AT PRESS TIME… Nature’s candy dispensed from machine

Photo courtesy of Nature Fresh Farms.

Nature Fresh Farms has a hit at 12 Wegmans stores in the U.S. It’s a grape tomato machine that dispenses just the right number and colour of grape tomatoes that consumers want. Whether they are red, orange or yellow, the grape tomatoes look like candy and they taste sweet as candy but are much healthier.

The Tombar machine was manufactured by sister company South Essex Fabricating. It’s part of the company’s growth strategy and is tied into its new Consumer Education Centre says Chris Veillon, director of marketing, Nature Fresh Farms, Leamington, Ontario.

Test markets for RPCs Effective April 20, 2015, an exemption from the requirements of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations to allow the test marketing of onions and potatoes in reusable plastic shipping containers (RPCs) that are clean and in a sanitary condition was implemented on a national basis. This test market, which applies to onions and potatoes marketed in import or interprovincial trade, has been added to the list.

Ontario plans to expand natural gas access Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers are happy with the news that the province intends to expand natural gas access through a $200 million Natural Gas Access Loan and $30 million Natural Gas Economic Development Grant. The announcement was made by Brad Duguid, minister of economic development, trade and infrastructure earlier this spring.

In the coming year, the province will reach out to communities to seek input on the design of the natural gas programs and will encourage communities to partner with utilities to bring forward expansion plans. As well, the Ontario Energy Board is accepting proposals for natural gas expansion projects. Applicants are invited to identify options that would address any regulatory impediments and the Board will consider these options

Justine Taylor, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, Honourable Brad Duguid, minister of economic development, trade and infrastructure at the announcement of fund for natural gas infrastructure at Enns Plant Farm. as part of its review.

“Expanding natural gas access will ensure Ontario's agri-food sector, and rural communities continue to have access to modern, affordable and reliable sources of energy,” said Jeff Leal, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs.

“Thanks to the work of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and others, this will promote increased economic growth and job creation across our province.”

Correction In the May issue of The Grower, page 11, a website listing was made in error for the article: “Ontario hazelnut plantings in a nutshell: 100 acres.” The correct website is: www.moriessex.com/ hazelnuts.

Congratulations to Eric Biddiscombe who was named The Packer’s Canadian Produce Man of the Year at the recent Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) convention and trade show. As senior category director of produce procurement for Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Brampton, Ontario, he serves on CPMA’s board of directors, including chair of the education committee. Biddiscombe’s Photo courtesy CPMA. entire 32-year career has been with Loblaw, holding positions from the warehouse to the highest levels of its produce procurement group.

Best wishes to Daniel Ruel, executive director of Les Producteurs de pommes du Quebec (Apple Producers of Quebec), who celebrated 30 years with the organization on May 7. Executive secretary Diane Parenteau, marks a 20-year milestone.

In early May at the University of Manitoba Agriculture Diploma Graduation, Keith Kuhl was presented with a Certificate of Merit in recognition of his contributions to agriculture. Kuhl is currently chair of Peak of the Market, president of the Canadian Horticultural Council and president of Southern Potato Company.

At press time, Alberta NDP premier Rachel Notley had not announced her cabinet. However, Rick Strankman, a farmer/ rancher from Altario will be the Wildrose Party’s opposition critic.

Prince Edward Island’s Liberal premier, Wade MacLauchlan, who won the May 4 election, announced dairy farmer Alan McIsaac as minister of agriculture and fisheries.

OMAFRA’s new acting pome fruit integrated pest management specialist is Erica Pate. The University of Guelph B.Sc. graduate is based at the OMAFRA Resource Centre in Simcoe, Ontario. She brings strong horticultural and crop scouting experience to the position.

The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) have created a new position of marketer liaison officer. Jacquie Trombley, with more than 18 years in the advertising, marketing and corporate communications field, will be the primary liaison between licensed marketers and the OGVG board and management. Her mandate is to work with the marketer community to optimize market value for the sector and maximize returns to growers, while enhancing the overall consumer image of Ontario greenhouse vegetables.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association has announced its executive slate for 2015. New chair is Mike Furi, The Grocery People Ltd. Joining him is past-chair Bernadette Hamel, Metro Richelieu Inc.; first vice-chair Sam Silvestro, Walmart Canada Corp; second vice-chair is Rick Alcocer, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc.; executive committee member Les Mallard, Chiquita Brands North America.

Farm & Food Care Ontario has elected its executive roster for the 2015-2016 year. John Maaskant will continue to serve as chair, representing Chicken Farmers of Ontario. Brian Gilroy becomes vice-chair, representing the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Treasurer is Joe Hickson, representing the Ontario Seed Growers’ Association. Executive member at large is Beth Clark, representing Ontario Pork.

Better late than never to announce the student poster winners from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention. Jennifer Foster took the first prize of $500 for management of Stemphylium leaf spot (Stemphylium vesicarium) in asparagus fern. Second place winner Chelsea Jackson earned $300 for identification of multiple fungicide resistance in Botrytis cinerea from strawberries. Thirdplace winner Derek Wright won $200 for an evapotranspirationbased scheduling method for trickle irrigation of high density apple orchards. Honourable mention went to Aaron Zweip for his poster on the effect of organic fungicides on apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) on McIntosh apples. Congratulations to these student winners, the next generation of horticultural researchers.

Loblaw Co. recognized Andy Vermeulen, Vermeulen Farms, as its Atlantic grower of the year at its spring regional conference in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The award recognizes the Nova Scotia farm’s leadership within the produce industry for food safety, quality, corporate social responsibility and excellence in customer service.

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

COVER STORY

Local produce: hot demand for cool products CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Without question, there’s an increased demand for healthy, nutritious vegetables,” says Ken Wall, chair, AFO. “And asparagus fits in an amazing way.”

The locavore movement has changed the marketplace dynamics, Wall explains, in that Calgary and Vancouver retailers will take Ontario asparagus over Washington asparagus. Just as interesting, as of May 16, California’s asparagus crop had shipped only 59 per cent of its volume of the previous year.

“Reduced acreage? Bad crop?

Water scarcity? The jury is out on why,” says Wall. “A straight load of Ontario asparagus was shipped to California mid-May and that’s a rarity. I’m not sure if this is a sign of things to come.”

The challenge for Ontario asparagus farmers will be to evaluate these emerging opportunities – local and continental -- while managing risk of oversupply and tumbling prices. Wall agrees that improved hydro cooling capacity

is needed so that marketing can proceed in an orderly fashion.

As the local food movement evolves, expect the retailers to talk more about responsible supply chains. At the recent Canadian Produce Marketing Association convention, a panel was convened to talk solely about sustainability. Some grocers are measuring their environmental footprint in all operations from greenhouse gases to energy, fuel, waste and refrigerants.

“Refrigeration is the single biggest user of energy at the store level,” said Scott Tudor, director, sustainability for Sobeys. To start, the company is phasing in natural refrigerant (CO2) systems throughout the Sobey’s banner store network.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants are being replaced with natural refrigerants at all new builds and major renovations and to date, 74 systems have been installed.

In the years ahead, expect retailers to ask for more data on how growers are sustainable.

While flavourful produce will be part of that story, it will also be

about how it’s grown, cooled and packaged. For a glimpse of where this trend is going, look to Sobeys Sustainability 2013 Scorecard. This two-pager details progress on electricity consumption, waste diversion, packaging and refrigerant leaks.

Distill these facts and anecdotes and it’s clear that local produce is about more than miles to market. It’s also about provenance. Originally derived from the French verb, provenir, it means to ‘come from.’ In its early usage, provenance meant the chronology of ownership, often of a work of art. Today, local produce is a work of heart.

Start benchmarking what you put into your local produce. It’s the cool thing to do.

Right: While Foodland Ontario has a strong program supporting local produce, other provinces and commodities promote with great success. In this example, the B.C. Blueberry Council has created signage for individual growers for on-farm retailing.

INTERNATIONAL CHINA

WASHINGTON

UNITED STATES

ASIA

Potato acres to be doubled

Organic blueberry trends

China, the world’s largest grower of potatoes, is planning to double the current 11 million acres by 2020. Currently, one-third of the 330 million tons harvested worldwide per year comes from China. But convincing the Chinese to eat the tuber is proving difficult.

Beijing government leaders are using state television broadcasts as well as social media to praise the benefits of potatoes. A sweet-and-sour potato recipe?

Until consumption ticks upwards, Chinese farmers worry about unsold crop and are asking for a government-guaranteed purchase price.

Washington state is tracking sustained growth in its organic blueberry production, increasing acreage by 130 per cent from 2009 to 2012, and doubling yields. Most of the growth is in the Cascade Range.

While organic blueberry prices were greater than conventional blueberries, a new factsheet notes that more blueberry acreage is expected in coming years. To view the document for recent acreage, yields, price and gross revenue per acre, visit http://ow.ly/MRthz.

Listeria outbreak in apples worries industry

Record exhibitor demand for Fruit Logistica

Late last year, Listeria monocytogenes linked to caramel apples killed seven people and hospitalized 34 in the United States. The outbreak flags the first time that apples have been linked to deaths from food-borne illness.

Health officials traced the illnesses to three companies which sourced their apples from Bidart Bros of Bakersfield, California.

Gala and Granny Smith varieties were recalled.

While proactive communication with the public quelled fears domestically, the apple industry notes that apple sales have suffered globally, especially in southeast Asia. Leaders in Washington state, the biggest apple producer, have pushed food safety to the top of their priority list.

Asia Fruit Logistica, slated for September 2 to 4 in Hong Kong, is enjoying record exhibitor interest. Exhibition space sold is up by 30 per cent from last year.

Nineteen different countries have signed up for national pavilions, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Greece, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey and the U.S. On opening day, the Cool Logistics Asia conference focuses on a critical need for the

Source: FreshPlaza.com

Source: FreshPlaza.com

Source: FreshPlaza.com

continent.

“In developed countries, the cost of cold chain logistics as a percentage of a product’s retail price is between 10 and 15 per cent. In China, it can be as high as 50 per cent,” says Clement Lam, director and general manager, Swire Pacific Cold Storage (SPCS), the leading cold store operator in Australia and Vietnam and one of the top five operators in the US. Another focus will be improvement of port performance and last-mile distribution of perishables. One global expert is warning that port access for the fleet of bigger container vessels needs to improve exponentially. Hinterland connectivity needs to adapt as well.

Source: FreshPlaza.com

PAGE 4 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST BRITISH COLUMBIA

Record blueberry crop predicted With British Columbia’s blueberry crop in bloom in mid-March and a balmy spring, it’s not surprising that predictions are for a record crop. The British Columbia Blueberry Council verifies that 28,000 acres of blueberries are in production.

That’s good news for Consolidated Fruit Packers (CFP), part of the Star Produce Group headquartered in Saskatoon. From his base in Kelowna, Chris Messent, CFP category manager, predicts a 160 million pound blueberry crop, with first handpicking expected in the Fraser Valley about June 25.

“That’s well above 140 million pounds last year and 125 million pounds the year before,” says Messent.

If the weather doesn’t slow down the crop, that’s 10 to 14 days early and would be the earliest start in recent memory.

“We see the most volume from the early variety, Duke, then head into Bluecrop and finish with Elliott,” says Messent. But newer varieties – Liberty, Draper and Aurora -- are being planted due to their excellent flavour profiles.

If the early B.C. harvest materializes, expect aggressive pricing in the North American marketplace. That’s because in the United States, both east coast and west coast producers will still be in season.

“We’re going to be harvesting at the peak of the New Jersey and Washington season, while Oregon and North Carolina will still be in good production and Michigan will be just getting going,” predicts Messent. “On the west coast, I think California should pretty much be finished by the time we go.”

In keeping with consumer trends for less packaging, CFP has introduced top-seal packaging, a sealed film that reduces plastic by 30 per cent. This is commonly seen in the United Kingdom (UK), particularly in the Tesco stores.

“A lot of U.K. produce is pre-packed for food safety reasons,” says Messent. “It’s not unusual to see cello-wrapped bananas.”

When CFP ships to the U.K., the blueberries are sent to a repacker who then supplies the private-label, retailer graphics, variety of blueberry, grower number and country

This resealable package is available in 18 oz and two-pound packs. of origin. There’s more information available to consumers with this type of packaging.

Messent explains that 70 per cent of their business stays in Canada, with 25 per cent to the United States and the remainder offshore.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Compost study underway to increase potato productivity Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has joined forces with McCain Foods Canada and the province’s potato growers in a major project to improve potato yields in New Brunswick by improving soil health.

Potato yields in New Brunswick are lagging behind other North American potato production regions. The culprit may be declining soil health. AAFC researcher Bernie Zebarth believes potato yields could be boosted by applying compost.

Compost products vary widely depending on their feed-

stocks (animal manures, wood waste or bedding materials) and the composting process, and how that affects potato growth is not known. The first project includes large-scale application of compost on grower fields. The effects of this compost on potato yield and soil health are being evaluated over several years.

The second component is evaluating a series of compost products in experimental plots at the AAFC Potato Research Centre in Fredericton.

Within three years, scientists expect to have results on:

• what kind of compost is best suited for use in potato production; • how this compost can affect potato yield and processing quality; • how this compost can improve soil health and suppress soil-borne diseases; • how this compost affects nutrient availability; • the economic feasibility of using compost in processing potato production.

Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada news release

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION

Board briefs Introduction The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) board met on April 23, 2015. Topics included on-going government consultations, OFVGA submissions, neonic regs and the upcoming labour season.

Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) Report Canada filed notice in June 2013 seeking possible trade retaliation in response to the United States’ action on Country of Origin Labelling. The action seeks retaliation on a wide range of products, which includes apples, cherries and some potato products.

Crop Protection The proposed neonicotinoid regulation was released on March 23, 2015 by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) and addressed only the regulations for seed treatments on grain corn and soybeans. There is a proposed Integrated Pest Management course that all grain corn and soybean producers using neonicotinoids must take before March 2016. OFVGA has responded to consultation on the neonicotinoid regulations, re-iterating comments from our earlier submission in January.

It was reported that on March 24, 2015, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a study concluding that neonicotinoids are not driving bee deaths. The USDA has also noted that honey production was up in the U.S. by 14 per cent and the number of bee hives was increased by four per cent (100,000 hives) over last year. Another study out of the University of Maryland concluded that the label rate used in a three-year trial run would need to be increased four to 20 times to have any effect on bees.

United States Border Protection services found the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, an invasive species in Canada and U.S., in a container of vegetables from Cuba. The container was turned

away from the United States and directed towards Canada instead.

There is no information on whether the container came through to Canada, but it is concerning for the greenhouse industry. The Mediterranean Fruit Fly will do damage if allowed to flourish in a greenhouse environment.

OFVGA has written a letter to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) about invasive species. OFVGA has received a reply from CFIA stating that Canada has made the decision not to regulate the Mediterranean Fruit Fly and other tropical pests.

The fly has not established itself in Canada nor have Canadian exports to the U.S. been restricted.

The national minor use priority setting meeting took place in March in Gatineau, QC. Dan Kunkel, representing IR4, invited everyone to the September minor use summit in Chicago, IL. The objective of the Chicago meeting is to create more joint registrations and harmonization of the process in regulations and MRLs worldwide. The outcome of the priority setting meetings is on the Pest Management Centre (PMC) website.

Research The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Food for Health Research Forum took place on April 9, 2015 at the Stone Road Conference Centre.

Subjects ranging from the link between food and chronic disease, microbes in the gut needing fruits and vegetable fibre to thrive, healthy eating for healthy aging, food literacy and building local food capacity were key topics of discussion.

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care has released a new booklet entitled “Food for Health” which is available to commodity offices in the province for distribution. OFVGA is currently working on obtaining copies and will distribute them as needed to our membership.

Photo by Denis Cahill Labour The Jamaica program is on track for 2015 and the level of service is returning to normal.

Issues are being reported from producers with the Job Bank. The system has recently been redone and is creating some issues; it is currently taking two to three weeks to get on the site, creating order delays. OFVGA has been advised that producers who want workers to arrive on time must submit more than 14 weeks in advance because Simcoe is now processing most of the country, resulting in slower processing times and workers arriving late.

The mushroom industry has been added to the national commodities list and can now access the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP).

Further, a long awaited study on SAWP should be available in the next few weeks outlining the Canadian jobs that are created as a result of the program.

Property The province is working to redefine the Guidelines on Permitted Uses in Ontario’s Prime Agricultural Areas.

Consultations have taken place in the affected areas. The input deadline was May 13, 2015.

OFVGA responded to this consultation, which is available online

Donations welcomed until June 12

On June 13-14, the Enbridge Ride for Cancer takes place to raise

funds for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Last year,

5,212 riders cycled 213 kilometers from Toronto to Niagara Falls to raise $20 million.

This year’s riders include seasonal worker Joseph Hackett, apple and blueberry grower Charles Stevens, Wilmot Orchards, and orchard manager Rob Montgomery, who salute leukemia survivor William. Each must raise $2,500 to qualify to ride. To donate online, go to www.conquercancer.ca and type any one of the three names to go directly to the participant’s page.

at www.ofvga.org.

The livestock compensation program paid out $1.37 million for livestock lost to wildlife predation. Bees were also discussed and the criteria used to qualify for compensation. The bee loss compensation program paid out $3.5 million.

Brian Gilroy has been acclaimed to the Farm and Food Care board of directors as vice chair for another year. John Maaskant from Chicken Farmers of Ontario has been elected chair.

Safety Nets As of March 20, 2015, 98.93 per cent of the 2013 AgriStability applications had been processed and the total payout to Ontario farmers is $47.2 million. This is down from $95.5 million from 2012. This is a result of the effect of the cuts to the program in year one of Growing Forward 2 (GF2) and overall a better year in general across commodities.

Nationally, AgriStability uptake has been about 41 per cent and Agricorp says that 2014 will end up less than 40 per cent which raises concern about the long term viability for the

program.

As of March 20, 2015 there were 27,730 participants in AgriInvest in Ontario for 2013 with deposits of $51.2 million.

Final crop insurance payouts for 2014 are still expected to end up close to $89 million, with some corn still not harvested.

This is substantially less than the five-year average; since the plan is well funded, most rates are dropping for 2015 as already reported. The effect of extreme long cold events last winter has still to be evaluated for grapes and tender fruit with damage certain in some areas.

Between 75-80 per cent of producer and processor applications are being rejected from GF2 for trying to get funding for ongoing regular business activities, not innovative projects.

There are two main priorities: projects relating to/impacting the Great Lakes and climate change.

In the first two years of GF2, there have been 2,000 processor project applications and 5,000 producer applications. The average value of processor projects is $60,000 and producer projects are $15,000.

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PAGE 6 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL

Farmland values analyzed Farm Credit Canada has issued its Farmland Values Report with provincial and national overviews of recent land value trends.

In-depth analysis of 2014 is available through videos and commentary from agriculture economic experts at www.fcc-fac.ca.

Health Canada looks to re-label Roundup The Pest Management Regulatory Agency is recommending a number of changes to the label of glyphosate, more commonly known as Roundup, including recommended spray buffer zones to protect land and aquatic habitats from unintended exposure and a 12-hour restricted entry period for agricultural uses to better protect agricultural workers. Health Canada has begun a public consultation on the Proposed Re-evaluation Decision that will run until June 12.

More research underway on Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) Two research projects are underway under the guidance of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Biology and management of spotted wing drosophila: a new invasive pest with serious impact on Canadian Horticulture (20132016) M. Ayyanath, J. Cossentine (lead), S. Fitzpatrick (co-lead), D. Gillespie, D. Neilsen and H. Thistlewood.

This AAFC project aims to: evaluate the impact of

entomopathogens on SWD survival and fecundity; study the effect of orchard insecticide treatments on SWD; investigate reproductive strategies of SWD in berries and soft fruit; understand relationships between SWD populations and microclimates in the B.C. interior; and investigate the correlation between crop phenology and SWD population dynamics, and risks from other hosts acting as potential refugia for the pest.

Investigating the potential economic impact and management strategies against Drosophila suzukii, a new and invasive pest

in Atlantic Canada (2013-2016) Debra Moreau (lead), Peggy Dixon, Christine Noronha, Andrew Jamieson, Gaétan Bourgeois, Jeff Franklin, Charles Forney, Karen BurgherMacLellan.

The work for this project is conducted in Atlantic Canada and aims to monitor SWD, investigate habitat suitability for SWD, develop a predictive population model, characterize fruit chemicals (both volatile and nonvolatile) that attract SWD, and evaluate SWD cultivar preference in highbush blueberry, raspberry, and grape.

The ‘AQUA Wetland System’ “A new breed of constructed wetland” 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 & re-use of greenhouse irrigation leach water at greenhouses in Niagara & Haldimand 2) treatment of winery wastewater at Greenlane Estates Winery & numerous other in Niagara 3) treatment of landfill leachate at sites in Pembroke, Niagara and Alabama

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

CFIA to consult with micro and small businesses The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched a targeted consultation with micro and small businesses until June 30, 2015. The agency is seeking feedback on options that could reduce regulatory burdens. This effort supplements two previous rounds of consultations in 2013 and 2014 on a new regulatory framework for bringing the Safe Food for Canadians Act into force. Learn more by reading the discussion paper and completing the questionnaire at www.inspection.gc.ca/safefood.

This site includes a complete draft of the proposed regulations which include reference to the Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC). See page 12, division 2, Trade of Fresh Fruits or Vegetables, 22 (2)(a). This major achievement is a component of horticulture’s vision of a comprehensive solution to address financial protection for produce sellers. Of the four pillars, three have now been achieved: Dispute Resolution Corporation, Destination Inspection Service and the DRC in regulation.

Grapevine consultations The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a

stakeholder consultation on draft D-15-02 regarding the Canadian Grapevine Export Program and D-94-34 Import and Domestic Movement Requirements for Grapevine Propagative Material.

These directives outline the export and import requirements for grapevine propagative material. The deadline for submission of comments is Monday, June 15, 2015. Submit comments or questions to horticulture@inspection.gc.ca New reports point to strong honey bee production The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has released results of its 2014 U.S. honey production survey which shows a 19 per cent increase in honey production over 2013. This report also shows a 2.74 million increase in the number of U.S. managed bee colonies. Prior to the release of this report, a new peer-reviewed research article said a three-year study by USDA researchers, the University of Maryland and the EPA, found no impact to colony health due to field-relevant levels of exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides.

For more information on any of these issues, please contact communications@hortcouncil.ca.

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

PEST MANAGEMENT

Aerosol pheromones take off in targeting oriental fruit moth KAREN DAVIDSON Oriental fruit moths are going to be flying solo this summer if growers install an aerosol pheromone dispenser in their orchards. The new technology will disrupt the mating behaviour of this most damaging of orchard pests. Left unchecked, these moths would lay eggs which hatch into larvae that feed internally on apples, pears and stone fruit.

Semios, a Vancouver-based company (www.semios.com), has enjoyed early success with this ‘disruptive’ technology in the United States and Europe. Now, with approval of the pheromone package from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, it expects to have about 4,000 acres under its precision management services in Canada in 2015.

The concept of controlling pests with pheromones is not new, but the way in which they have been used to date is antiquated, costly and labour-intensive, explains Semios CEO and president Michael Gilbert. Semios uses one aerosol dispenser per acre that is connected to a network of field sensors to measure weather conditions, and together

with remote-camera pest traps, it signals the optimal timing and dosage of pheromone to be released.

The journey to commercialization has been more daunting than first thought. A chemist by trade, Gilbert has engineered in-orchard, real-time, wireless networks. This hurdle took more than two years because leafy, dewy environments interrupt wireless communication. Once he installed solar-powered sensors, he can now generate site-specific data seamlessly. With reliable data, the system can be programmed to trigger timed puffs of pheromones. In peak moth season, that could be every 15 minutes.

“The ultimate goal has been to precisely meter the pheromones,” says Gilbert. “Pheromones are a very expensive active ingredient costing anywhere from $1000 to $10,000 per kilogram. By only releasing pheromones when and where moths are in flight for the purpose of reproduction, Semios is extremely effective and less costly than sprays.”

So Semios has developed a service based on a per acre/per year licensing fee starting at $60 US/acre/year. Pricing depends on the range of services and the

pheromone required for the specific farm. In the U.S., for example, the most popular package for apple growers includes: network, data storage, user interface, site-specific weather data, frost management (inversions, wetbulb, sprinkler thresholds), codling moth (CM) mating disruption pheromones, networked dispensers, CM degree day models and networked camera pest traps. Altogether, that costs $150 US/acre/year.

In developing data services and registering pheromone products, Semios has worked in 40 sites with apple, pear, peach, cherry and grape growers in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

“One less agricultural spray is better for us all - the fruit, the consumer and the environment,” says Knights Appleden farm manager, Rod Steenbruggen.

“This is great technology that is making a big difference.”

In the case of specific insects, growers can switch from pesticides to pheromones, lowering overall orchard pesticide usage.

The advantage is that pollinators and other beneficial insect species are not affected. Since Semios is the only pheromone dispenser that can be controlled remotely,

Once hung in the trees, the Semios in-field sensors and camera traps monitor the number of pests. This information, combined with wind and temperature conditions, is analyzed to optimize pheromone deployment. The most common application rate is a metered puff every 15 minutes, 12 hours a day during evening and night-time hours through the growing season. growers can even use their smartphones to alter the timing.

Is this a mothy night? It’s a

midsummer night’s dream to -program the pheromones.

PAGE 8 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

Engaging policy makers should never be done in isolation

JOHN KELLY EXECUTIVE VP, OFVGA As an organization, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association spends a lot of time and effort on policies delivered by all three levels of government, with the ultimate goal of impacting the ability of growers to compete domestically and internationally. Although it may seem like the consequences of policies are not always fully thought through, farmers must find ways to address challenges brought about by policy.

I had a call from a grower a couple of months ago about a municipal regulation challenging this grower’s ability to have a farmers’ market on his property.

The details of the conversation are not important for this purpose, but what was interesting is that this person did not know how to

address the challenge, who to speak to and how to have the issue come to some sort of resolution. Municipal regulations by their very nature vary from county to county, although the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has provided some Guidelines On Permitted Uses in Ontario’s Prime Agricultural Areas (see http://ow.ly/MYkcz) to try to put some consistency in the process.

What was challenging to this grower was that there was no appreciation or knowledge on how the county (in this case) was organized, and that the township had some rules in place which appear to supercede provincial regulations. In the ensuing discussion, I suggested that a conversation should be held with his municipal representative on council, try to understand the reasoning for the policy that his farm was in conflict with, and then try to come to some sort of understanding regarding the development of the business that was being considered. Town councilors are generally quite approachable and receptive to these discussions, and will try to be helpful. The path ahead may very well have been to make a presentation to the local town council to raise the issue at hand.

This grower reached out, sought input and advice, and has a plan

to move forward.

At the provincial level it is a different story. Trying to arrange for conversations with your provincial representative is challenging because of the numerous competing interests that exist, the real pressures on time availability and the constituency that is being represented. For rural residents, this is exacerbated by the fact that there are virtually no representatives on the government side of the house.

And if your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) happens to also be a cabinet minister, the pressures on time and the inability to focus on local issues become even more intense.

However, the OFVGA, through its board of directors, staff and member associations, does have the ability to meet with key influencers in the government on a regular basis. Edible horticultural producers in Ontario contribute $1.6B to the economy and this fact does not go unnoticed. By working collectively, growers have more strength and influence.

The OFVGA does need to work with the government to address issues. It is clear that there are times when we will support the programs of the government, and in some cases where we will not agree with the actions of the government, or in

the way policy has been developed. Because of the plethora of issues that the sector is facing, it is important not to deal with issues in isolation.

Members of the OFVGA are facing heat from many different ministries, including those responsible for labour, energy, environment, trade, infrastructure, finance, health, natural resources, and of course, agriculture and food. How we work with each of these ministries individually as well as collectively will impact our ability to move forward with efforts on behalf of the grower.

Energy, for example, is a complex file. Elimination of coal, reliance on hydro and nuclear power, and the development of solar and wind energy generating facilities are not without controversy, in terms of the impacts on cost and returns, land use and environment, aesthetics and infrastructure. The fact that there is not enough infrastructure to meet the needs of agriculturally-based generators and that the needs for costeffective power are rising puts strain on the system. Add to that the very high cost of electricity and the dependence of rural producers on this input for production, there is large potential for diverse opinions and perspectives. By focusing on only one aspect of the issue, the

larger picture can be missed.

Federally, the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) tries to work with national issues and works to engage our federal Members of Parliament (MPs).

The OFVGA has a good track record of working with local MPs to support the efforts of the CHC, and it is politically important that we have excellent communication with the federal organization.

Keith Kuhl, CHC president, has been very engaged with farmers and is pushing the horticulture agenda. There are, however, specific items that are effectively handled both at the provincial and federal level. Issues that have national importance but are being implemented in a single province need to be heard, and this also is a role for members of the OFVGA in working with federal representatives. Further, grass-roots support of national issues that have local impact is essential. For example, OFVGA support for addressing the on-going Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) stalemate is required and necessary.

So just as the individual farmer sought input about a local challenge, mutual will at the provincial level through the OFVGA and at the federal level through CHC, is best handled collectively and cooperatively, and not in isolation.

WEATHER VANE

In Ontario, a dry spring has led to earlier-than-anticipated irrigation for a myriad of crops. For new plantings, such as this peach orchard near Niagara-on-the-Lake, drainage pipe is ready to be installed.

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.

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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.

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ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC

Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director

Jason Verkaik, Bradford Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Mac James, Leamington John Thwaites, Niagara-on-the-Lake

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 Kenny Forth, Lynden John Thwaites, Niagara-on-the-Lake Neil Reimer, Vienna Bill George Jr., Beamsville 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

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER

PERSPECTIVE Golf greens, not farm land, valued by urban Canada

OWEN ROBERTS U OF GUELPH I always liked former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Joe Clark’s aw-shucks, down-home, out-west style. As politicians go, it seemed sincere, reassuring and approachable.

Unfortunately for him, it didn’t sell back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when members of society were trying to act modern, sophisticated and debonair. Clark didn’t have Canadians’ confidence. As a result, his tenure as Prime Minister, as our youngest Prime Minister ever, was short lived. His legacy as Joe Who? though, went on and on.

But with some tweaking, his unspectacular style would probably sell in many circles today. We’re returning to our roots. We’re put off by too much polish. Teflon is no longer an admirable political trait. We’re

craving the Joe Clark image of honesty.

His endearing traits were on display for the 700-plus participants at the Grain Farmers of Ontario popular March Classic, in London, Ontario. The organization made a good choice asking the former Prime Minister to speak at this annual gathering of farmers and suppliers. If anyone appreciates straight talk, it’s farmers.

What Clark told the crowd, and reporters, was honest, as usual. But it was also jarring.

He noted, how despite the lip service Canadians pay to all things local, they don’t understand much about the rural parts of our country, including agriculture.

People claim to have an interest in down home values, however they define them. But Clark said rural Canada is an unknown entity to most of the country. The so-called homegrown aspects of our culture it represents are being lost. We may be gravitating towards our roots, but he doesn’t think we appreciate rural Canada’s value.

And no wonder. Urban Canada keeps gaining more and more people. Increasingly, rural Canada’s advocates are not those who live there. And interestingly, neither are its critics.

An entry on Statistics Canada’s website called “Canada

Consumer education

Goes Urban” bears witness to the population situation. Statistics Canada says that while the number of Canadians living in rural areas has been relatively stable, those living in what it calls population centres has been rising steadily. In Ontario, for example, by 2025, more than half of the province’s population will live in the Greater Toronto Area.

Such factors mean the proportion of Canadians who live in rural areas has fallen.

In fact, Statistics Canada says the proportion of Canadians living in a rural area is the third lowest among G8 countries, after the United Kingdom and the United States (which should likewise take heed of such figures).

But what really makes rural Canada unique is the small proportion of young adults aged 15 to 29 who live there. In 2011, 17 per cent of people living in rural areas were aged 15 to 29.

The national average is 20 per cent.

Statistics Canada says pursuing postsecondary studies, looking for jobs and forming relationships are factors that may be behind the departure of young adults from rural areas.

At the March Classic, Clark said rural Canada has to make its value known “quite starkly” to urbanites who care more about

Former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Joe Clark noted in a recent speech to the Grain Farmers of Ontario that despite the lip service Canadians pay to all things local, they don’t understand much about the rural parts of our country, including agriculture. playing golf there than supporting agriculture.

Statistics might help define that worth. Recent figures from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada underline how rural Canada is feeding the world, as the planet’s fifth-largest exporter of agriculture and agri-food products, and that Canadian

export sales grew by 5.5 per cent in 2013 to $46 billion.

But even those statistics don’t really speak to values, or passion, or understanding. Rural Canada has a long road ahead to not only tell its story to other Canadians, but to make them believe it too. It can’t wait for someone else to do that job.

LAHAVE NAT ATURAL FA ARM MS 19 9 cultivars available

Th he Haasskap Berry.

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NatureFresh Farms recently unveiled its custom-designed mobile “Greenhouse Education Center” to hundreds of customers at Loblaw Companies owned Zehrs store in Cambridge, Ontario.

The Greenhouse Education Center (GEC) is a custom-built 38-foot long mobile microgreenhouse attraction. Designed and built by NatureFresh Farms sister company, the GEC contains a variety of mature, live fruit bearing tomato, bell pepper, and cucumber plants. Positioned as a living greenhouse on wheels, the GEC’s purpose is to educate consumers on how their produce is grown, from seed to cultivation. Custom designed growing

cassettes with a clear Lexan tray filled with recyclable coconut husks reveal the type of growing medium the plants are thriving in.

The GEC is equipped with a unique heating, venting, and irrigation system that resembles what a greenhouse would be built with. Additionally, a live bumblebee eco-system is part of the display showing how bees pollinate live plants and travel back to their hive with the nectar and pollen extracted from the flowers.

“What really captivates people is that when they see the greenhouse, they see how simple the growing process really is,” commented Peter Quiring, president, Leamington, Ontario.

Have you discovered the Haskap berry yet?

Grown in Japan and Russia for centuries, this unique, delicious berry is ga aining huge momentum with h growers and food-lovers alike in Nova Scotia and On ntario!

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For further informa orrmation and plant sales, sales contact Lynn Pettypiece: Tel: 902 527 2139 Cell: 902 209 2912 2 email: lynn@lahavenaturalfarms.com 1776 Northfield Rd, Blockhouse, Nova Scotia B0J 1E0 1 www.lahavenaturalfarms.com www.haskapa.com m

PAGE 10 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

As much as 40 per cent of all food produced is wasted BRUCE KELLY As this month’s issue of The Grower is focused on packaging, it seems relevant to talk about food waste. It’s not a new topic but is one that is under greater scrutiny. Government policy makers and advocacy groups deal with the paradox of many people being hungry while the overall Canadian food supply chain appears to waste 40 per cent of what is produced.

At a recent industry forum held by the Provision Coalition (representing food, beverage, food service and retail industry organizations), representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, agriculture organizations, packaging and processing companies, waste handling agencies, consultants, academia and municipalities from across Canada came together to discuss the greater

extent of activities that municipalities and other industry players could engage in to address the issue.

Food waste is an important supply chain issue as an opportunity lost. The costs are much higher than just disposal. It’s also about the nutrients, energy, water, and time that are invested in getting the product into the consumer’s kitchen.

Since so much makes it into the garbage bin, it should come as little surprise there are folks who study what we toss out in the trash.

Ralph Martin (University of Guelph) and Martin Gooch (Value Chain Management International) have recently written papers on quantifying food waste in Canada and food waste production from Guelph households. The municipalities of York Region, Metro Vancouver and others who have green box recycling programs all have data on what gets tossed in the

COMING EVENTS 2015 June 1

Lavender 101 Hands-on Seminar, Simcoe Research Station and Apple Hill Lavender, Simcoe, ON

June 1-7

Ontario Local Food Week

June 3

Ontario Produce Marketing Association Annual General Meeting, Ontario Food Terminal, Toronto, ON 12 noon

June 8

Lavender 101 Hands-on Seminar, Christel Lake Lavender, Greenbank, ON

June 8-10

United Fresh Trade Show, Chicago, IL

June 14

Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Country Heritage Park, Milton, ON

June 16

Food & Beverage Ontario Annual Conference, Steam Whistle Brewery, The Roundhouse, Toronto, ON

June 17

Cornell University Extension Fruit Field Day, 4 farms, Wayne County, Quality Inn, Newark, NY

June 20

Ontario Garlic Growers’ Workshop, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, ON

July 4-5

Lavender Festival, Prince Edward County Lavender Farm, Hillier, ON

July 4-5

Norfolk Lavender Festival, Apple Hill Lavender and Bonnieheath Estate Lavender and Winery, Windham Centre and Waterford, ON

July 8-9

Canadian Horticultural Council Summer Tour, Niagara region

July 12-17

International Farm Management Association & Congress, Quebec City, QC

July 21

Ontario Apple Tour, Harrow, ON

July 22

Summer Visit for New Apple Cultivars and Rootstocks, St. Joseph-du-Lac, QC 1:30 pm

Graph of food waste by source (Data courtesy of Martin Gooch) green bin.

Consumer waste is by far the largest contributor to measured food waste across the system. By contrast, agriculture is attributed with only 10 per cent of food waste. Waste at the farm level represents lost sales so farmers continually work to maximize sales of grade one product within the confines of food safety and contract standards. The recent market introduction of “Naturally Imperfect” products at Loblaw stores and smaller misshapen apples, are good examples of ways to reduce waste at the farm level.

When we look at why consumers dispose of food waste in their green bins, waste can be separated into three categories: • 36% was deemed “unavoidable” (cores, bones and trim) • 11% was deemed “cause not determined” • 53% was “avoidable food waste” Avoidable food waste includes fresh fruits and vegetables that have become spoiled at home, uneaten leftovers, food bought in quantities too large to consume or foods that consumers didn’t like, among other factors.

Half of green bin compost was once fresh fruit and vegetables.

This represents one quarter of the total food waste in the entire supply chain so it would seem prudent for agriculture and agricultural commodity boards to continue to play a socially responsible role, engaging in consumer awareness and education about proper product storage and menu planning suggestions.

Simple steps such as planning menus and using a shopping list can go a long way toward reducing wastage.

Municipalities are undertaking programs to raise consumer awareness and offer suggestions and tools for consumers to reduce “avoidable” food waste.

Vancouver has adopted a U.K.

Food Waste (courtesy of the Oshawa Organics Reduction Program) program called “Love Food, Hate Waste” www.metrovancouver.org /lfhw, a three-year program to raise awareness and offer resources including basic information about food storage tips for all kinds of food, five-day sample recipe planners, sizing guides, and how to use your freezer, all with the goal of helping consumers better purchase what they need to reduce waste. The City of Guelph offers a link to www.guelphfoodwaste.com with extensive information of its waste research project and tips on food storage. Tips include keeping fruits such as apples and bananas away from other foods to prevent premature spoilage and suggestions on which products should be stored in plastic, breathable plastic, and paper.

These are all useful tips for better storage life and quality protection.

Information on what Best Before dates mean on products and how to use them as a shelf-life guide is also important.

Food that is one day past its expiry date with a five day shelflife is far different from a product

that has a Best Before date a month in advance of purchase.

There are many factors that influence the consumer’s behaviour: a low value on food, not using a list to shop, not wanting to take risk with stored food, poor meal planning and eating out instead of dining at home. Education and awareness should address some of these behaviours. The best solutions would be to combine more prudent consumer purchasing and storage decisions along with a solution straight from your grandmother’s cook book: preparing a good old-fashioned stew or casserole -- the day before green bin waste is collected -- when you can use a myriad of products from the fridge and avoid waste.

Seldom are we presented with a problem where one aspect of the solution is to eat our way out.

Bruce Kelly is environmental program manager for Farm & Food Care.

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

RETAIL NAVIGATOR

Regional suppliers have opportunities

PETER CHAPMAN It can be a challenge to be a regional supplier. You do not have the presence of the large national players, it is tough to get the face time you need to develop a relationship and the time it takes for retailers to respond is usually longer. The reality is that if you are five per cent of the national category you will not be on the top of their list of things to do. You can move yourself up the list if you are a source of regional information.

Category managers and others in the office do not get out to the stores, especially the stores that are further away, very often. You need to make it part of your job to get in the stores and pass along information about pricing, merchandising, events and store openings. If you see a retail in the ad that is not the typical ad retail, then that is important too.

Do not expect a call back but just drop them a voice mail or an email to let them know you saw something happening in the market. They will appreciate it and it all adds up to building the relationship. You are in the market. They are not so keep them up-to-date.

Share what you see in the competition Category managers need to understand what their competition

is doing. If you see a new brand in the market, a new merchandising technique at a store opening or other significant changes to a category let them know. Again it is just a quick voice mail to say “I was into the new ABC store and they are really taking a new approach to category XYZ.” In the world we live in today, you might have even had the chance to take a quick photo that can be emailed.

This gives them the information about what is happening and the option to go and see it for themselves.

Share your travel photos I always encourage people to visit grocery stores and take some photos when they travel. You can learn so much and really see some things you never would have considered. It is really beneficial when you have the opportunity to visit some places further away.

You can share a select few of these with your category manager. Keep it realistic so that you share ideas that have a chance in our market. This is also a great way to start a conversation about something you can do. If you send a photo of something you know you can do and they comment on it, you are ready with the answer that you have a solution.

Industry news You don’t want a reputation as being the town gossip but if something happens in the industry and you know your category manager would want to know, give them a call or send an email.

Perhaps someone (or better their boss) receives an award at a conference you attend that you know the category manager missed. That is a great chance to keep them informed.

Trade shows are valuable Often you attend a trade show and see some interesting ideas.

Some could be packaging, new sizes or line extensions. You can share some of this with the category manager to let them know what the new trends are. It is also an opportunity to ask them what they think. Before you spend time and money developing something, you can ask if they see it as a possibility in the store.

Regardless of whether you send them anything, you should leave a trade show with a list of interesting ideas. They might ask the next time you see them and you look much better if you can answer the question, “What did you see at the show?”

Part of your job is to make them look good All of these suggestions to provide information will allow your category manager to do their job better or be more knowledgeable. They are also great opportunities to improve the relationship you have. Don’t do it too often. Find the right opportunities that really will resonate with them. It is also another point of contact for you between the face-to-face meetings where you can add value.

If you have ideas that are effective it would be great to learn more. You can send them to me at pchapman@gpsbusiness.ca.

May 6th that Sobeys will be moving to a new structure. They will operate three divisions across the country; Western Business Unit, Ontario and Atlantic Business Unit and the Quebec Business Unit.

This will be a change for suppliers who used to deal with different banners in the west as they will now all be under one structure. It is unclear at this time what it means for Ontario and Atlantic regional suppliers. My hope is Sobeys will maintain the appropriate presence in the regions to work with suppliers.

As we learn more about these changes and the impact on suppliers I will share them.

WHAT’S IN STORE Walmart produce As Walmart continues to grow their fresh business, they are using signage at the shelf to let consumers know they are out of stock. Personally I have always been a fan of being up front and letting the consumer know if you

are out of stock. I could never understand facing over holes so that people wander around hoping to find the item they are looking for. It does look better but in the end it is the customer we operate stores for, so why not save them the aggravation.

There are opportunities to improve the in-stock position in these stores. If you are a supplier to Walmart and you see these signs where your item is supposed to be, you should check into it because they expect you to be part of the solution.

Peter Chapman is a retail consultant, professional speaker and the author of A la cart-A suppliers’ guide to retailers’ priorities. Peter is based in Halifax NS, where he is the principal at GPS Business Solutions. Peter works with producers and processors to help them navigate through the retail environment with the ultimate goal to get more of their items in the shopping cart. pchapman@gpsbusiness.ca.

RETAIL NEWS

Sobeys announces changes to structure Canadian Grocer reported on

USDA to prepare non-GMO label KAREN DAVIDSON At the request of a leading global company, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is developing certification and labeling for foods free of genetically modified ingredients.

Led by the Agricultural Marketing Service, companies would have to pay for the “USDA Process Verified” label along with a claim that the food is GMO-free.

Several American media outlets reported that agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack released the news to employees on May 1.

To date, there have been no government labels in the U.S. or Canada that certify a food as GMO-free.

Your Hard Work is a Work of Art.

Many companies, including some in Canada, currently use a label developed by the non-profit Non-GMO Project.

The wait is over! We’re proud to reveal this year’s group trip is to two world-class cities: Rome and Florence. Let Italy sweep you off your feet with its architecture, museums, and of course, delicious cuisine. Just remember your camera... and all those rewarding Hot Potatoes points that you can redeem for the group trip or cash.

Visit Hot-Potatoes.ca or call 1 877-661-6665 for more information.

PAGE 12 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

FIELD DAY

Garlic growers working hard to meet demand MARK WALES With about 800 acres planted to garlic in Ontario every year, growers still haven’t peaked in fulfilling demand. We estimate 10,000 acres are needed.

That’s reason enough for members of the Garlic Growers’ Association of Ontario to attend the annual field day to be held June 20 at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus.

The morning agenda consists of a series of workshops on stem and bulb nematode biology, leek moth biology, clean seed, weed management, cover crops and growing garlic from greenhouse transplants.

The afternoon will feature wagon tours of the various garlic research plots.

OMAFRA researchers will look at nematode-suppressing cover crops, a hot water seed treatment trial for managing stem and bulb nematodes, leek moth management with floating row covers, various French garlic varieties, and growing garlic on

raised beds and mulches from greenhouse garlic transplants.

This promises to be a busy and

informative day for growers not only from Ontario, but Quebec and Michigan as well.

Equipment displays by local manufacturers

are always a draw.

Mark Wales is chair, Garlic Growers’ Association of Ontario.

Bulb and stem nematode: the bane of garlic KAREN DAVIDSON Last year, some Ontario garlic

growers lost their entire crop to bulb and stem nematode says Mike Celetti, OMAFRA’s plant pathologist, horticultural crops

program lead. Wet and cool weather favoured the soil-borne pest.

Ditylenchus dipsaci infested bulb. Photo courtesy Guy Belair.

Known to researchers as Ditylenchus dipsaci, the parasite has been shown to infest as much as 50 per cent of the crop in Ontario and Quebec. Guy Belair, Horticulture Research and Development Centre, Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu, confirms these findings in the Montérégie area of Québec where about 129 acres are grown.

The pest is difficult to control because it overwinters in seed and soil. Planting clean seed is the best way to proceed.

The hot water treatment is gaining interest but is finicky to perform within the temperature parameters, especially with large lots of seed. As Celetti explains, “the seed must be submerged for 20 minutes at 47° C. The trick is that if you go to 52° or 53° C, the germ in the clove will be killed.”

A problem is that if a large bundle of seed is submerged, the temperature will drop in the water bath. Bringing the temperature back up is frustrating without overshooting the ideal range.

“Too hot and you’ll kill the seed,” says Celetti. “ Too cool,

and you won’t kill the nematode.”

Working with University of Guelph’s John Zandstra at the Ridgetown campus, Celetti experimented with this hot water method of treatment and planted two batches of garlic seed. One batch was soaked at 55° C temperature and planted out. This crop had poor emergence. The second batch was soaked at 45° C temperature and planted out. This crop germinated but the expectation is for nematodes to be found in the soil. Nematode soil counts will be taken from samples this month or in July.

In the same plots, seed grown from tissue culture was planted.

“These plots appear way ahead of the others,” says Celetti. “The bulbs will be commercially, nematode-free.”

Current advice to garlic growers is to buy fresh seed every year or every other year.

Both Mike Celetti and Guy Belair will be presenting their research results at the Garlic Growers of Ontario Field Day on June 20.

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER

PAGE 14 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

POTATOES

2015 late blight strategy EUGENIA BANKS III. EARLY SEASON • Make sure there are no cull piles in your farm.

Late blight is a community disease. A single cull pile can cause an epidemic with serious economic losses for many growers.

Monitor sites where cull potatoes were buried, and eliminate any volunteer potatoes.

• Start your fungicide program early.

Begin a fungicide program early, when plants are 12-15cm tall. Alternate fungicides from different chemical groups to delay the development of resistance. Spray cymoxanil (Curzate) at 80 per cent emergence if the field is at high risk of late blight.

• Keep new growth protected.

New growth is a good target for late blight, especially the growing point where water persists for longer periods after a rain.

• Try to achieve good spray coverage.

Calibrate your sprayer and use a volume of water that will insure even coverage of the canopy.

• Start scouting fields early.

Scouting should start shortly after crop emergence. Risky areas that should always be monitored are: - Low-lying areas that tend to be wet for long periods after rainfall.

- Compacted areas - Rows close to tree lines - Field edges along creeks or ponds - Pivot center points and pivot wheel tracks. Look closely at the plants under the first tower of center pivots. This area remains wet for long periods than farther out on the boom.

- Weedy areas - Windward sides of fields. Windborne spores may blow in and infect here.

- Any area that is protected from the wind where leaves tend to remain wet longer.

Walk the wheel tracks of center pivots because these tracks usually remain damp or wet after other parts of the field have dried.

• Monitor last years’ potato fields for volunteers.

Volunteer potato plants may be common where soil temperatures do not reach -4°C to -6°C four to six inches deep during the winter. Use labeled broadleaf herbicides where possible to suppress growth of volunteer potatoes in rotational crops.

• Destroy hot spots.

If late blight is found in a localized spot, destroy all diseased plants plus a border of surrounding plants. You can pull and bag the diseased plants, spray them with a herbicide, or disk the area. If you decide to disk the hot spot, spray the crop with a fungicide before disking to avoid spreading spores on farm equipment while driving out of the field. Pressure wash the equipment when finished.

IV MID-SEASON • Scout your fields.

Keep scouting fields regularly. By midseason, rows are closed and the lower

Potato leaf lesion part of the plants remains wet for long periods after a rain. This allows late blight spores to germinate and initiate infections.

Pick plants at random in risky areas, and check the base of the stems for blight.

Particular attention to should be given to scouting after a cool, rainy period • Check for alternate hosts.

Hairy nightshade is a host of late blight.

This weed is becoming more common in Ontario, and may be found growing at the edges of potato fields. Infected nightshades spread spores to neighboring potato fields.

Destroy this weed as soon as you find it.

• Manage irrigation.

Try to irrigate late at night or early in the morning so that foliage can dry quickly during daytime hours.

• Continue the fungicide program alternating fungicides of different chemical families.

• Check the spray coverage.

Make sure the spray coverage is even on the canopy. Put sticky paper disks sensitive to pH in the canopy to evaluate spray coverage in the field.

Photo by Glenn Lowson VI. HARVEST • Determine the level of tuber infection in the field prior to harvest.

If there was late blight in the field, dig samples of tubers from the affected areas before digging the whole field. Do not harvest areas where you found more than two per cent tuber infection. In fields that looked healthy during the season, do dig tests at random. Make sure to include risky areas of fields.

• Harvest when vines are completely dead.

Make sure that vines are completely dead before harvest. The late blight fungus does not survive in dead vines.

Harvest when skin is set. Minimizing skinning, cuts and bruises will reduce the likelihood of tuber infection. Although late blight does not need a wound to infect tubers, infection is more likely to occur in damaged areas. There is no skin to protect the tuber, and the area remains wet for an extended period.

• Avoid harvesting during wet conditions.

VII. STORAGE

• Destroy hot spots.

If late blight is found in a localized spot in a field, top kill the spot plus a six-foot border of surrounding plants. Surrounding plants might be infected but symptoms have not developed yet. It takes three to four days for symptoms to develop after infection.

• Grade out suspicious tubers.

If tuber infection is about two per cent, your best option is to market the crop immediately. If this is not possible, store the potatoes near the door to move them easily and quickly.

V. LATE SEASON

• Remove vines, soil clogs and anything else that may interfere with air distribution in the pile

• Keep scouting your fields.

Particular attention should be given to scouting after a cool, rainy weather. This is important for detection of late season infections.

• Kill hot spots or field.

Rain washes spores down cracks in the soil into the tuber zone. If heavy rain is forecast, consider top killing infected fields before it rains to reduce the risk of tuber infection.

•Top kill vines at least two weeks before harvest.

The vines should be completely dead before digging to reduce the risk of tuber infection. Green vines may be releasing spores of late blight that can infect tubers at harvest.

• Postharvest treatment when storing tubers.

Fungicides containing phosphorous acid will protect healthy tubers from late blight infections occurring at harvest. Ensure even coverage with the fungicide. Follow label rate and recommendations.

• Dry out wet tubers.

If late blight was present in the field, it is very important to dry the wet tubers quickly.

- Provide high volumes of airflow throughout the pile. This is critical during the early storage period.

- It may be necessary to run the fans continuously with reduced or no humidity until tubers are completely dry.

- Market the potatoes early otherwise

there will be increased pressure bruising and shrinkage losses in potatoes stored under low humidity • Monitor storage daily.

Bad odor and wet spots indicate storage problems. Examine diseased tubers. A dry, granular light brown rot under the skin is the typical symptom of late blight in tubers. If hot spots develop, supply additional air to those areas and try to remove the potatoes as soon as possible.

Holding potatoes at temperatures below 7°C may reduce development of late blight in storage, but this can have a significant impact on the market use of potatoes.

NOTES ON FUNGICIDE APPLICATIONS Best results are obtained by timely fungicide applications made before disease appears. Once late blight develops in a field, it will not go away.

Timing of fungicide applications.

For a successful late blight management program, the crop must be protected with a fungicide - effective on late blight - before late blight spores are blown into the field.

Spray coverage.

Spray coverage should be even, with no skips or areas untreated.

Spray Intervals.

Intervals should be as short as three or four days if the weather is conducive to late blight and disease pressure is high. Potato growth is fast when the weather is favorable for late blight. If warm, dry weather prevails, intervals can be extended according to crop growth.

Fungicides registered for late blight.

Consult OMAFRA Publication 838, “Vegetable Production Recommendations” for the list of fungicides registered to control late blight.

Consult OMAFRA publication 823: Potato Field Guide, Insects, Diseases and Defects for late blight identification.

Eugenia Banks is potato specialist, OMAFRA. Editor’s note: This is the continuation of the 2015 late blight strategy printed in the May issue.

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

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PAGE 16 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING

New packaging results in less post-consumer waste

British Columbia sales reps Robin Jayetileke (left) and Sim Buttar staffed a booth at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention. A & B Packing Equipment also exhibited at the recent Canadian Produce Marketing Association trade show in Montreal. Photo by Denis Cahill.

KAREN DAVIDSON The hinged clamshell is on its way out in favour of the lidless, film-sealed punnet. That’s according to Josh Gray, senior sales and applications engineer for Michigan-based A & B Packing Company. With business on both sides of the border, he’s watching the fruit and vegetable industry transform how produce

is packed more efficiently with high food safety standards and less post-consumer waste in mind.

The family-owned business in Lawrence, Michigan, originally made its name in packing equipment for blueberries and small, round delicate fruit such as grape tomatoes and sweet cherries. As it has evolved since 1995, founder and CEO Bob Williamson has brought his

practical, problem-solving experience to customers. He started with a 40-acre blueberry farm himself, and now has grown to more than 100 employees to build and service equipment for a broad range of products.

“We service all sizes of packing sheds that service farms ranging in size from two to five acres to 2,000 acres,” says Gray.

“Our packing machinery focuses on high-speed weigh-and-fill systems that can accurately hit any target weight needed.”

“Custom packaging is the trend with different styles and shapes to differentiate produce in the marketplace,” says Gray.

“Those needs bring great challenges to packing equipment manufacturers. Today’s packaging ranges from flowwrapped to heat-sealed, shrinkwrapped containers. To-go snacking cups are popular with four ounces of blueberries or grape tomatoes.

Recently we have worked with Canadian clients who wanted to stand out on the grocery shelves by using a custom lidless punnet with a heat-sealed film top. While A&B Packing does not offer any film-seal machines, we were able to develop several customized punnet de-nesting systems to accommodate their new punnets, and greatly reduce their labour costs.”

This past spring, the company acquired Lakewood Process Machinery, well-known for its expertise in the processed and

frozen produce industries. This company has innovations in sizing, de-stemming, conveying, washing and drying in the agricultural industry. Together,

these companies will provide the best machinery and service in both the fresh and processing markets.

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• Berry Boxes • Waxed Cartons • Crop Protection Material

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING

Colour-coded bags benefit entire supply chain KAREN DAVIDSON About 10 years ago, Norfolk County potato grower Steve Fett had a bright idea: colour coding potato bags. The idea germinated when he visited a retailer warehouse. At that time, all the conventional potatoes were packaged in white bags but the warehouse staff took a lot of time picking out the whites from the reds from the yellows to fulfill orders.

Fett decided to package his potatoes in the corresponding colours of white, red and yellow to speed up the loading and picking process. This simple change meant that warehouse staff didn’t have to take down several skids from an 18-foot high stack to access the potato varietals on the order. The result? Fett’s potatoes were often picked first and moved out of the warehouse at a faster rate than competitors.

The same benefits accrue at the retail store level. When a produce manager is taking inventory once a week, it’s easier to make the count.

“Sales of those colour-coded bags increased by 60 per cent,” says Fett.

With 280 acres of potatoes at La Salette, he’s now growing

“Sales of those colour-coded bags increased by 60 per cent.” ~ Steve Fett

more specialty potatoes such as Russian fingerlings for a higher margin. For blue potatoes, he’s added blue packaging.

The addition of specialty potatoes has required a two-pound weighing and bagging unit. At $300,000, this unit has to pay for itself with a higher-valued product. Today, a five-pound polybag of potatoes is retailing for 99 cents while a two-pound polybag of fingerlings is retailing for $4.99. Fett wants a higher percentage of his potatoes in this higher-value category.

“The two-pound and five-pound bags are our biggest sellers,” he says.

While hurdles exist in exporting to the U.S., he’s finding

Colour-coded bags of red, yellow and white potatoes make it easy for buyers at the Ontario Food Terminal. that specialty potatoes have a market in Michigan and New York states. Those markets want to buy local, too, but his differentiated potatoes in distinctive packaging are making a hit at such retailers as Whole

Foods and Wegman’s.

Steve and his wife Paula may be trying to retire, but it isn’t too late to introduce new packaging.

This season, he’s sourced a paper bag with a pull-up handle that’s much easier to carry than ones

with flat, sewn tops.

“The idea is to make it easier for shoppers to heft a 10-pound paper bag,” Fett says. For the retail grocers, it’s an advantage to have a recyclable bag that’s easier to carry.

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PAGE 18 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING

Greenhouse grower launches first compostable container KAREN DAVIDSON Red Sun Farms is about to launch its first compostable, fully recyclable, pint container for organic grape tomatoes on July 1. It’s fitting that on Canada Day, the container is made from 100 per cent pulp fibre from eastern Canada.

“We expect that these fibre pints will appear with other organically grown items in the produce department,” says Harold Paivarinta, director of sales and business development for Red Sun Farms, Kingsville, Ontario. “We didn’t want an exclusive that would prohibit other organic growers access to this pack option.”

It was a chance meeting with CFK Inc., a Canadian packaging company, at a trade show a year ago that led to the collaborative effort. CFK Inc. is the manufacturer of moulded pulp packaging products such as Royal Chinet plates.

“CFK is one of those quiet Canadian success stories,” says Shannon Boase, director, market development, CFK Inc. “They have been manufacturing in Canada since 1933 with plants not only in Nova Scotia, but Ontario and British Columbia.”

The Earthcycle brand encompasses smooth moulded pulp packaging for produce and foodservice items using a blend of wood pulp, including up to 20 per cent (pre-consumer) recycled content. Earthcycle branded products can be composted or included in the newspaper recycling stream. That’s an extra bonus for those consumers who have a backyard composter.

“The farming community may know CKF from the iconic green pulp containers that are often found at farmers’ markets,” says Boase.

“Philosophically, ethically, we are now aligned with the consumer with our organic

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Use all th he chemicals you purchase

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Bag Closing Systems, Sales, Service, Parts

grape tomatoes and its packaging,” says Paivarinta. “Since we are NAFTA-based, with operations in Mexico, the United States and Canada, it makes sense to use NAFTAbased materials. We could have sourced offshore but we believe in supporting the economies in which we operate. These containers cost just a little more than offshore product.”

The new packaging has been demonstrated to select retail partners with a positive response. Major grocers have their own sustainability initiatives, so it’s important to align with them and demonstrate the metrics of product packaging. According to CFK data, the Earthcycle packaging emits 53 per cent fewer greenhouse emissions than a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) product which is common in bottles and produce clamshells.

Paivarinta says that the collaborative process was a learning curve with a lot of nuances on the constraints of the pint dimensions. While the product may not be as visible, the thin veneer of film is highly graphic. The package and contents have performed beyond expectations, says Paivarinta, with up to 21 days shelf-life, post-harvest.

This packaging initiative is in total sync with the organic line that Red Sun has developed in a soil-based medium. These are not hydroponically-grown grape tomatoes to meet organic credentials within NAFTA. The company has grown organic grape tomatoes in Mexico for three years, in the United States for two years and is now trialing them in Canada.

Due to positive response from retail and foodservice partners, Red Sun Farms is expanding organic acreage at all three farm locations.

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

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING

Long live the wooden bushel basket for farm-fresh produce

Top: At the Ontario Food Terminal, Ron Melnyk gives a thumbs-up for eggplant and peppers in bushel baskets. Bottom photo: peaches The explosion of farmers’ markets – what town doesn’t hold one? – is a good reason for the resurgence of wooden bushel baskets. With more roadside stands tempting cottagers in the summer, the ubiquitous basket is a testament to its resilience, recyclability and rustic charm.

Ginseng

Peas

“The baby boomers are reaching retirement,” says Paul Hincks, Wellington Wood Products, “and they’re more health-conscious. They want fresh, local produce and they’re willing to spend the time to purchase it. They’re not looking for the plastic packaging of a large

grocery store.”

Hincks says that his grower customers are more optimistic this year with the lower value of the Canadian dollar vis-à-vis U.S. dollar. Some are growing more produce with hopes that Canadian grocers will buy at rates that are favourable

Photos by Glenn Lowson

to U.S. purchases.

Wellington Wood Products carry a wide range of containers for the 2015 season.

Go to www.wwp.on.ca.

PECO Pallet now offers half pallets in Canada Earlier this year, PECO Pallet announced it is now providing half-size (48x20) wood block pallets for its customers in Canada. Pallets can be shipped within 72 hours of order.

The half-size pallet is popular with Canadian retailers because its smaller footprint makes it ideal for in-store merchandise displays and end-cap promotions. Floor-ready product displays can be built and shipped directly to retailers for display. It is a full four-way, multiple-use block pallet built of responsibly harvested North American timber. It weighs about 28 pounds and is rated at a 1,400 lb capacity.

“At PECO Pallet, we pride ourselves on listening and responding to the needs of our customers,” says David Lee, president and chief executive officer of PECO Pallet.

“By introducing the half-size pallet, we now provide a 100 per cent high-quality

pallet solution for renters and retailers in Canada.”

PECO’s distinctive red block pallets are used to ship fresh produce across North America. The authorized distributor network now covers more than 90 per cent of Canada’s grocery retailers including Loblaw, Walmart Canada, Sobeys, Metro and Costco.

Once pallets are empty, they are picked up and returned to a PECO depot, where they are inspected, cleaned and repaired as needed before being reissued. This sustainable practice helps to reduce waste, cut costs and improve safety and efficiency throughout the supply chain. For more information, visit www.pecopallet.com.

Right: Celery is harvested in Ontario’s Holland Marsh. Photo by Glenn Lowson.

Plastic zip-lock bag for asparagus under trial Vortex Packaging Niagara Inc. has developed a plastic, slide-lock bag for asparagus. The slide lock is handy, in that the consumer can take out a serving portion and easily close the bag and put it back into the refrigerator. The benefit is that asparagus keeps fresher and longer by several days. The bag retains moisture which helps to rehydrate the stalks which retain their snap.

“I would venture to say that in a refrigerated counter situation, a chain store would not need water, so this could add a unique display and eliminate food safety issues at retail,” says Phil Short, Vortex Packaging.

“Our first major interest is coming from the United States,” says Short. “We hope that our ‘asparagus in a bag’ will help growers/packers improve on

freshness especially with long distance shipping. We are looking forward to this unique marketing concept.”

PAGE 20 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

FOCUS: CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING

Save a bundle with labeling compliance JEFFREY HONEY Here’s an OOPS! that shouldn’t have happened.

Someone sent the Ontario Produce Marketing Association a label that was questioned by a retail chain for being out of compliance with federal regulations.

• The label for this consumersized package was not completely bilingual.

• It did not show the correct Canada grade name.

• It did not have the country of origin listed.

• The address did not include a postal code.

• The French name of the commodity was not spelled correctly.

That’s five criteria which weren’t fulfilled after the contract was signed. The error cost $20,000 in printing.

You should be aware that many of the retail distribution centres in Ontario are now looking at labelling compliance. All of the required information is out there, if you know where to look.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website has information to guide you through label design by visiting http://ow.ly/MRnUL. From this page, you can also find the requirements for prepackaged containers by visiting http://ow.ly/MRod6.

The CFIA also states very clearly that “At any time, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency may randomly inspect any food product to ensure that minimum requirements (grade, labelling, standard containers and health standards) are met.”

Section 10 of the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Regulations also states that labels must also conform to the requirements of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations, which can be reviewed by visiting http://ow.ly/MRoyE. Section 6 (2) of these regulations states that: “All information required by the Act and these Regulations to be shown on the label of a prepackaged product shall be shown in both official

languages except that the identity and principal place of business of the person by or for whom the prepackaged product was manufactured, processed, produced or packaged for resale may be shown in one of the official languages.”

There is also a Labelling Tool available by visiting http://ow.ly/MRq45. It will also help you through the process.

And finally, there are only 30 commodities for which Canada grade names exist. All other commodities cannot use the Canada grade name on either shipping containers or consumer-size packages. To see the entire list, visit http://ow.ly/MRqsT. Examples of commodities that should never have a Canada grade name declared on the package include the following: green onions, peppers, zucchini, leeks, radishes, leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, garlic, Swiss chard. So don’t put one on the box!

Please do your homework before you sign that cheque to the packaging or label manufacturer.

New study exposes extra costs for shipping onions in RPCs DAVID ANDREWS A recent study sponsored by the US-based Corrugated Packaging Alliance has analyzed the cost to ship 40 million pounds of onions from the American Pacific Northwest to Columbus, Ohio. It assessed the use of corrugated containers vs. reusable plastic containers (RPCs).

Actual data provided by a large onion grower confirmed that using RPCs instead of corrugated containers increased their annual shipping costs by 10.4 per cent system-wide.

The study also showed that grower-shippers shoulder a hefty cost increase. They shell out 15.4 percent ($0.17/case) more to ship the same amount of onions in RPCs vs. corrugated. Retailers are not exempt – they spend 9.9 percent ($0.61/case) more to receive those onions in RPCs than in corrugated containers.

“Corrugated, the proven and preferred single-use transport packaging material, remains the most

economical and best choice for shipping onions, as well as other products,” according to Dennis Colley, executive director of the Corrugated Packaging Alliance.

While some retailers may prefer RPCs, the study clearly indicates that, within the complicated supply chain process, RPCs can add significant costs. And, while the RPC industry has attempted to discredit the study based on its sample size, conducting the study another 100 times would not change the empirical evidence.

Choosing corrugated containers enables both retailers and grower-shippers to save money due to optimized freight loads, reduced damage from collapsed pallets and loads, and the avoided cost of washing, sanitizing and drying containers.

For more information about the study visit cccabox.ca or corrugated.org.

David Andrews is executive director, Canadian Corrugated and Containerboard Association.

Follow the guidelines that are provided.

And if all of this is too confusing, you can also have your label reviewed by OPMA before you

send it off to the printer.

Jeffrey Honey is director of inspection services, Ontario Produce Marketing Association.

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JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER

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PAGE 22 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

Pest of the month: corn earworm ELAINE RODDY Scientific Name: Helicoverpa zea Identification The corn earworm adult is a buff or tan-coloured moth with a wingspan of 3.5 to 4 cm (1.25 to 1.5 inches). The forewing may have several darker markings and always has a central brown dot, clearly visible on the underside of the wing and faintly visible from the top. The hindwings are very pale in colour, with a darker brown border. Eyes of living moths are bright green and fade to dull olive green or brown a few days after death. There is no easy way to differentiate male from female moths.

Eggs are laid individually.

Each egg is nearly spherical and about the same colour and diameter as a corn silk.

Larvae will grow up to 3.7 cm (1 ½ in.) long, with a prominent double stripe running the length of their bodies. They range in colour from pale or greenishyellow to pinkish-brown.

Earworm normally feed only on the kernels of sweet corn, beginning by feeding at the tip of the ear and moving down the ear as they grow. Feeding is almost always confined to the top third of the ear. Fecal matter is found

as large moist pellets in the silk channel and at the ear tip.

Biology Corn earworm do not overwinter in Ontario; they commonly overwinter on cotton and corn crops in the southern states. Each spring the adults move north on trade winds. Depending on weather patterns and the size and location of the overwintering populations, they may arrive in southern Ontario from early June to mid-August.

Female moths lay their eggs on fresh corn silks. One female can lay up to 100 eggs per night over 10 nights. The eggs incubate for two to 10 days, depending on temperature. After hatching the small larvae travel directly down the silk channel and complete all instars feeding on the kernels, protected by the husks. The larvae feed for two to four weeks.

Sweet corn fields are generally harvested before the larvae pupate.

Corn earworm will not normally enter a second generation in Ontario, however; continued movement of fresh populations from the south will often contribute to sustained pressure throughout the late-summer and early fall.

Resistance to pyrethroid insecticides has been confirmed across North America. Research studies

indicate that due to a southern “source” of resistant corn earworm, the level of resistance experienced in the northern United States and Canada is expected to be relatively stable from year to year.

Earworm activity is highest in hot weather conditions. Peak flights and egg laying often occur

Figure 1. Heliothis trap (R) hartstack trap (L)

Moths per trap per week

Spray Intervals Daily Maximum Temperature < 27°C (81°F)

27°C (81°F)

1- 6

5- 7 days

>5- 7 days

7- 90

5 days

4 days

More than 90

4 days

3 days

immediately after severe thunderstorms.

Scouting notes Hartstack traps have been proven up to three times more effective than the traditionally used heliothis trap (Figure 1).

Use one hartstack trap per location. Ideally, arrange to have two trapping locations spread out on the farm.

Traps must be placed near freshly silking corn. As the silks begin to dry down, move the trap to a new site. Place the trap in the field by mid-July (earlier in southwestern Ontario). Replace lures every two weeks. Corn

earworm trapping is most effective if done on an individual farm basis. Regionally-based trapping programs will not always reflect localized populations.

Thresholds Use pheromone traps to monitor corn earworm populations.

Insecticide applications are based on the number of moths caught per week and the average temperatures.

• Good spray coverage of the rapidly growing silks is important.

• Due to pyrethroid resistance in North American corn earworm populations, do not rely solely on pyrethroid sprays for control.

• Pyrethroid sprays break down quickly under high temperature conditions, and more frequent spray applications are required.

• Beneficial insects and biological insecticides may help to suppress corn earworm pressure in organic sweet corn.

Management notes • Sweet corn is only susceptible to corn earworm damage while the silks are green.

Elaine Roddy is vegetable crops specialist for OMAFRA, Ridgetown.

Brown marmorated stink bug adults active now HANNAH FRASER Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) adults have been steadily moving out of their overwintering sites since mid-April and have been captured in a pheromone trap located in one of our

hot spots in Hamilton, Ontario, over the last couple of weeks.

Adults have also been collected off garden plants in the same area, where some feeding injury has occurred.

Include

BMSB in scouting activities for early crop pests, particularly in peaches. Make sure to monitor border areas and check for BMSB on buckthorn, which seem to be an important season-long host in

Ontario.

As of 2014, BMSB has been identified as established in the Hamilton / Burlington area, Windsor, London, St. Catharines and Newboro. Surveys conducted

by OMAFRA, the University of Guelph and Agriculture and AgriFood Canada in 2013-2014 have also trapped this pest on farms located in Beamsville, Niagaraon-the-Lake, Niagara Falls, St. David's, Waterdown, Smithville, Cedar Springs, Essex. In addition, there have been numerous homeowner finds in Brampton, Fort Erie, Grimsby, Oakville (photos only), Milton, Niagara Falls, Stoney Creek, Toronto, Vaughan, Cedar Springs, Welland (photos only), Delhi, Kincardine, Maidstone, Paris, Tecumseh, Ottawa and most recently in Kitchener.

We will be continuing our survey work in southern Ontario over the next few years (2015-

2017). The project “Sustainable Management and Survey for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Ontario “ which was submitted in response to the recent call under the OMAFRA - U of G Research Program has received funding.

For more information, visit our website at www.ontario.ca/ stinkbug and check for regular updates in Hort Matters.

Early detection is important to the long-term success of management programs. We need to have a better understanding of where this pest is and how well it is established. There is a monitoring network for this pest; however, we have a better chance of finding pockets of small populations if more people are looking.

Tracking the distribution and spread is essential. When BMSB is confirmed in a new location, this information can be added to distribution maps, providing growers in the area with an early

warning system.

A sample or high-quality pictures are required for identification. Pictures of BMSB and lookalikes can be found at www.ontario.ca/stinkbug. If you think you have found BMSB (particularly outside of the Hamilton area, where we have lots of data), contact the Agriculture Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or email ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca, and we will provide instructions on what to do with the sample.

To preserve the specimen, and to prevent it from becoming crushed or dried out, place it in a small container and freeze to kill it, or place it in rubbing alcohol or vinegar.

Hannah Fraser is horticultural crop entomologist, OMAFRA, Vineland.

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER

VEG FOCUS

Getting personal with earthworms ANNE VERHALLEN I am not sure how our summer students explain their summer job to friends and family. For the last few years we start them off with earthworm counts on the cover crop plots. It is a dirty and a bit time consuming job but quickly shows the impact different practices have on soil life. Every year the students ask questions that prompt me to go back to the literature for some interesting answers.

For example, application of manure or other organic amendments can increase earthworm numbers quickly, causing numbers to increase two to three times in one season.

However, they are sensitive to high levels of ammonia and salts so some liquid manure can reduce populations but only for a short period of time.

Darwin referred to earthworms as “nature's plow” while Aristotle called them "the intestines of the earth." Research has shown that in healthy, active soils about five per cent of the A horizon or basically the topsoil passes through the gut of worms per year. So they were right.

Earthworm pass soil through their bodies leaving behind casts - soil that is enriched with nutrients and bacteria. Have you ever noticed that the casts do not look the same? Apparently there are four different types of casts globular, a paste like slurry, tall vertical columns or heaps and a form that appears like pellets.

Earthworms are omnivores which means they can eat a variety of things from plant residues to occasionally animal remains.

Dew worms can withstand considerable starvation and water loss of up to 70 per cent of body weight - so some of those dried

worms on the sidewalk may come back.

Now what about the life cycle?

It might be because we ask the students to count, weigh and determine the sexual maturity of the worms - but I always get questions about how long they live and how may eggs that they can lay. Earthworms have the potential for a very long life cycle of 10 to 12 years but in the field they tend to only live one to two seasons due to predators and other things like tillage implements. This time of year is a busy time for most earthworms. While they are hermaphrodites most require another worm to fertilize the eggs. You will often see dew worms stretched out on the soil surface. They secrete a mucous sheath that holds them tightly together. After they both secrete sperm they will secrete some more mucous to form the egg cocoon. The dew worm

Earthworms help to break down residue from the previous crop and improve soil quality. reproduces slowly usually laying only one to two eggs at a time for a total of maybe 10 in a year.

Apparently the dew worm has a stocking rate and won't live close to others - probably because they are such voracious feeders on surface residues.

So if you come across tiny

worms that are white and only a few millimeters in length - these are probably newly hatched earthworms.

Anne Verhallen is soil management specialist, horticulture for OMFRA, Ridgetown.

The disconnect between soil and tissue tests CHRISTOPH KESSEL Soil and leaf tests are two important tools for monitoring crop nutrient needs.

However, at times the two reports seem to be at odds with each other. For example, a nutrient may be testing low in the soil while in the tissue it tests high.

Why is that?

It is important to remember that although the numbers from both tests are somewhat related, they don't necessarily reflect each other directly.

A soil test represents a bulk analysis, reporting what is potentially available to the crop.

It includes readily available nutrients dissolved in soil solution, those from exchange sites such as clay minerals and organic matter, and finally, what could be available from some less readily available sources.

Leaf analysis, on the other hand, represents nutrients taken up from within the rhizosphere, that small interface between root tips and the soil. In addition to nutrients taken up that season, leaf analysis also includes remobilized nutrients from within the

plant either from overwinter storage or other growing plant parts.

What is important, in making sense of both soil and leaf tests, is

to regularly monitor and document. Be consistent in your sampling and use the same laboratory every year for your analyses.

Christoph Kessel is horticulture crop nutrition program lead for OMAFRA, Ridgetown

Water efficiency videos REBECCA SHORTT This has been a dry winter in southern Ontario where most regions had less than 80 per cent of average precipitation in January through March. In addition, the very cold temperatures, sunshine and dry air means much of the snow pack sublimated instead of melting into the ground. Water tables are lower than average in some areas.

A new series of videos provides information on efficient irrigation. Use Google to search for, "irrigation OMAFRA" The first link on our irrigation page is for this new series of five videos on water efficiency. Each video is two minutes and packed with tips and techniques for getting the most out of your irrigation water.

The first two videos describe how to monitor and maintain a drip irrigation system. You will learn about flushing lines, and taking pressure and flow measurements. The methods described in the video use simple equipment, including pressure

gauges, plastic cups and graduated cylinders to measure and calculate the irrigation system Distribution Uniformity. This is a measurement that describes if each plant in your field is getting the same amount of water.

The last three videos describe how to select a soil moisture monitoring instrument, how to install it and how to interpret the readings you'll get. These three videos bring to life our Fact Sheet "Monitoring Soil Moisture to Improve Irrigation Decisions" which can also be found on our irrigation webpage. Find it by Googling "irrigation OMAFRA." Other horticultural topics now covered in video format include: greenhouse and nursery water management, pest management, bird bangers, wind machines and the complete how-to establish high-density apple orchards.

To see the entire suite of new horticultural videos use the link Ontario.ca/hortvideos Rebecca Shortt is water engineer for OMAFRA, Simcoe.

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PAGE 24 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

Report from the 13th Annual National Minor Use Priority Setting Workshop

Crop/Crop Group

Pest(s)

Product Solution

Active Ingredient Solution

Registrant

BIOPESTICIDE PROJECTS ** only four of these go forward after merit analysis GH tomatoes

Pepino mosaic virus

V10

PMV vaccine

Valto

Honeybee hives

Varroa mites

Hop Guard

k salts of hop beta acid

Mannlake

Outdoor and GH food and non-food crops

Insects, powdery mildew Ecotrol

rosemary, peppermint oil Keyplex

Several outdoor uses

Insects

Bioceres

Beauvaria bassiana

Anatis

GH crops

Loopers

Real Metarhizium 78OD

Metarhizium spp

Crop Defenders

GH vegetables, ornamen- Insects tals

Bio-Catch/Mycotal

Verticullium lecani

Stanes

Ornamentals

Moss

Moss-kade

lactic acid

Hortipro

GH tomatoes

Ripening

ethylene

Restrain

Restrain Ltd.

Outdoor food, non-food crops

Weeds

Matran

clove oil

Keyplex

WEED SCIENCE PROJECTS

Photo by Denis Cahill

JIM CHAPUT Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Centre (AAFC-PMC) hosted the 13th national minor use priority setting workshop in Ottawa during the 4th week of March.

This meeting brought together a wide range of participants from across Canada including university and federal researchers, crop extension specialists, provincial specialists, minor use coordinators, registrants, PMRA representatives, growers and grower organization representatives, processing companies and other stakeholders. In addition several individuals from the U.S. IR-4 program also attended the meeting.

The purpose of this meeting was to review the top minor use priorities identified by each of the provinces for all crops including ornamentals and to establish the top priority projects for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Centre (AAFC-PMC) to do work on in 2016.

A preliminary bacterial diseases workshop was held on the Monday afternoon, was well attended but did not identify many new management options.

The first full day of the minor use program covered pathology priorities, the second day covered entomology priorities and the third day covered weed science priorities. This year biopesticide priorities were reviewed at the beginning of each discipline day and based upon national interest, three potential biopesticides projects were chosen each day for a merit analysis that will eventually choose four biopesticides Category A projects for PMC to undertake.

For the conventional minor use needs for each of the 3 main pest management disciplines, only 10 top priorities (ranked as A’s) are chosen from a long list of identified crop protection product solutions. Additional

secondary priorities (ranked as B’s) were also chosen for each discipline each day.

The provincial minor use coordinators could also add 5 regional upgrade projects at the end of the process and the organic industry could also add two priority projects to the list of chosen projects.

Additional top crop/pest issues that did not have any identifiable solutions were also chosen to be part of minor use screening trials designed to find some useful solutions for growers. At this year’s meeting the top priorities chosen for this group (called APWS) included powdery mildew on haskaps, bulb rot on ornamental bulbs, weeds on haskaps, night-flowering catchfly on timothy, tarnished plant bug on organic strawberries and grapes and bark beetles on outdoor ornamentals.

The discussions, collaborations and decisions made at this meeting demonstrated the critical needs producers have and how the system can work to address them. Growers, researchers, registrants, provincial specialists and other stakeholders worked to reach consensus and negotiate needs. Overall the process was successful and now the next step is for AAFC-PMC to complete the minor use submissions that were agreed upon.

Additionally the provinces also have to follow up on a number of potential submissions and rationales for minor use needs.

The following table summarizes the projects agreed upon for each discipline. These projects will be submitted to the PMRA

by AAFC-PMC, and the data requirements completed in 20172018. Registration decisions for these will likely occur in late 2018 and 2019. A final version of the top projects will be available this summer on the AAFC-PMC website: www.agr.gc.ca/env /pest/index_e.php Jim Chaput is minor use coordinator, OMAFRA, Guelph

Red beets

Weeds

Lontrel

clopyralid

Dow

Carrots

Weeds

Pyroxasulfone

pyroxasulfone

K-I chemical

Onion, dry

Weeds (mineral soil)

Lontrel

clopyralid

Dow

Cherries

Weeds

Prism

rimsulfuron

DuPont

Blueberry, highbush

Weeds

Treevix

saflufenacil

BASF

Raspberry

Weeds

Dual Magnum

s-metolachlor

Syngenta

Saskatoon berry

Thistle

Lontrel

clopyralid

Dow

Bromegrass

Weeds

Enforcer M

fluroxpyr + bromoxynil + Nufarm mcpa

Hemp

Weeds

Edge

ethafluralin

Dow

Hemp (excluding Finola) Weeds

Brotex

bromoxynil

Ipco

Timothy

Night-flowering catchfly

APWS

TBD

TBD

Haskaps

Weeds

APWS

TBD

TBD

ENTOMOLOGY PROJECTS Celeriac

Mites

Agrimek

abamectin

Syngenta

Leeks

Mites

Oberon

spiromesifen

Bayer

GH bok choy

Whiteflies

Beleaf

flonicamid

ISK

Sweet cherry

SWD

Malathion

malathion

Loveland

Blueberry, highbush

SWD

Malathion

malathion

Loveland

Caneberry

SWD

Malathion

malathion

Loveland

Strawberry

Thrips

Beleaf

flonicamid

ISK

Mint

Mites

Acramite

bifenazate

Macdermid

Xmas trees

Spruce spider mite

Sultan

cyflumetofen

BASF

GH Ornamentals

Thrips

IKI 3106

cyclaniliprole

ISK

Outdoor ornamentals

Bark beetles

APWS

TBD

TBD

PLANT PATHOLOGY PROJECTS Carrots

Nematodes

Luna Privilege

fluopyram

Bayer

Ginseng/ radish

Nematodes

Luna Privilege

fluopyram

Bayer

Lettuce, leaf

Bacterial leaf spot

Cueva

copper

Neudorff

GH pepper

Powdery mildew

Pyriofenone

pyriofenone

ISK

Cherry

Cytospora canker

Inspire Super

cyprodinil + difenoconazole

Syngenta

Peach

Scab, brown rot

Inspire Super

cyprodinil + difenoconazole

Syngenta

Plum

Cytospora canker, black knot

Inspire Super

cyprodinil + difenoconazole

Syngenta

Blueberry, lowbush

Rust

A15457B

solatenol

Syngenta

Caneberry

Fruit rots

Fracture

blad

FMC

Haskaps

Powdery mildew

APWS

TBD

TBD

GH ornamentals

Powdery mildew

Fracture

blad

FMC

Ornamental bulbs

Bulb rot

APWS

TBD

TBD

REGIONAL UPGRADE PROJECTS Cranberries (MARITIMES)

Fruit rots

Switch

cyprodinil + fludioxonil

Syngenta

Potato, organic (QC)

Potato beetle

APWS

TBD

TBD

Pepper (ON)

Corn borer

Pyganic

pyrethrins

MGK

Field peas (PRAIRIES)

Aphanomyces

Intego Solo (ST)

ethaboxam

Valent

Sweet cherry (BC)

Thrips

Beleaf

flonicamid

ISK

ORGANIC PRIORITIES Strawberry

Tarnished plant bug

APWS

TBD

TBD

Grapes

Japanese beetle

APWS

TBD

TBD

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 25 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

Delegate insecticide controls insects on several crops Crop JIM CHAPUT The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of URMULE registrations for Delegate insecticide for control of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) on berries and several insects on greenhouse vegetables in Canada.

Delegate insecticide was already labeled for use on a number of crops in Canada for control of insects.

These various minor use projects were submitted by Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia between 2010 and 2014 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel.

The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should be making pest management decisions within a robust IPM program and should consult the complete label before using Delegate insecticide.

Delegate insecticide is toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment, drift or residues on flowering

Fracture for control of powdery mildew FMC Agricultural Solutions recently launched Fracture fungicide, a new broad-spectrum biological fungicide labeled for the prevention and control of powdery mildew and botrytis on grapes, strawberries and tomatoes and blossom blight in stone fruits. Fracture fungicide with ProBlad technology introduces a novel active ingredient that is a naturally occurring polypeptide protein derived from germinating sweet lupine.

“Since announcing Biosolutions as a strategic initiative for FMC, we have been working hard to find the right, truly biological source to launch this division in Canada,” said Mark McMillan, FMC business manager for eastern Canada.

“We feel that Fracture fungicide will be a strong asset in the fungicide market, both among biological and traditional fungicides.”

Fracture fungicide introduces a completely new mode of action to disease management, providing decisive, multi-site control in a way that no other fungicide can claim.

Fracture will be distributed by UAP. Source: FMC Agricultural Solutions news release

Target

Rate (g/ha)

Caneberries (raspberries, blackberries)

Spotted winged drosophila (SWD)

Bushberries (blueberries, saskatoons, currants, elderberries, gooseberries, edible honeysuckle, sea buckthorn, etc)

SWD

Low growing berries (strawberries, bearberries, bilberries, cloudberries, etc) not including cranberries

SWD

280

GH cucumbers, fruiting vegetables

Cabbage looper, corn borer, thrips

92 – 132 g / 1000 L

GH lettuce

Cabbage looper

crops or weeds. Do not apply this product to flowering crops or weeds when bees are present.

Delegate insecticide is toxic to small mammals, certain beneficial insects and non-target terrestrial plants. Do not apply this product

or allow drift to other crops or non-target areas. Do not contaminate off-target areas or aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers.

Follow all other precautions

315 - 420

Applications

PHI (days)

Maximum of 3

1 3

and directions for use on the Delegate label carefully.

For a copy of the new minor use label contact your local crop specialist, regional supply outlet or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca/

1

Maximum of 3 cps-spc/pest/registrant-titulaire /tools-outils/label-etiq-eng.php Jim Chaput is minor use coordinator, OMAFRA, Guelph

2

PAGE 26 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

BITS AND BITES

OMAFRA horticulture videos are now available

Hugh Fraser CHRISTOPH KESSEL The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has posted several technical horticulture videos. They can be visited at ontario.ca/hortvideos.

These short, three-minute videos focus on specific topics. Topics include: Greenhouse and nursery water videos • Greenhouse water analysis: Learn how to sample, monitor and analyse water samples and learn about feedwater land application.

• Greenhouse Water Treatment: Watch videos about

Rebecca Shortt

Shalin Khosla

treatment and filtration systems including constructed wetlands, woodchip biofilters and vegetated filter strips.

• Greenhouse and container soilless media analysis: Learn how to sample, monitor, analyse and interpret soilless media samples.

bangers work, how to set the controls and find out how a wind machine can help protect a vineyard or orchard from cold injury.

• High density apple orchards: Learn about apple trellises for high density apple orchards - why plant them, how to train new and growing trees, building strong trellises and managing cropload.

• Improving water efficiency in irrigated operations: Learn how to maintain an irrigation system, which instruments monitor soil moisture and how to interpret soil moisture monitoring data.

Pest management videos • Brown marmorated stink bug: Videos on identifying, scouting and setting traps for brown marmorated stink bug.

Production videos • Stringing a Hop Yard: Watch a video demonstration of how to plan and string a hop yard.

• Bird banger and wind machine videos: Learn how bird

Christoph Kessel is Program Lead, Nutrition (Horticulture) for OMAFRA.

Bee health requires collaborative, multi-pronged approach Canada’s National Bee Health Roundtable applauds the Obama administration for releasing its practical, solutions-focused National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators in mid-May. “After a comprehensive consultation process, the U.S. Pollinator Health Task Force concluded that addressing bee health challenges will take a

collaborative, multi-pronged approach. This is very much aligned with the approach the Bee Health Roundtable (BHRT) is taking here in Canada,” says Rod Scarlett, co-chair of the BHRT and executive director of the Canadian Honey Council.

The White House report emphasizes the importance of collaboration when it comes to bee health. The BHRT is itself built

on a collaborative model, made up of a wide range of stakeholders, governments and experts all working towards a common goal.

Among the priorities shared by both the White House and the BHRT are: improving nutritional sources for pollinators; mitigating pollinator losses from pests, pathogens, pesticides and other causes; engaging in public education; and improving

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research and innovation, including the development of new pest control tools for beekeepers.

Bee health is a complex issue that affects a wide range of stakeholders. By working together with all partners who have a stake in this issue, the BHRT is making meaningful progress here in Canada. A number of priority areas outlined in the U.S. report have already been initiated as projects and work is well underway in areas such as public/private partnerships, forage and nutrition research, facilitating access to new hive health products, and the promotion of best management practices.

“Bee health is not an issue that

is confined by borders. As such, the BHRT is pleased to see that our priorities align closely with those of our partners in the U.S. and we look forward to exploring further opportunities to collaborate on this important issue with our neighbours to the south,” says Scarlett.

“We’ve seen a lot of engagement from stakeholders on this issue willing to work together to ensure the continued prosperity of the beekeeping industry here in Canada. It’s these kind of collaborative approaches that will result in real solutions to bee health challenges,” says Scarlett.

Source: Canadian Honey Council news release

Pilot for bulk U.S. apples The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is launching a three-year agri-food pilot to reduce grade verification inspection rates for bulk shipments of apples grown in, and imported directly from, the United States. Specifically, apples in containers greater than 200 kg (440 lbs) that are subject to CFIA’s Ministerial Exemption Procedures will see reduced grade verification inspections.

The pilot will gradually reduce inspection rates over three years according to the following schedule: • From May 4, 2015 to Dec 31, 2015 inspect 50 per cent of the bulk loads of U.S. grown apples • From Jan 1, 2016 to Dec 31, 2016 inspect 25 per cent of the bulk loads of U.S. grown apples • From Jan 1, 2017 to Dec 31, 2017 inspect five per cent of the bulk loads of U.S. grown apples The USDA will not do an

inspection but will issue a Certificate of Inspection for Canadian Destinations (FV-205), which will include a statement highlighting “This FV-205 is issued without inspection as per the Canada-U.S. Beyond the Border Agri-Food Pilot for Apples.” The Guidelines for Requesting and Administering Ministerial Exemptions for Bulk Apples (Section 7.2) have been revised to reflect the conditions of the apple pilot at this link http://ow.ly/Mml0V U.S. grown apples imported in containers less than or equal to 200 kg (440 lb) will still require inspection, as per Canadian import requirements (and the U.S. Export Apple Act for apples in containers of 100 lbs or less).

If a bulk load arrives at the border and is not accompanied by proper USDA documentation, the load will be refused entry.

JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER

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PAGE 28 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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Model 1900 two row transplanter with 180 gallon plastic tank.

Hardly used. Phone 905-8783275 For Sale: Turbo Mist sprayer, 1500L with electric controls and 24” fan, good condition, $9,750.

OCCL sprayer, 1500L with electric controls and 30” fan, $2,550.

Call 905-359-6976 For Sale: Complete cider line.

Forklift and bintipper, hopper, conveyor, washer, grinder, press, tanks, bottler and pasturizer. All in working order and recently in production. 705-443-9157

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For Sale: Phil Brown BROWNIE 3-wheel pruning platform. Call 519-426-5784 or e-mail info@schuylerfarms.ca for more information.

For Sale: Greefa grader model 3A, complete. Perkins diesel irrigation pump, 80 HP, complete with a Ravatti pump. Less then 50hrs on the machine. Wade Rain irrigation pipes. 108- 3”x20’ lengths. 25 – 4”x20’ lengths.

Complete with couplers and sprinkler heads. 150 – 11 quart picking baskets. Aluminum ladders. 5’x8’ flat trailer. 905-4687896 or email stoneyacreska@yahoo.ca For Sale: 33 x 25 lb boxes Winmore cauliflower bands, 4 colours, $1.85 per lb.

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JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 29 THE GROWER

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PAGE 30 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS

A positive meeting-in Ottawa!

CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA In early May I had the opportunity to attend meetings in Ottawa that were organized by CropLife Canada. Billed as ‘Spring Dialogue Days,’ they annually ‘meet and greet’ with federal staff of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, (AAFC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) plus Health Canada. It is also an opportunity to invite Members of Parliament, and others who take an interest in the latest happenings with regard to pesticide registration and other issues important to CropLife Canada to listen in, and to interact with the participants.

This year there were several topics discussed, and to no one’s surprise, the issues of bee health and the MRL/trade issue took top billing. In addition to the sessions, there was plenty of time to discuss things in the halls and at meals. That is one of the biggest benefits of such a meeting -- the opportunity to meet, and discuss key issues with the industry in a neutral forum. Virtually every member company was represented, as they all have issues to deal with.

In one of the keynote presentations, Dr. Richard Aucoin of PMRA laid out some of the issues facing the agency. The recent cost-recovery consultations will hopefully be finalized soon. The PMRA recognizes the wishes of growers and the pesticide industry for them to become more proactive on the MRL issues especially with regard to their trade implications. They are also cognizant of the need to produce

speedier re-evaluations than in the past. He mentioned the challenges of dealing with special reviews, and inferred about the effect that has had on ‘normal’ business.

There was certainly a greater air of optimism that more progress can be made on international cooperation and ‘harmonization.’

(I believe the Global Minor Use Summit will be a part of that.)

Dr. Aucoin was followed later

by Simon Kennedy, the Deputy Minister of Health Canada. He was quite supportive of Dr. Aucoin and what the PMRA is achieving. He emphasized the role of Health Canada to protect the health of Canadians and their environment. He demonstrated a full appreciation of our needs, which was good to hear, as so often deputies can get isolated.

In another address, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Canada Andrea Lyon talked about trade opportunities, crop production challenges, and the role of crop protection in all of that. She was quite supportive of the need to facilitate trade and to eliminate trade barriers. The fact that an additional $18M was earmarked for AAFC in the latest budget to deal with trade issues was front and center.

Paul Mayers of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency who was speaking for the president of CFIA Dr. Bruce Archibald, talked about the need for strong oversight in food safety, and the challenges of re-engineering CFIA to meet that challenge. He touched on several issues of interest to the meeting including dealing with low level presence of trait-borne grains and oilseeds. This can be a deal breaker for overseas shipments and must be resolved before commerce can occur. It certainly seems like CFIA is trying to fix the system to make it work for the betterment of grower and traders’ interests.

In the technology sessions, there were two presentations on the bee health file that I found riveting. The first was by Dr. John Purdy who is a toxicologist and also a beekeeper. His studies have been shared with PMRA as a part of the data set they will be using to make determinations on

the neonicotinoid insecticides.

Without going into too much detail, it appeared that studies done with pesticide rates at commercially used levels produced negligible to no effects as compared to widely quoted studies where pesticide rates were highly skewed to ensure effects could be found. John has a spellbinding way of delivering his story, and the audience paid him rapt attention.

Later that morning Dr. Art Schaafsma from Ridgetown College, University of Guelph discussed his latest work where he has tried to follow the proposed monitoring protocols for some of the insects controlled by seed treatment insecticides. It seemed funny to hear of the tribulations from deer and raccoons digging up his bait bags, but many a good trial goes down like this in real life. His difficulties with getting ‘good’ data only represent the tip of a huge iceberg, since he is a well-trained and widely respected entomologist. He has difficulty understanding how folks are going to be able to follow the protocols. He also talked about how much time it took on just a small (100 acre) size plot. The enormity of what is being asked is hard to fathom. He also talked about his yield effects studies done last year. The level of

damage between treated and untreated plots was variable, but also unpredictable in advance. It was a real learning experience and much more remains to be done. Dr. Schaafsma left the group in small doubt about his willingness to find a way to do the job, but also his frustration with the program to date.

In the afternoon there was a panel discussion with regard to MRLs and trade. On the panel were Gord Kurbis from Pulse Canada, Brent Wilson from AAFC trade policy group, Cam Dahl from Cereals Canada, Jan Dyer from the Canadian Canola Growers and Ana Shulkin from Syngenta Canada. Gord Kurbis chaired the panel which started with brief presentations from their respective positions, and then the panel responded to questions from the floor. Amongst the varied questions, a few stand out.

One had to do with the occasional situation when Canada is the first to register a new active, even before our trading partners. This can (and has) led to potential trade issues if our growers start to use the new technology right away. For those in the trade channels, it can be a nightmare.

From a company perspective, it is as difficult as in the old days when Canada lagged far behind in timely registrations. (It never fails that when you solve one problem,

you may unintentionally create another one!) International MRL information availability was another point raised. Gord Kurbis mentioned that “we” are in the final stages of making such data available to growers and traders, since the government contract on the old data source has lapsed.

This will roll out by mid-June.

Some discussion ensued about the recent CODEX meetings, and paths forward. All agreed that more was needed to expedite the process.

In the days that passed after the meetings, many small bits of information keep flitting across my mind. So much was recognized as needing to be done, but how will it all get done? Who will carry the ball?

It is hoped that the additional cost recovery funds will allow PMRA to take a bigger role. It is hoped that the additional trade-related funding at AAFC will allow them -- along with growers and exporters -- to facilitate better trade environments. Time will tell.

It goes without saying that it is through such forums and opportunities for discussion that progress can be made. If everyone there uses just one new piece of information or uses just one new contact made, then it was a resounding success.

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JUNE 2015 –– PAGE 31 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

Beleaf 50 SG insecticide for management of aphids and Lygus bugs on strawberries in Canada Crop

Target

Rate (kg/ha)

CG 13-07G low growing berries

Aphids, Lygus bugs (incl tar- 0.12 – 0.16 (aphids) nished plant bugs 0.2 (Lygus

Applications

PHI (days)

JIM CHAPUT The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for Beleaf insecticide for control of aphids and suppression of Lygus bugs on low growing berries, crop subgroup 13-07G in Canada.

The low growing berries include bearberry, bilberry, lowbush blueberry, cloudberry, cranberry, lingonberry, muntries, partridgeberry and strawberries. Beleaf insecticide was already labeled for use on a number of crops in Canada for control of insects.

This minor use project was submitted

by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Centre (AAFC-PMC) in 2012 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel.

The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users

should consult the complete label before using Beleaf insecticide.

Beleaf insecticide is toxic to certain beneficial insects and non-target terrestrial plants. Do not apply this product or allow drift to other crops or non-target areas. Do not contaminate off-target areas or aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers.

Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Beleaf label carefully.

For a copy of the new minor use label contact your local crop specialist, regional supply outlet or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/registranttitulaire/tools-outils/label-etiq-eng.php

3 per year; Minimum 7 day interval

0

Aphids on strawberry leaf

Dual II Magnum herbicide for managing weeds in edamame The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for Dual II Magnum herbicide for control of weeds on edamame (immature soybean) in Canada. Dual II Magnum herbicide was already labeled for use on a wide range of crops for weed control in Canada.

This minor use project was submitted

by Ontario in 2014 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel.

The following is provided as an

Crop

Target

Rate (L/ha)

Applications

Edamame (immature soybean)

Labeled weeds

1.15 – 1.78

1 (One) either pre-plant within 14 days of planting or pre-emergent during planting or after planting before weed and crop emergence

abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Dual II Magnum herbicide.

Dual II Magnum herbicide is toxic to aquatic organisms. Do not apply this product or allow drift to other crops or non-target areas. Do not contaminate

off-target areas or aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers.

Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Dual II Magnum label carefully.

For a copy of the new minor use label

contact your local crop specialist, regional supply outlet or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/registranttitulaire/tools-outils/label-etiq-eng.php Jim Chaput is minor use coordinator, OMAFRA, Guelph

PAGE 32 –– JUNE 2015 THE GROWER

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