CELEBRATING 135 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION
OCTOBER 2014
VOLUME 64 NUMBER 10
MARKETING
Thanks to California genetics, strawberries are in season
Strawberries for Thanksgiving? Thanks to day-neutral varieties, brothers Jeff (left) and Dan Tigchelaar have built a 35-acre business that markets the sweet-tasting globes from as early as May 5 to whenever October frosts tarnish the plants. This year’s cooler summer temperatures have aided continuous blooming at their Vineland, Ontario farm. Photos by Glenn Lowson.
INSIDE Rebranding for the future
Page 6
Economic impact of Canada’s produce industry Page 8 FOCUS: Greenhouse innovation Page 14
www.thegrower.org P.M. 40012319 $3.00 CDN
KAREN DAVIDSON Vineland, Ontario – If there was ever a story of genetics saving an industry, day-neutral strawberries are a stellar case history. When the University of California-Davis released the Albion cultivar in 2004, enterprising Ontario growers planted a few acres in the hopes of replicating the success of the Beatles’ song: Strawberry Fields Forever. “Ten to 15 years ago, chain stores were losing interest in carrying Ontario strawberries,” recalls Jeff Tigchelaar. “The three-week season was so short that the highly perishable, Junebearing strawberries were more trouble than they were worth for the grocers to handle. The dayneutral strawberry not only created a new market but invigorated the industry.” Today, Jeff and his brother Dan Tigchelaar, grow as many as 35 acres of day-neutral strawberries at Niagara peninsula
farms close to the moderating winds wafting off Lake Ontario. Picked early in the morning, cooled and shipped to grocers’ warehouses by midnight, these strawberries retail for as much as $5.99 per quart the next day. While this past summer’s cooler temperatures have ensured a steady crop – blooming tends to cease after 28°C -- profitable times have not always been the norm. When the Tigchelaar brothers first trialled day-neutral strawberries in 1997, their fouracre block was wiped out by verticillium wilt. In further experiments, a cultivar called Seascape proved to have “deadly flavour but no shelf life.” By 2009, they had overcome many of the agronomic hurdles to the extent that Tigchelaar Berry Farms won the $50,000 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. In reality, the windfall covered many of the losses racked up in the early experimental days. As Jeff explains, the learning
curve for growing day-neutral strawberries is steep. Unlike the system of straw-matted rows of June-bearing strawberries, they plant day-neutrals into fumigated soil in both spring and fall. Coddled under floating row covers, the plants respond to climbing temperatures, immediately generating runners, leaves and flowers all at the same time. Their genetics dictate that the flowers are insensitive to daylength. Hence the moniker: day-neutrals. They consistently bear fruit for about five months, typically snagging holiday markets from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving. While Tigchelaar Berry Farms have finetuned their strawberry management, a parallel trend has helped their growth. Consumer awareness of benefits of locally-grown produce has pushed national grocers to respond. The Ontario industry will never compete with California on price, but superior flavour and freshness are driving this five-month market.
Kevin Schooley, executive director of the Ontario Berry Association, estimates anywhere from 500 to 600 acres of day-neutral strawberries are now grown in the province. That figure represents about 15 to 20 per cent of the total strawberry acreage. “Some pioneers have led the way showing how to use specialized equipment for plasticulture,” says Schooley. “But June-bearing berries will always be the critical mass of our industry. It’s a challenge to educate consumers about day-neutral berries, especially when fresh peaches and plums are in season.” Twenty-five years ago, strawberry breeder Adam Dale wrote a factsheet about day-neutral strawberries, their agronomy and marketing. He was prescient in how important marketing would be for a strawberry that defies the first-of-summer rites and just keeps on producing and competing with stone fruit and apples. Continued on page 3
PAGE 2 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
NEWSMAKERS
AT PRESS TIME… a-MAZE-ing Food Journey returns to Royal
The 92nd annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair starts November 7 this year. Included in more than one million square feet of trade show space is The aMAZE-ing Food Journey, an educational feature that traces the path food takes from growers’ fields to consumers’ tables. The maze attracted 20,000 schoolkids and teachers in 2013 as well as parents and their families. The Royal’s been working hard to make this feature even more interesting and interactive than last year. The Royal also serves as a showcase for the best in Canadian horticultural crops as well as jams, jellies pickles and livestock. Weekdays are a great time for growers to visit the 10day Fair. For a view of what The Royal’s all about now, google “YouTube Royal 2014 Preview.” A reminder that horticultural entries are encouraged. Don’t miss the October 14 deadline.
Food safety remains high priority The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced that fresh fruit and vegetable packers, re-packers and fresh-cut operators that import, export or trade interprovincially remain a high priority. In particular, attention will be directed towards establishments that handle the following: leafy green vegetables, peppers, berries, tomatoes, green onions, herbs, fresh-cut fruits and vegetables (including sliced mushrooms), raw nuts and melons. CFIA is assessing compliance with the current regulatory requirements and evaluating adherence to food safety programs. At the same time, sampling of fresh produce may be conducted to assess product chemical and microbiological safety. Product label verification may be conducted to verify compliance with the Canadian labelling requirements. There are 250 inspections planned across the country for 2014-15: 64 in western Canada, 79 in Ontario, 65 in Quebec, 42 in Atlantic Canada. “We would urge all wholesalers to implement a food safety program as soon as possible and/or have a third-party certification body accredit their facility,” says Ian MacKenzie, Ontario Produce Marketing Association. CanadaGap is offering certification for wholesalers and repackers under the name CanadaGAP “Option D.”
Bursaries available Several bursaries are offered each year to provide financial support and recognition to individuals pursuing post-secondary education with an interest in a career in the Ontario processing vegetable industry. The successful recipients will be selected by a committee comprised of representatives from the two sponsoring organizations; the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Processors Association and Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers. Eligibility Requirements: • Applicants must be a resident of Ontario and registered as a fulltime student at any college or university (email or mail proof of registration), entering the second, third, fourth or post-graduate year of study. • Applicants should preferably have recent work experience (either summer or full-time) in some area of the Ontario vegetable processing industry. • Official transcript of most recent marks (college or university), to be mailed or emailed along with this application. • Essay describing education and career goals within or having knowledge of the Ontario processing vegetable industry (maximum 2 pages/single-spaced), mailed or emailed along with this application. • Candidates may be requested to participate in an interview with the selection committee. • Applications to be submitted no later than October 15th.
Ontario’s 58th Grape King is Kevin Buis of Glenlake Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake. He has been active in agriculture sitting on various committees and boards including: the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Advisory Committee and Ontario Tender Fruit Marketing Board; past president of the Niagara Peninsula Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, and currently serves on the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Irrigation Committee. Congratulations to three recipients of the 2015 Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarships. They are: Greg Donald, general manager of the PEI Potato Board; Becky Parker, project and partnership manager with Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. and Colin Hudon, a small grains and oilseed farmer at Rosser, Manitoba. The $15,000 scholarship allows them time and resources to investigate their chosen topic with travel of a minimum of 10 weeks around the world. The Quebec Produce Marketing Association recently bestowed Bernadette Hamel the 2014 Pillar of the Industry award. She is vice-president of national produce procurement for Metro Richelieu Inc. and is the current chair of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association. At the annual general meeting, Sammy Cacciatore, Sun Grape Marketing became chair of the board. He is joined by Stephan Schmekel, Del Monte Fresh Products Canada as executive vice-president and Judith Basque, Provigo/Loblaw, second vicepresident. Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. presented its annual Teacher Recognition Award recently at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. This year’s winner is Patrick Rittinger who integrates agricultural concepts into his green industries classes at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Vocational Institute. He teaches grade 10, 11 and 12 students. Nick Hubbard has joined Engage Agro as their new product manager for potatoes and vegetables. He was formerly with Grape Growers of Ontario (GGO) for more than seven years, as systems strategist and responsible for grower relations. Nick Lemieux, formerly program manager for GGO, will be replacing Hubbard. Houweling’s Tomatoes has created a new brand manager position and appointed Lindsay Martinez to the role. She was formerly with Boskovich Farms in California. Her expertise is in direct digital, in-store and experiential marketing campaigns, trade marketing programming, strategic promotions and packaging design. Between Delta, British Columbia and Camarillo, California, the business specializes in greenhouse tomatoes on 175 acres. An additional 28-acre farm will open in the fall of 2014 in Mona, Utah. Congratulations to two recent inductees to the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame. Bill Siemens, a potato grower from Winkler, is a former president of the Keystone Vegetable Producers’ Association and a delegate to the Potato Marketing Association of North America and the Canadian Horticultural Council. Don Kroeker, an onion, potato and sweet corn grower, also made his mark in Winkler with Kroeker Farms Limited. He made many contributions as director to Peak of the Market, Canadian Horticultural Council, the Keystone Vegetable Producers’ Association, Chipping Potato Growers Association of Manitoba, Prairie Potato Council and the Seed Potato Growers’ Association of Manitoba. The B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association has appointed retired cherry breeder Frank Kappel and scientist emeritus Norman Looney, both of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to the board of Summerland Varieties Corporation. The corporation is the agent for the Ambrosia apple, Staccato cherries and many promising new varieties. The U.S. Apple Association has named Mark Nicholson of Red Jacket Orchards, Geneva, New York state, as the new chair. His family operates a 600-acre fruit farm, fruit packing facility and fresh juice processing plant. Earlier this year, he teamed with food writer Sarah Huck to publish a cookbook called Fruitful: Four Seasons of Fresh Fruit Recipes. The offices of the Agricultural Adaptation Council, Ontario, have moved to 381 Elmira Road North, Unit 1, Guelph, ON N1K 1H3. The phone number, 519-822-7554, remains the same as do email addresses. The final 2014 Growing Forward (GF2) application deadline is October 16, 2014. The 2015 deadlines will be posted on the website by mid-December.
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER
COVER STORY
Strawberries are in season
Day-neutral strawberries start out as bare root and plug plants which are planted in fumigated soil then protected over the winter under floating row covers. Continued from page 1 Now retired from the University of Guelph’s Simcoe Research Station, Dale says that seed-propagated strawberries will be the future. Unlike today’s system of planting runners, seed propagation avoids the spread of diseases such as anthracnose, powdery mildew and viruses. “It’s an entirely new breeding system that will take another five to 10 years to perfect,” Dale says. Day-neutrals are a high-risk crop says Pam Fisher, berry specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Besides the bigger investment for the plasticulture system, these strawberries are susceptible to a wide range of disease and insects
The cone-shaped Albion variety of day-neutral strawberries lend themselves to an artistic presentation. Mexican workers take pride and a few extra minutes to finish their corrugated case. It’s a trademark of Tigchelaar Berry Farms which sells some product at the Ontario Food Terminal. throughout the season. “This is like milking cows,” says Fisher. “Day-neutrals require picking all the time and that requires a big labour supply.” The Tigchelaar brothers have been keenly aware not to erode the value of their high-quality fruit. They supply through four channels: Loblaw grocery chain, local farmers’ markets, independent grocery stores and the Ontario Food Terminal. “If the chain is at $4.99 per quart, we recognize our wholesale needs to be no more than $3.65 per quart,” says Jeff. “The point is, in selling wholesale, everyone needs to be profitable to make the
Traceability is ensured in the field as each flat – whether it’s a reusable plastic container or corrugated box -- is tagged and linked to the picker, row and field. venture a success.” “Everyone needs to be on that page or no one makes money. That’s the way to do business. Treat everyone fairly and well. High quality translates into saleable product. There’s no need to grind on price.” Jeff and Dan Tigchelaar have weathered the extremes of losing acreage to disease and insects. As recently as last year, they were battling an infestation of western flower thrips. “Emotions are good friends but bad leaders,” concludes Jeff. “Day-neutrals are a real roller coaster ride and you can’t let your emotions get the best of you.” Today, they’re giving thanks for staking their future on a refreshed strawberry industry.
INTERNATIONAL EUROPE
UNITED STATES
EUROPE
UNITED STATES
Waste not, want not
Pear crop larger than spring forecasts
Russian boycott costs 5 billion euro
2014 is the European Year Against Food Waste. This topic will receive more publicity globally as major retailers Tesco and Intermarche draw attention to their efforts. The EU27 currently wastes 89 million tonnes of food each year - equivalent to 179 kg per person. Legislators are calling for adoption of dual-date labelling to show when food may be sold until (sell-by date) and until when it should be consumed by (use-by date). This would avoid situations in which retailers offer food too close to its expiry date thus increasing the potential for wastage.
Washington and Oregon growers are harvesting more than 20 million standard 44-lb boxes – about 445,144 tons – of excellent quality pears. That estimate is two per cent larger than the five-year average. Anjou, Red Anjou, Bosc, Comice, Concorde, Forelle and Seckel varieties will be picked through mid-October. Green Anjou pears still dominate the mix with 53 per cent of the crop, while Bartlett and Bosc pears comprise 22 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. Organic pears are predicted to make up 21,489 tons of the 2014 harvest – up three per cent compared to last year and up 16.6 per cent over the five-year average.
Russia’s announcement on August 18 to ban produce imports from the EU for a year is estimated to cost $5 billion. Current statistics show that 29 per cent of the EU’s fruit and vegetable exports are destined for Russia. In response, the EU commissioner for agriculture announced that $30 million euro would be made available to fruit and vegetable producers for promotions in alternative markets. However, in early September, the EU suspended emergency market measures due to a surge in claims. Administrators noted numbers disproportionate to some sectors’ average annual exports to Russia. A more targeted scheme is anticipated in the weeks ahead.
Bruise-resistant potatoes near registration
As of September, this YouTube video had more than four million views. Google: Intermarche – Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables. “Watch for more focus on this with our Canadian and American retailers,” says Peter Chapman, food industry consultant. “There might even be an opportunity to increase yield and reduce culls.”
Source: FreshPlaza.com Source: FreshPlaza.com
Idaho-based J.R. Simplot Co. may receive USDA approval this fall on Innate potatoes, genetically engineered with low blackspot bruising, low asparagine and low sugars for reduced browning when cut or processed. Price penalties for black-spot bruising can range from $200 to $250 per acre. Under development for 14 years, Innate potatoes contain no genes from other organisms but rather a rearranged set of potato genes that express these features. The Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet and Atlantic cultivars would be used to reduce losses in processing. Simplot is already working on a second-generation of potatoes that would reduce defects in storage and lessen the potential for late blight. Source: FreshPlaza.com
PAGE 4 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatoon berries by another name? The allure of the Saskatoon berry -- rich with antioxidants -- has attracted American interest. The booming market for superfruit juices is predicted to splash over the $10 billion mark by 2017. However, agronomists and marketers there think that ‘juneberry’ is a better name with harvest of the purplish berries in late June and early July. After four years of trials, Cornell University Cooperative Extension is encouraging small berry farms to develop a consumer market in the northeastern U.S. For growing information, look no further than www.juneberries.org. Cornell’s ag program leader, Jim Ochterski, recently suggested to the Saskatoon Berry Council of Canada that a name change would be profitable marketing. Sandra Purdy, council president, takes umbrage at the suggestion. “Saskatoon berries are a historic icon to Canada in that
our first nations people have long used Saskatoon berries as a staple food and for medicinal purposes,” explains Purdy. “The city of Saskatoon is named after the Cree name for Saskatoon berries which was Mis-sask-quah-toomina. So we’re not about to rebrand Saskatoon berries to juneberries just because it is easier to say and a few U.S. consumers have a preference to juneberries.” Purdy is concerned about all the marketing investment to date as one of the largest Saskatoon berry producers in Canada. She regularly exports to the U.S. Canada’s Saskatoon berry production on 3,200 acres tallied more than 2.5 million pounds last year. The controversy piqued the interest of none other than Time.com which published August 21 under the hyperbolic headline: This Berry is Causing a Super-Food War Between America and Canada.
NOVA SCOTIA
Fire blight strikes many apple orchards This year’s weather systems have brought fire blight to Nova Scotia’s apple orchards. Until now, this old disease had been found in only isolated pockets. But two factors have spread the bacterium known as Erwinia amylovora. First, initial infection was reported during a high-risk period during bloom. Then on July 5, tropical storm Arthur brought devastating winds of 138 km/hour which battered
young trees. Chris Duyvelshoff, a horticulturist with the Crown agency Perennia, explains that this bacterial disease begins with infection on the flowers. However, the storm’s strong winds caused physical wounds to trees, opening them to more infection. “More than 90 per cent of Nova Scotia orchards are affected,” says Duyvelshoff. Growers
have pruned out some of the damaged wood already but will be planning full-scale pruning over the winter. It’s frustrating for growers, says Duyvelshoff, who says that new plantings would be for highvalue cultivars. He estimates that 10,000 trees are affected in the Annapolis Valley. A normal crop of apples is currently being harvested in Nova Scotia.
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER
RESEARCH
Researchers to explore ginseng replant disease Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and the Honourable Diane Finley, Member of Parliament for HaldimandNorfolk, announced an investment of $423,000 to the Ontario Ginseng Growers Association (OGGA) to help the industry boost productivity and profitability. With this investment, the OGGA will address an industry priority: managing ginseng replant disease, which is the inability to grow a second, healthy crop of ginseng on land where it was previously produced. The OGGA will examine the factors that lead to the disease and study potential solutions to manage and/or reduce its effects. The focus will be on the evaluation of fungicides, the introduction of beneficial organisms and a comparison of replant and non-replant sites. This project will complement work already underway through funding from Agriculture Canada’s Pesticide Risk Reduction Program. That work is being conducted within the department and is focussed on understanding factors which contribute to the disease, and on crop management practices.
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, Public Works and Government Services Minister Diane Finley (Member of Parliament for HaldimandNorfolk) and Carl Atkinson, Ontario Ginseng Growers’ Association chair. Photo courtesy Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Ginseng harvest is underway in Ontario’s Norfolk County. Photo by Glenn Lowson.
Nematodes in garlic The Garlic Growers Association of Ontario (GGAO) will receive up to $10,288 through the Ontario Farm Innovation Program (OFIP) to investigate management solutions for stem and bulb nematode in garlic. This project has two objectives which are to investigate the effects of various cover crops, and to compare the performance of clean seed garlic after several generations in the field with regular garlic seed. Many garlic growers are looking for organic or nonchemical alternatives to reduce bulb and stem nematodes in garlic production. Currently, there are no recommended crops to use in rotation with garlic to control soil-borne bulb and stem nematodes in Ontario, as the host range of the strains involved has not been determined. The results will identify organically acceptable nematode suppressing alternative methods and crops for rotation with garlic crops. If successful, this project would increase industry awareness of the effects of clean seed on garlic yield and quality, and knowledge as to whether or not there are benefits to using certain cover crops and products with garlic crops to reduce the level of stem and bulb nematode infestation. Results will be shared with the Ontario garlic industry at the GGAO sponsored field day in the summer of 2015 and final results will be presented to garlic growers at the GGAO annual general meeting in December 2015. Final results will be posted on the GGAO website and shared in news articles. The OFIP is funded through Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. Source: Agricultural Adaptation Council
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PAGE 6 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
WHAT’S YOUR STORY?
Southern Potato Company’s rebranding is more than a new logo KAREN DAVIDSON Third-generation farmers Marlon and Jeremy Kuhl are hitting their stride with the rebranding of Southern Manitoba Potato Company Limited. The Winkler, Manitoba-based company which farms 6,500 acres of potatoes, wheat, canola and soybeans is now known simply as “Southern Potato.” After 10 years in their respective roles -- Marlon as manager of potatoes, except for seed and Jeremy as manager of all other cropping operations – they are focusing on the marketing of their commodities. “There are new marketing opportunities with specialty potatoes,” says Marlon Kuhl. “When we looked at redoing our website two years ago we realized there was a bigger process in terms of our values and how we wanted to communicate through video, graphics and social media.” About six months ago, those visioning exercises clinched the decision to rebrand. The company has enjoyed a long history of
L-R, Marlon, Keith and Jeremy Kuhl celebrate the rebranding of the third-generation, Winkler, Manitoba company as Southern Potato. Keith Kuhl is currently president of the Canadian Horticultural Council. success since its founding in 1960. To build on that 54-year foundation, they realized that the mortar was partnerships: employees, suppliers and customers. “Our business needs to be more than transactional,” explains Marlon. “We’re interested in
selling more than one load of potatoes at a time. It’s more about having the long-term customer and it’s the same with suppliers.” For example, the farm has been selling to Old Dutch Foods since the 1960s. It’s not enough for a potato variety to be
A redesigned tractor trailer demonstrates the range of specialty potatoes.
agronomically sound. The variety is sometimes changed so that the taste is right for the end product. The same principle is applied to seed suppliers such as Edmonton Potato Growers and Parkland Seed Potatoes. Jeremy meets them at least twice a year to make sure that high-quality seed is in the pipeline. With 50 full-time employees, sustaining internal culture is critical. Frequent employee meetings are key to explaining the company plans and expected outcomes. Answer the question “why” we’re doing what we’re doing and with whom, says Marlon. That way, the team is more aligned to production, storage and marketing plans. “The next five years will be fast forward,” says Marlon. “With variable rate fertilizer application already underway and variable rate irrigation in 2015, we think the pace of technology
adoption will be faster.” If farming is becoming more precise, so is the communication about how and where the farm does business. Telling that story to the value chain becomes key to their integrity. While steeped in pride of their geographical roots, the Kuhl brothers also realize that with about 30 per cent of their potato business sold outside Manitoba and certainly a sizeable percentage in the United States, the time is ripe for a more North American focus. Hence the new moniker, Southern Potato. Their logo consultants kept the diamond and the ‘S’ in the logo but tilted the ‘S’ to connote moving forward. The rebranding exercise culminated in a company party that unveiled the new logo on a tractor trailer. Now comes the day-in, day-out grind of living up to the promise of growing partnerships.
Wood packaging to be ISPM 15 certified A major regulation Canadian shippers face is the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM-15), implemented to stop the invasion and spread of pests that damage trees and plants. In order to comply, packaging manufacturers must use heat-treated wood in the construction of their packaging products and dunnage. Exporters take pains to ensure their products meet international regulations and can cross international borders quickly and easily. The same should be taken into account when it comes to wood packaging used to transport the product. ISPM-15 compliant packaging is identified by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) stamp, a sample as shown here. The IPPC stamp is like a passport which allows pallets and containers to be sent through borders quickly. Without the IPPC stamp,
products can be held at borders and denied entry. The IPPC stamp may only be used by registered facilities of the Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program (CWPCP). These are considered legitimate and verified sources for wood packaging. Continued on next page
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER
CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL
Canadian produce industry on verge of losing preferential status in U.S. markets Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers will soon lose preferential status when exporting to the United States, if the Canadian government fails to follow through on their commitment under the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council says the Fresh Produce Alliance. In 2011, the government committed to establish a comparable Canadian approach to protecting produce suppliers from buyers that default on their payment obligations but little progress has been made. “According to data collected by the Fresh Produce Alliance, American suppliers are losing at minimum $10 million annually through Canadian buyer insolvency,” said Anne Fowlie, executive vice-president, Canadian Horticultural Council. “This is, coincidentally, about the
same amount that Canadian suppliers are recovering each year through the U.S. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) Trust. Hundreds more Canadian suppliers depend on the security PACA offers for ease of mind in their trade relationships." Until now, Canadians exporting to the U.S. have had the same rights under the U.S. PACA system as American suppliers to recover payments easily and quickly if a buyer refuses to pay or declares bankruptcy with unpaid bills to produce suppliers. U.S. officials are warning that Canada's special status may soon be revoked if the Canadian government does not implement a reciprocal payment protection program in Canada. Removal of benefits could be announced any day, putting Canada's $1.6 billion in produce exports to the U.S. at
higher risk of payment default. “Canadian industry can ill afford to take on added costs, given that three quarters of Canada’s 10,000 fruit and vegetable producers are small businesses with average sales of less than $85,000 per year,” said Jim Di Menna, president and CEO of Red Sun Farms. He predicts, "Canadian exporters will be hit extremely hard because they will have to meet costly bonding requirements to achieve the same level of U.S. PACA trust protection they have enjoyed in the past." The Canadian industry has requested the establishment of a limited statutory deemed trust, modeled on what currently exists in the U.S., which would provide effective, inclusive protection that takes into account the unique characteristics of trade in perishable products. If movement towards
establishing this limited statutory deemed trust is not soon demonstrated, the consequences may prove disastrous for Canadian produce exporters and the communities where they operate. The Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable sector and its supply chain supported 147,900 jobs and created $11.4 billion in real GDP in 2013. More than 85 per cent of the value of Canada’s vegetables and fruit are grown in Quebec, Ontario, and B.C. Rural communities in these provinces are at greatest risk from produce buyer insolvency. The Fresh Produce Alliance consists of the Canadian Horticultural Council, Canadian Produce Marketing Association and the Dispute Resolution Corporation.
Wood packaging to be ISPM 15 certified Continued from last page In addition, the CWPCP website contains a link to the CFIA list of certified facilities—another way to check a supplier’s certification status. Currently, wood packaging material (WPM) exported or imported into Canada from countries other than the U.S. must be ISPM-15 certified and marked as such. WPM shipped between Canada and the United States remains exempt from ISPM-15 regulations under a bilateral
agreement. However, this exemption has been under review for the past several years and is scheduled to be terminated within the near future due to increasing concern over the risk of invasive pest species to the forests across North America. Termination of the bilateral exemption will be preceded by a period of informed compliance lasting several months, during which shippers will be notified of the planned phased implementation period. After this change, all WPM being exported or imported for shipment between Canada and the U.S. will require heat treatment and certification
GREAT LAKES
DEC. 9-11,
2014
with the IPPC stamp, making it even more important that Canadian businesses and shipping companies ensure that wood packaging or dunnage used in the shipment of goods is ISPM-15 compliant. For updates on the end of the bilateral agreement and heat treatment certification information follow CWPCP on Twitter @CanadianPallets and check out the CWPCP website at www.woodpackaging.ca. To find out whether you should be certified, or for any other questions, contact the CWPCA.
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PAGE 8 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
STATISTICS
Canada’s produce chain contributes $11.4 billion to economy KAREN DAVIDSON Canada’s produce industry doesn’t get the publicity it merits considering that the sector contributed $4.8 billion in real direct Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013. That economic footprint increased to $11.4 billion in GDP when all supply chain impacts were factored in. That’s the conclusion of a report commissioned by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and released by The Conference Board of Canada on September 17. “The fact that there are sizeable effects of the produce industry is not a surprise,” explained Todd Crawford, senior economist, The Conference Board of Canada in a webinar. “But in terms of composition and size, there are some interesting
numbers.” Produce is not a single industry but rather a subset of agricultural production, transportation, storage and retail activities. The estimated total value of produce consumption in 2013 was $10.1 billion with an additional $4 billion in exports. When compared to other
high-profile industries in Canada such as forestry and auto manufacturing, produce actually employs more people. Economic activity supports 75,000 direct jobs. Another 52,000 jobs are supported in ancillary industries. Statistics Canada reports the average household spends about 16 per cent of its annual food
Source: Conference Board of Canada budget on fruits and vegetables. That equals $1,262 per year. Consumption of produce is stable. The produce industry is also a notable contributor to governments for tax revenue. In 2013, $1.3 billion in personal income taxes were collected
along with $840 million in corporate taxes. “Our economy is heavily integrated,” says Crawford. “The benefits go beyond direct contributions.”
Water management planning is funded under GF2 George Shearer Growing Forward 2 (GF2) is a five-year federal-provincialterritorial initiative designed to encourage innovation, competitiveness and market development in Canada’s agri-food and agriproducts sector through cost-share funding opportunities. Producers in Ontario can apply for GF2 project funding from two distinct programs – Capacity Building or Implementation. Capacity Building assistance is designed to support education, skills development and training to improve your business. Implementation funding is available to support initiatives and projects to improve your business. Growing Forward 2: Six focus areas eligible for funding 1. Environment and Climate Change, 2. Animal and Plant Health
3. Market Development 4. Labour Productivity Enhancements 5. Assurance Systems (food safety, traceability, animal welfare) 6. Business and Leadership Development This is where the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) Water Program comes in. Every taker of water in excess of 50,000 L per day from any source other than municipal water supply requires a valid Permit To Take Water administered by the Ministry of the Environment. This means that any taker/irrigator of water in excess of 50,000 liters per day without a valid Permit will be subject to penalties that range from having the taking halted on the spot (usually in August when water is most needed), to the issuing of substantial fines and even court appearances. The Ministry of the Environment Compliance and Enforcement Branch will be out
targeting takers of water without a valid permit. Don’t let this be you! The cost to apply for a permit to take water as an agricultural taker is free however the assessments associated with securing a permit are far from it. That is where the OFVGA and the Growing Forward 2 program can help. Under the Growing Forward 2 program permit(s) to take water are not funded however the assessments required for securing a permit to take water are. This applies for both surface and groundwater takings for up to 50 per cent of cost sharing. Through the Capacity Building section of the GF2 funding program under the Environment and Climate Change Focus Area,
water management planning is one of the funded project types. This includes fees for qualified consultants’ services to prepare hydrological and hydrogeological assessments and recommendations for best management practices. This means that up to 50 per cent of the cost of water assessments completed by the OFVGA Water Program are eligible for funding from GF2. The application process is administered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and are time specific. Due to the funding nature of the GF2, Capacity Building funding assistance is available on a continuous basis until the end of the GF2 program. Don’t delay as there is only so much funding available
and once it’s gone, water takers will be on the hook for the entire cost of their assessments which can be substantial. For Capacity Building and Implementation program details, and to view program guides, application forms and enrolment forms, go to www.ontariosoilcrop.org. Projects started after April 1 of each program year may be eligible for funding and will be coordinated through the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). For your specific water taking needs and determinations please contact the OFVGA Water Program to see if we can help. George Shearer is the OFVGA water specialist. water@ofvga.org
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER
ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION
Board briefs Following are highlights from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) board meeting held August 20, 2014. The purpose of this brief is to keep you up-to-date on the issues that the OFVGA is working on, as well as projects and initiatives the organization is involved in. Crop protection Section chair Charles Stevens reported that the re-evaluation of Metiram by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is ongoing. The re-evaluation of Captan has not been released yet, but is expected. The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) crop protection committee will submit a response to the Metiram evaluation with respect to the value and how the product is applied in edible horticulture. OFVGA has expressed concerns to PMRA about the process being used for reevaluation, particularly the methodology around toxicological data. OFVGA will be meeting with PMRA and its toxicological experts to discuss the issue further. OFVGA is collecting products to be nominated for the Grower Requested Own Use (GROU) program. To qualify, the price must be higher in the United States than Canada; the products must be identical in both countries and must be off data protection. There are currently 23 products registered on GROU. Any OFVGA member organization who would like to
This worker helps unload grapes at the crush pad at Burning Kiln Winery, St. Williams, Ontario. Photo by Glenn Lowson suggest products for addition to GROU are asked to contact Craig Hunter at the OFVGA. Property Section chair Brian Gilroy reported that work on the wildlife damage mitigation project is continuing. Twenty-eight kestrel nesting boxes have been distributed in hopes of attracting kestrel pairs. Unfortunately the timing due to this year’s late spring was not ideal for the project; there was only one breeding pair this year; there are two years remaining in the project. OFVGA had previously received funding for a survey to assess and quantify wildlife damage to horticulture crops. Study results presented by Susan Fitzgerald in 2013 pegged those losses at approximately
$25 million. Funding under the Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP) has been announced for 2014. Farm businesses can receive cost-share funding to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) that enhance and protect natural spaces on farms, supporting sustainable production. Cost-share is available at 40 – 80 per cent for a variety of practices across the province; applicants identify their preferred cost-share level based on set criteria and interest in species at risk. SARFIP is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (OMNRF) through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, and the Government of Canada through the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk.
Labour
Canadian Horticultural Council The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) hosted its summer semi-annual meeting in Manitoba in July. As part of the meeting, participants toured several edible horticulture operations, as well as Peak of the Market, a growerowned vegetable supplier that has been named one of “Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies.” OFVGA’s representatives to the CHC are Brian Gilroy, who currently serves as Second Vice President, and Adrian Huisman, who is Vice President for Ontario and Chair of the CHC Budget Committee.
The United Food and Commercial Workers’ (UFCW) have filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, alleging that the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is discriminatory against women because the majority of workers on the program are male. Although employers do request female workers, those positions can be difficult to be filled as not enough women apply for SAWP from the countries that are part of the program. Annual general meeting The OFVGA annual meeting will take place January 13 and 14, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Details will be made available this fall. The next OFVGA board meeting will take place on Thursday, October 16 at the OFVGA office, starting at 10 am.
NOTICE of MEETING is hereby given that the 156th Annual Members and Directors’ Meeting of the
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association will be held in
Niagara Falls, Ontario at The Crowne Plaza Hotel January 13 & 14, 2015 Election of Directors of the Association will take place as well as dealing with resolutions and any other business that may arise.
PAGE 10 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
Competitiveness is the order of the day
JOHN KELLY EXECUTIVE VP, OFVGA For the survival of horticulture in Ontario, it is essential that growers, industry and government focus on how to compete. Competitiveness is made up of many different aspects, some of which are in the control of growers, and many that are outside of their control. It is up to growers to adopt those things that they can control (crop, inputs, agronomic decisions, financial management etc.) to optimize the profitability of their operations. For decades, growers have managed their operations to remain profitable and, for the majority, have done a good job of keeping competitive. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for growers to compete because of those aspects that are out of their control. The costs of inputs into horticultural operations continue to become more out of step with
our competitors and this is to the detriment of agriculture in Ontario. It will become extremely challenging to meet the Premier’s challenge to double the productivity, employment and value of the agricultural space by 2020 when growers are continually being bombarded by added and increased costs of production that they cannot control. Here are some examples. Minimum wage, and its recent increase, was designed to protect workers in urban centres and was an attempt to help them survive in a very high cost-of-living situation. I think that most people would agree that it is difficult to maintain a reasonable standard of living based upon a minimum wage in an urban centre. The costs of housing alone in these locations are exorbitant, and for the minimum wage earner can some times be unobtainable. So the government’s attempt to protect this worker is understandable. Where the real issue comes are the unanticipated spinoff impacts of altering the minimum wage in one fell swoop. In July 2014, minimum wage was increased by 7.3 per cent, the equivalent of almost four years change in consumer price index. This has led to Ontario horticultural growers having the HIGHEST wage for labour in North America. And this is on top of a larger increase in minimum wage
that happened in 2009. As Ray Duc, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association says “Even though the minimum wage ship has sailed, it is still me who has to pay this added cost, and it makes it very difficult to compete.” This increase in cost cannot be translated down the supply chain as retailers have the option of purchasing product from other countries and from producers who are not subject to the same legislation that Ontario growers face. The end result is that the slim margins that growers face become even tighter, potentially forcing many out of business. This legislated cost is outside of their control. The proposed new Ontario Retirement Pension Plan has the potential to add another 1.9 per cent onto the cost of production in 2017. The provincial government has indicated that this will be equivalent to the 1.9 per cent reduction in employment insurance payments that the federal government will enact, also in 2017. This is not guaranteed however, and with the positioning of the federal government on fiscal restraint, it would not be surprising to see this pulled off the table. This is another legislated cost that is outside of the control of the grower. A third example is the cost of energy inputs. Growers in
Michigan and Ohio, jurisdictions with similar growing conditions and input requirements, have energy costs that are a fraction of that paid by Ontario producers. Energy policy in this province has pushed these costs to where some companies in horticulture are opting to move out of the province. While they are not being forced to move out of the province, they are certainly being courted and incentivized by U.S. states to move their operations, further having a negative impact on the economy. These costs are outside the control of the grower. A fourth example would be the availability and costs of crop protection products compared to our American neighbours. Ontario and other Canadian producers do not have access to the array of crop protection products that are availed to our competing producers south of the border. While part of this is due to the crop protection companies opting to not register their products in Canada, or being slower to register due to different regulatory requirements, or the requirement for registration reviews of older active ingredients, key reasons for these decisions are due to the regulatory and legislative process. This is not a new issue, and attempts are being made to rectify the discrepancy in product availability to Canadian growers. This has been on the agenda for
regulators for 20 years. We must do better for our growers so they can remain competitive, yet the access to these needed products is also outside of their control. So with these few examples (and there are many more) just on the input side where uncontrollable costs are being foisted upon growers, there must be efforts to mitigate the impacts of these added costs. We believe that with the right partners in government, we can create the conditions whereby we can compete with any jurisdiction. Decisions and investments must be made to enhance growers’ competitiveness. These could be in the form of productivity enhancement, process engineering, technology development, research, market assistance, tax incentives, agricultural and horticultural specific programming, and more. To be consistent with the Premier’s challenge on agricultural productivity, the government must not instill policies that are in opposition to these goals. Ontario’s horticulture industry wants to grow and to play a significant role in achieving Premier Wynne’s pre-election 120,000 agricultural jobs creation challenge. However, we need the provincial and federal governments to work with us to develop the right policies that make the right decisions today to create a competitive environment for our industry to succeed and prosper.
WEATHER VANE
Photo by Denis Cahill STAFF Publisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Editor: Karen Davidson, 416-557-6413, kdavidson@ecomente.ca Production: Carlie Robertson, ext. 221, production@thegrower.org Advertising: Herb Sherwood, 519-380-0118, advertising@thegrower.org The Grower reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Any errors that are the direct result of The Grower will be compensated at our discretion with a correction notice in the next issue. No compensation will be given after the first running of the ad. Client signature is required before insertion. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is the sole owner of The Grower. All editorials and opinions expressed in The Grower are those of the newspaper’s editorial staff and/or contributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the association. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either whole or in part without the prior written consent of the publisher.
OFFICE 355 Elmira Road North, Unit 105 Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 CANADA Tel. 519-763-8728 • Fax 519-763-6604 The Grower is printed 12 times a year and sent to all members of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association who have paid $30.00 (plus G.S.T.) per year for the paper through their commodity group or container fees. Others may subscribe as follows by writing to the office:
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ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013
OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC
Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director
Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Charles Stevens, Newcastle
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Apples Fresh Vegetable - Other Tender Fruit ON Asparagus Grws’. Mkg. Brd. GGO/Fresh Grape Growers Fresh Vegetable - Muck ON. Potato Board Small Fruit/Berries ON. Ginseng Growers’ Greenhouse Greenhouse
Charles Stevens, Newcastle Mary Shabatura, Windham Centre John Thwaites, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Ryder, Delhi Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Mac James, Leamington Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Ken Van Torre, Burford Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Don Taylor, Durham
Charles Stevens, Newcastle Harold Schooley, Simcoe Brian Gilroy, Meaford Ken Forth, Lynden Mark Wales, Alymer Murray Porteous, Simcoe
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER
PERSPECTIVE Researchers must work hard to make Canadians “science smart”
OWEN ROBERTS U OF GUELPH The research community constantly wrings its hands about whether it’s reaching the Canadians who support science…including those who benefit from it, such as farmers. The concern is warranted. The overwhelming majority of research funding in Canada comes from public sources, particularly governments. People deserve to know what scientists are doing with that funding. And if support for researchbased decisions is going to keep driving policy development, public opinion needs to be well informed. That means researchers and education and research institutions such as the University of Guelph need to be good at translating and transferring the new knowledge they pursue and generate, in an accessible way people can understand and that recipients of this knowledge (e.g., farmers) can use. Now, it appears some strides are being made. A new report called Science Culture: Where Canada Stands from a group called the Council of Canadian Academies, says Canadians are excelling in public science knowledge, attitudes and engagement. In fact, we're No. 1 in the world (or, at least, among 33
countries surveyed) in our interest in scientific discoveries and technological developments. Granted, interest is different than support. Canadians were thrust into a new age of technology earlier than people in many other countries, via the genetic modification of plants and, to a lesser extent, animals. Perhaps the uptake, headlines, controversies and discussions that ensued helped prompt our interest in science -- as have other highprofile events and people, including homegrown astronaut Chris Hadfield and his effective way of making science interesting and accessible. However, thanks again to the efforts of Hadfield and others, Canadians also have among the lowest levels of reservation about science, according to the council’s report. It says we once again rank No. 1 in that category. Further, it says public apprehension about science has declined since 1989 (the scope for this study was the past 25 years). All this is heartening to a proscience crowd and to sectors such as agri-food, which count on research to keep them competitive. These research results run counter to the growing belief that precaution rather than research is prevailing among Canadians for policy and funding decisions. But there are still some whoa-boy points to ponder in the council’s report. First, it notes Canada ranks just ninth in terms of believing in what it calls “the promise of science.” Even though public apprehension is low, since 2004, skepticism has increased about science and technology’s ability to achieve a range of social, environmental and economic objectives. Second, it says just 40 per cent of Canadians believe they have
New website to explore Canada’s food system Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Canada has released the 5th edition of the educational resource, All About Food: Exploring Canada’s Food System. This exciting re-development has added an extra component; the launch of a new, interactive website www.allaboutfood.aitc.ca that further explores one of Canada’s largest industries. With generous funding and support from CropLife Canada, this latest edition of All About Food supports curriculum across Canada in a variety of subjects for Grades 9 through 12, while at
the same time, provides current information for the general consumer. “By enhancing this excellent fact book with a fun and engaging website, we can assist educators to bring to life all the important and interesting facts about food production in Canada,” says Johanne Ross, AITC-Canada Chair. The All About Food development partnership with CropLife Canada will help strengthen AITC-Canada’s traction into classrooms with this comprehensive and interactive resource on agriculture.
sufficient knowledge to grasp basic scientific concepts and to understand media coverage of scientific issues. That’s alarming. It means some 20 million Canadians think they’re in the dark on this matter. It’s also a wake-up call to those of us who communicate about research: that is, don’t assume any basic understanding of the issue is at hand. In our zeal to transfer knowledge, we may forget the translation part is equally as important. If any science communication alienates already scientifically challenged readers, listeners and viewers, the exercise is a failure. For his part, Arthur Carty, a long-time member of the Canada’s research community and chair of the organization’s expert panel that conducted the survey leading to the report, said Canadians “perform well” across a range of science culture indicators…it’s important that we continue to strive for a society that looks to science to inform decisions and broaden our world view.” He’s right. If Canadians “perform well” in their understanding of science because researchers “perform well” informing them, the system is working. But informing and understanding are a lot of work. And it’s work that will never be finished.
Apple grower Paul Frankis participates in research conducted by the University of Guelph’s pomologist John Cline. This weather station captures air temperature, wind, light and rainfall data to assist with irrigation scheduling. The information is fed through the internet enabling researchers to make calculations and respond to the daily irrigation needs of the apple orchard. Photo by Glenn Lowson.
Announcing HW623 Pear Canadian Plant Breeders Rights #3973 Developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Harrow and Vineland
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) is leading the commercialization of HW623 in Canada. Vineland will distribute information packages to organizations interested in participating in a Request-for-Proposal process to obtain rights to propagate, plant, grow and market this variety in Canada.
Contact Lana Culley, Director, Business Development if you would like to receive an information package in the coming weeks. lana.culley@vinelandresearch.com 905-562-0320 x747 www.vinelandresearch.com @vinelandrsrch VinelandResearch
PAGE 12 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
Using greenhouse waste water in field pepper production BRUCE KELLY It has been a good summer for agricultural irrigators as timely rains have minimized the need for extensive irrigation. Researchers involved in Water Adaptation Quality and Management Initiative (WAMQI) projects aren’t getting ahead of themselves. John Zandstra, research horticulturalist at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus and many others around the province have continued to work on their agricultural water-related research projects. Zandstra, along with OMAFRA’s Christoph Kessel and Deanna Nemeth have been working on an innovative project at the Cedar Springs Research Station, to see if it is practical and safe to use greenhouse waste water (GHWW) to irrigate field peppers. The questions to be answered include: • Can the nutrient solution be used for its fertilizer content (nitrogen) as compared to conventional fertilizer? • Is the field crop impacted by potential pathogens that might be present in the greenhouse water (the water was intentionally sourced from a greenhouse that grows indoor peppers)? • What are the environmental impact and fate of the nutrients and elements in this material? • What is the plant growth response? Greenhouse growers within the
Essex County watershed have identified their locations as potential risks with respect to nutrient loading into Lake Erie. The greenhouse sector is working to decrease off-site nutrient solution release with internal recycling of waters used in the production system. Over time, limiters such as chlorides and sulphates increase in the solution causing restricted plant growth, and the nutrient solution must be discharged and stored. Effective and environmentally sustainable land application protocols for using greenhouse waste water (GHWW) on field crops currently do not exist. In order to fit into Nutrient Management application protocols, field crop response and the fate of nutrients and other elements need to be documented. At Cedar Springs Research Station, replicated trickle irrigation plots will include: 1. Pre-plant soil applied fertilizer, 60 lbs. N/acre, P and K as per soil test (OMAF recommendation). 2. Fertigation of 3.5 lbs. N/acre, per week using a soluble 20-2020 commercial fertilizer. 3. Apply greenhouse wastewater based on its N value to provide 3.5 lbs. N/acre. 4. Use the OMAF “NMAN” program to determine the rate of GHWW to apply. The Nutrient Management (NMAN) program was developed to help producers determine land base requirements for agronomic use of nutrients in response to the Nutrient Management Act. Insects
and diseases are managed according to industry accepted standards. Research is going well and the peppers fertilized using the GHWW are growing as expected relative to the nutrient content of solution applied. The field grown peppers are showing no ill effects from the greenhouse waste water, though the water was intentionally sourced from a pepper greenhouse to test the highest perceived biological risk. Early plant and pepper samples are showing no accumulation of fertilizer components in the plants suggesting that using the enriched water as a fertilizer source could prove a viable option for growers. Zandstra is quick to point out that even though this appears to be a practical solution for using GHWW, it is only one of many strategies available to greenhouse growers. This trial will provide data on the fate of nutrients and elements of concern when using greenhouse waste water as a nutrient source for field crop production. The objective is to generate data to allow greenhouse waste water to fit into Nutrient Management application protocols. For more information about this project contact John Zandstra: jzandstr@uoguelph.ca Please visit the video link to this project at: http://youtu.be/LrHB988gnzw This project is one of 28 projects funded by the Water Adaptation Quality and Management Initiative (WAMQI) a Growing Forward II program, facilitated by Farm & Food Care Ontario. For information about
October 14th deadline looming for Royal Hort Competition The 92nd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is just around the cor-
ner but there’s still time to enter the annual Horticulture
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Competition. The entry closing date is October 14th. There are competition classes for many different crops including 20 varieties of apples, 11 classes of potatoes, another 10 in seed potatoes, and a range of vegetables from parsnips to garlic to carrots and oriental vegetables. If giant vegetables are your specialty, there are 23 giant vegetable categories for 2014, including this year’s feature giant vegetable – rutabagas. Enter The Royal’s Horticulture Competition to support your industry and provide a champion-worthy display of Ontario fruits and vegetables for the more than 300,000 people who will visit The Royal this year. Best of all, winners can claim they are champion growers – at least until the 93rd Royal comes along. Complete details at: http://www.royalfair.org/sites/def ault/files/Horticulture.pdf or go to royalfair.org and click on “For Exhibitors.”
John Zandstra shows field peppers that are being fertilized with greenhouse wastewater. WAMQI funded projects visit the Environment section at www.farmfoodcare.org or contact Bruce Kelly: bruce@farmfoodcare.org
Bruce Kelly is Environmental Program Lead, Farm & Food Care Ontario.
COMING EVENTS 2014 October 3
Cornell University Small Fruit Open House, Ithaca, NY
October 4
Holland Marsh Soupfest, Ansnorveldt Park, Ansnorveldt, ON
Oct 7 – 13
Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show, Simcoe, ON
Oct 8 - 9
Canadian Greenhouse Conference, Scotiabank Conference Centre, Niagara Falls, ON
Oct 20-24
North American Plant Protection Organization Annual Meeting, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico
Nov 2 – 5
Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association Tour (members only), Simcoe County and Muskoka Region, Ontario
Nov 7 – 16 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, ON Nov 12
Paper & Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council “Paper Facts and Fiction” seminar, Brampton, ON
Nov 14
Ontario Produce Marketing Association Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, Liberty Grand, Toronto, ON
Nov 15 – 22 International Fruit Tree Association Study Tour, Northern Italy Nov 18-20
Alberta Potato Conference & Trade Show, The Sheraton, Red Deer, AB
Nov 19 - 20 Ontario Horticulture Fruit & Veg Growers Show, The Careport Centre, Hamilton, ON Nov 22
Asparagus Farmers of Ontario Annual General Meeting, Hungarian Hall, Delhi, ON
Nov 24-25
Ontario Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting, Sheraton on the Falls, Niagara Falls, ON
Nov 25-26
Essex County Associated Growers’ 64th South West Hort Expo, Leamington, ON
Nov 26-30
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer Competition, Quebec City, QC
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER
RETAIL NAVIGATOR
Can Whole Foods be true to their niche roots and go mainstream?
PETER CHAPMAN Whole Foods Market has employed an aggressive expansion strategy, however early 2014 results might slow down the train. The Austin, Texas-based chain has dominated the natural and organic grocery niche. More aggressive competition and a high price image have hurt sales and forced the company to alter their guidance about upcoming results. Let’s explore how this will impact Whole Foods and more specifically the company in Canada. Whole Foods started with one store in 1980 and they have grown to more than 370 stores in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The company was founded on a set of core values that remain an integral part of the business today. There is no doubt they rode the wave of consumer interest in understanding where their food comes from and foodies who want to show off their skills.
They remained true to their niche market in the face of Walmart’s expansion into the grocery arena. The challenge for Whole Foods is that many others have identified their niche as an opportunity. There is pressure to lower prices to compete, which will translate into lower margins. There is no doubt Whole Foods is an attractive customer for those in the natural and organic segments. They are established and this channel is very diverse, making supply chain a challenge. In Canada there are eight stores: four in Vancouver and four in the Greater Toronto Area. They are great food stores and the execution is impressive. They do offer a wide selection of organic produce. Staff are knowledgeable and products are well merchandised. Whole Foods or Whole wallet as some call it does have some interesting challenges ahead. They have been very aggressive acquiring other health food stores as they have expanded. It is possible this will slow down as others become more established and less willing to sell out. The other challenge is that natural and organic foods are now commanding significant shelf space at conventional retailers. Loblaw, Sobeys and Metro are always looking for more organic produce and the natural food departments continue to grow. We are also starting to see more of these items in food sets at Walmart and Target. Only
a certain segment of the market will be willing to pay the prices at Whole Foods. The business is run by John Mackey -- one of the original founders -- and Walter Robb. Mackey is quite outspoken and is one of the leaders of the Conscious Capitalism movement. You do have to admire their commitment to business as they see it. The big questions are: 1) Will the segment of the market interested in natural/organic and the foodies who can pay the premium continue to expand? 2) Can Whole Foods stay true to their roots? The recent stock price drop will be a huge test. 3) If Whole Foods lower prices to compete, will the lower margins enable them to be different enough to warrant the extra stop? 4) What is going to happen to Canadian expansion plans? They were talking 40 stores in Canada but this might be put on hold with the challenges they are facing. The Whole Foods website is a great resource: www.wholefoodsmarket.com The following are my suggestions for suppliers who want to sell product to Whole Foods: 1. Suppliers must submit items to regional offices. For Ontario stores this is in Chicago, Illinois and for B.C. stores the office is in
Bellevue, Washington. 2. You need to understand Whole Foods’ core values. They will be looking to do business with likeminded individuals or companies. This is true for Whole Foods more than other retailers. 3. There is a detailed explanation of Whole Foods’ expectations and standards on their website. Suppliers should review and consider these requirements. 4. The website includes a detailed list of ingredient exceptions. They will not sell foods that contain these products; you need to review the list. See http://www.wholefoodsmarket.co m/about-our-products/qualitystandards/unacceptable-ingredients-food 5. With eight stores and only two markets they are not huge volume
in Canada right now. The 40 stores they talked about would be a significant volume in their segment. If expansion continues, it might be a good time to get your foot in the door. 6. They do not distribute a weekly flyer. They do have an instore/online promotion called the Whole Deal. There are coupons, specials and other food information. This is a different type of selling from traditional retailers. 7. The pricing strategy is more Every Day Low Price (EDLP), which does take some adjustment for suppliers. Less fluctuation with deep discounts. 8. Whole Foods offer loans to suppliers to assist with capital expansion. Loans can be up to $100,000 and to date they have loaned $14 million to suppliers.
Costco provides the personal touch Recently we had a message on our home phone from Costco. The caller was letting us know that we had purchased an almond butter that had been recalled. They apologized for the inconvenience and gave us the instructions to get our money back. I was impressed!
This is a great example of using technology to develop the relationship with the customer. I am not sure if they charge the supplier back for this because it was not really a Costco issue but they appear to the customer (member) as taking ownership and concerned about my well being.
If you are a supplier to Costco you might want to understand the recall procedures with them (and all your other customers!). We never want to deal with it, but better to be prepared and up front.
Walmart launches Grab & Go
The Walmart website now offers shoppers in the Toronto market 11 options for Grab & Go.
The consumer completes their shopping on line, selects a store and they receive email confirma-
tion as to when the order will be ready. Each location has 40 lockers that are each accessed with a unique code provided with order confirmation. Consumers have three days to pick up the order. On the website it gives the location as indoor so I would expect we will see drive through shortly. The small number of
lockers is an indication they are just testing right now and if demand is strong they will
MIN
MAX CONTROL
Are you in the office at the right time? One of the challenges for suppliers is that when you are busiest is also when you should be in front of your customer. The dayto-day demands during the peak seasons, especially in produce make it almost impossible to get away. On the other hand, what could be more important than talking to your customers? If you supply two to three big retailers you should be visiting them face to face during your peak. Show them what you are able to do and
discuss how things are going. There is a time for planning and there is a time for showing off your abilities. Find a way to get away or if possible (and even better) host your category manager. If they do come to visit offer them an office to get caught up and have some privacy. Your best time to build the relationship with the customer is when you are at your best!
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.
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PAGE 14 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
FOCUS: GREENHOUSE INNOVATION
Mastronardi Produce completes phase II at Coldwater Farms
Coldwater, Michigan is home to 60 acres of greenhouses operated by Mastronardi Produce. The first harvest of Sunset-branded tomatoes from Phase II is expected in mid-October. Beefsteak, tomatoes on the vine and grape tomatoes are grown there.
KAREN DAVIDSON For anyone following the greenhouse business, it’s safe to say that Mastronardi Produce has put Coldwater, Michigan on the
map. Since 2012, this small town of 11,000 is now home to a greenhouse complex that just doubled in size to 60 acres. Not only is CEO Paul Mastronardi installing the latest technology – energy curtains,
grow lights and rainwater capture systems – he’s leading a trend to locate greenhouses closer to markets. While headquarters remain in Kingsville, Ontario, Sunsetbranded tomatoes are now less than three hour’s drive to
Chicago, Illinois and less than two hour’s drive to Toledo, Ohio. According to a company media release, the new addition features a diffused glass ceiling, which evenly distributes sunlight throughout the greenhouse. As the diagram shows, diffused light increases plant energy production because the light reaches the lower leaves, not just the upper canopy. “The diffused glass is pretty incredible because it’s simple but so efficient,” says Christopher Gill, director of greenhouse operations. “When sunlight hits it, it gets distributed at different angles to cover the greenhouse with more light. This means that plants
are more exposed to sunlight and take in more CO2, which contributes to increased growth and better quality fruit year round. Anywhere you stand in the greenhouse you’ll never see your shadow.” As in Phase 1, the second phase includes automated harvest carts for efficient and ergonomic harvesting, the use of recycled water and fertilizer, and a rainwater irrigation system. With the new addition, Coldwater Farms will soon become a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program-verified farm in recognition of its environmental initiatives.
Highlights of the Canadian Greenhouse Conference October 8-9 The speaker program consists of high-calibre international and domestic speakers. Artificial Lighting: With the growing interest in lights, many
attendees will be keen to listen to David Ben-Yakir of The Volcani Centre, Israel, speak about how greenhouse coverings and artificial lights can be used to reduce damage due to major pests
such as aphids, whiteflies and thrips. He addresses how these techniques can be integrated into a program that also considers the needs of beneficial insects. Also speaking on lights will be
Irene Vanninen of the MTT Agrifood Research Centre in Finland, and Xiuming Hao of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Harrow. Irene will address how artificial lights can affect the biology and behaviour of some pests and beneficials. Xiuming will report on his latest findings from his research on light sources and light configurations with the use of LEDs or LEDs & HPS to increase fruit yield, growth-promoting compounds, light and energy use efficiency in year-round greenhouse vegetable production. Pest & Disease Control: Les Shipp of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Harrow will present his results on his studies that compared the standard Amblyseius cucumeris with A. swirskii and the more recent Amblydromalus limonicus for thrips control during different seasons and associated climatic conditions. He will also discuss the effects of supplementing pollen as a food source for predatory mites when pest populations are low. In another session Les will provide the latest on the use of bees to transport and disperse microbial agents for managing pest issues in the greenhouse. On Thursday October 9, a Workshop Session will be devoted to the use of all Microbial Products (10 in total) that are registered for use on
greenhouse crops for suppressing several diseases and pests. Experts from all the companies that produce these products will provide a concise, insightful presentation on each product. These presentations will be followed by discussions based on questions generated by the attendees. The objective of this workshop is to assist growers in understanding how these products work and to make the best use of them. Climate Management: Graeme Smith of Graeme Smith Consulting in Australia, will address the topic of Relative Humidity (RH) vs Humidity Deficit (HD). He will explain how to measure, calculate and use HD to reduce disease risk, improve water use efficiency, and improve fruit and flower quality. He will also describe practical case studies to demonstrate the key principles that he advocates. Two Clinics on Spray Application Techniques. Day 1 Clinic will address High Volume spraying, application options, calibration, etc. Day 2 Clinic will deal with Low Volume Spraying including LVM, Thermal Fog Options etc. Research Update by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre – Researchers from this Centre will provide updates on their current research.
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER
FOCUS: GREENHOUSE INNOVATION
Bee vectoring of microbial agents for pest and disease control LES SHIPP Microbial control agents – fungi, bacteria and viruses – used in bee vectoring are naturally occurring agents that are specific for insects and plant diseases. These are not chemical pesticides and are not pathogenic to vertebrates including humans. Since bees have the ability to carry pollen and other microscopic particles such as plant pathogenic fungal spores and bacterial cells, their use to deliver beneficial microbial agents can replace the standard chemical sprays normally used to apply microbials to a crop. Managed bumble bees are the standard pollination method for greenhouse tomatoes and are used to a lesser extent for greenhouse peppers. Biological control is the main control strategy for greenhouse crops.
Entomologist Les Shipp patiently waits for a bumble bee to exit a hive in a tomato greenhouse in Leamington, Ontario. In leaving the hive, the bumblebee picks up a microbial agent on its legs so that it both pollinates tomatoes and protects against disease at the same time. Photo by Glenn Lowson. In collaboration with Peter Kevan, University of Guelph since 2001, we have been investigating the use of bee pollinators as a new delivery system for the application of microbial agents to crops for pest and disease management. Studies at the research greenhouses in Harrow found that bumble bees can deliver adequate concentrations of the fungal agent, Beauveria bassiana, to the flowers and leaves of tomato and sweet pepper plants for control of greenhouse pests with minimal impact on the bee pollinator. This delivery system was effective against the major greenhouse pests such as greenhouse whitefly, western flower thrips, tarnished plant bug and green
peach aphid. Also, we demonstrated that bumble bees can vector two fungal agents, B. bassiana and Clonostachys rosea together as a single inoculum for insect pest and plant disease control. Trials in commercial greenhouses found that bee vectoring of B. bassiana did not affect the pollination efficiency of the bees or crop yield and fruit quality. In addition, bee vectoring of B. bassiana was determined to be compatible with the other biological control agents (predatory
mites and parasitoids) that are used in greenhouse crops. Along with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pest Management Centre, we received Health Canada’s first label expansion to use bee vectoring as a new application method for microbial agents for pest control using B. bassiana (Botanigard 22WP). More recently, I have demonstrated that bumble bees can vector the AcMNPV baculovirus and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk) for cabbage looper
control on greenhouse tomato and sweet pepper in greenhouse cage trials at the Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre. In 2013, bee vectoring of Btk (DiPel) for cabbage looper control was successfully evaluated in commercial tomato and sweet pepper greenhouses. This year, bee vectoring of the AcMNPV baculovirus was evaluated under commercial greenhouse production conditions. This technology is also being
expanded to outdoor crops. Preliminary trials in strawberries, lowbush blueberries and sunflowers have been very promising. Interest has also been expressed for canola and apples. Dr. Les Shipp is recently retired from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s research station in Harrow, Ontario. This is a preview of his presentation to be given October 8 at the Canadian Greenhouse Conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
PAGE 16 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
FOCUS: GREENHOUSE INNOVATION
What’s your best new piece of equipment or technology? KAREN DAVIDSON The high-tech greenhouse industry is capital- and management-intensive. In Ontario alone, another 100 acres of greenhouse capacity will be added in 2014, bringing acreage under poly and glass to 2,500 acres. Most of that technology originates in the Netherlands, but adapting it to local conditions requires management savvy. Here are several examples of what’s making the industry more competitive. Adjustable grow pipes
Adjustable grow pipes are adapted to growing greenhouse peppers.
A robotic packing line reduces lifting while increasing capacity by 50 per cent.
Inverted gutters save labour in cleaning debris.
There’s nothing new under the sun, but there are new ways of using existing technology. Grow pipes are commonly used in tomato production however Duffy Kniaziew, president of Orangeline Farms, has figured out how to modify the heating system in the Leamington, Ontario pepper greenhouse. Yes, rigid pipes carry hot water to heat the ambient air, but since peppers grow vertically, there’s a need to move the heating upwards with the plant. “What’s unique is that we vertically adjust the height of our grow pipes to influence ripening of our peppers or to steer the balance of the plant growth in a certain direction,” Kniaziew explains. “At some times of the year, in winter for example, we’ll move the piping above the plant to buffer the cold air.” Instead of heating the entire volume of air in the greenhouse, the operator is now heating targeted growing points where the heat is most needed. A hangar is integrated into the suspension material of the growing gutters and the heating pipe is attached to the hangar so that it can slide easily. It’s difficult to quantify the energy savings says Kniaziew who has been through two extreme winters with this system – one was very warm and the other was very cold. But that’s the point of flexible heating where adjustments can match the extremes. “There is no manual for this,” says Kniaziew. “It’s all trial and error.” Robotic packing line A robotic packing line is a dream come true, not only for brothers Jan and Dale VanderHout at Beverly Greenhouses, but for 50 employees. “This Taks system from Holland reduces 98 per cent of the lifting,” say the VanderHouts. “That’s important for reducing back strain injuries.” A year ago, the automated packing line was customized for 20 acres of cucumber production. It has the capacity to process 1500 dozen cucumbers per hour into either corrugated or reusable plastic containers. By increasing capacity by 50 per cent, they avoid adding another shift of workers and reduce labour costs. “We didn’t send one single employee home,” Jan says. According to Taks’ case history, the crates with cucumbers are de-stacked off the harvest trolley, divided over two processing lines, emptied automatically, pre-stacked and the empty crates are carried away on a harvesting trolley. The two lines with sealers provide an optimal filling of the grader. When packers are done filling the box, they slide the boxes into the take-away. The packed cucumbers are transported on a central belt to a sticker machine and then distributed to one of the palletizing systems where they are automatically stacked on a pallet, ready for transport. Inverted gutters
A labour tracking monitor graphs picking progress.
For those growers contemplating a greenhouse expansion, an inverted gutter is now an option from FormFlex/Metazet. The drain channels are underneath the gutter to prevent the buildup of debris or water that can harbour disease. The open gutter allows light and fresh air, yet prevents growth of roots into the drain channels. A YouTube video, “Formflex gutter forming,” shows widths can vary from 190 to 300 mm, height is 120 mm and drain channels are either 35 or 45 mm deep. FormFlex/Metazet, based in Beamsville, Ontario, can
roll-form the steel gutters on-site to customized lengths. A mobile profiling machine can produce continuous lengths to any required specification. This reduces the number of connections. The gutters can be suspended or supported, depending on the crop and greenhouse infrastructure. Besides a higher load capacity, the inverted gutter is also suitable for organic growing because it’s covered on both sides with mandatory USDA food safety coating. Inverted gutters have been installed at AMCO Produce Inc. in Leamington, Ontario says Albert Pinto, FormFlex project manager, as well as U.S. sites including Village Farms, Marfa, Texas and Cris-P Produce Company, Nogales, Arizona. “The system provides for a very clean gutter during the harvesting months and will save considerable labour hours to clean and sterilize at the end of each crop year,” says Fausto Amicone, manager, AMCO Produce. “So far, the inverted gutter design has demonstrated very good results and our growers are very pleased.” Labour tracking monitor The HortiMaX Labour Insight screen tracks the progress of an individual’s picking progress, each time a cart is weighed and unloaded. “This is a real-time versus historical report,” explains Duffy Kniaziew, president of Orangeline Farms. “If a worker puts in extra effort, then he’s rewarded with the result.” But it’s about more than worker productivity. Different picking rates can be caused by a dip in pepper production. Depressed output can result from a hotspot of disease or insects. Specific rows can then be inspected and treated accordingly.
Electrostatic Deionization unit A Guelph-based company is pioneering improvements in recycling leech water in hydroponic greenhouses. A pilot Electrostatic Deionization (ESD) unit was successfully installed recently with positive results in an onsite commercial trial in Leamington, Ontario says Gene Shelp, president and CEO of ENPAR Technologies. The goal of this second-stage testing was to maintain the high removal of limiters, while achieving significantly higher water recovery. The experience gained from stage one testing enabled ENPAR to tailor the unit design to more effectively address the water treatment needs of the Ontario hydroponic greenhouse industry. In doing so, the proportion of water available within the greenhouse through recycle and reuse will increase, thereby reducing overall fresh water requirements and the need for wastewater disposal. "We believe that the significantly higher water recovery is another important step toward establishing the ESD system as a viable option for reuse and recycle applications designed to enhance the sustainability and environmental stewardship of Ontario's $1.4 billion world-class greenhouse industry” says Shelp. ENPAR’s senior chemist John Motto explains that this new technology removes dissolved ions from water through use of a DC electrical current. This is more efficient than reverse osmosis which accomplishes a similar task through the use of high pressure to force water through a membrane. Whereas reverse osmosis can achieve less than 50 per cent water recovery, ENPAR Technologies has achieved 85 per cent water recovery with an ESD unit. “After a decade of research and development, the company is now manufacturing ESD units for industrial, municipal and commercial applications,” says Motto, who cites interest from food processing companies as well as municipalities looking to remove nitrate and sodium from groundwater. This second stage of the greenhouse testing program qualified for financial support through the Water Adaptation Management and Quality Initiative (WAMQI). Look for more testing results to be published by program administrator, Farm & Food Care Ontario.
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER
FOCUS: GREENHOUSE INNOVATION
Lighting from high-pressure sodium to light-emitting diodes XIUMING HAO Year-round production is important for providing high quality produce to Canadians, for maintaining market share, and for competing successfully in national and international markets. However, due to the low natural light in Canada, it is very difficult to produce greenhouse vegetables during the months of Dec. and Jan., without artificial lighting. Therefore, many Canadian growers have shown strong interests in the use of supplemental lighting for year-round greenhouse vegetable production. Year-round production systems with supplemental lighting represent a major investment for greenhouse vegetable producers. To be economically feasible, the benefits (higher yield, better quality and prices) from the use of these systems must exceed the costs (capital & interest, and operating costs – electricity, light fixture maintenance, additional fertilizers and water etc.). Crop growth and development under supplemental lighting is different from under ambient/ natural light conditions. Greenhouse climate control, crop training systems, and crop & fertigation management strategies need to be adjusted to maximize the benefits from the production with supplemental lighting while lighting strategy (such as light intensity and photoperiod) needs to be optimized to increase benefits and reduce costs. Extensive research has been conducted since 2002 by Dr. Hao’s group at the Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Harrow (AAFC-Harrow), Ontario to develop strategy for optimal use of artificial lighting, for optimizing crop and fertigation management, and for identifying crop planting and training systems that allowed for better light interception, higher productivity, and continued production of greenhouse cucumbers. Optimized year-round high-wire production systems for long English cucumbers and minicucumbers were developed, which has more than doubled the fruit yield in comparison to the conventional system without supplemental lighting. The systems have been adopted by the greenhouse cucumber producers throughout Canada. In greenhouse vegetable production with supplemental lighting, the lamps (mostly high pressure sodium (HPS)) are conventionally mounted above crop canopy. This has resulted in uneven vertical light distribution, with top canopy receiving more much light than lower canopy, limiting the whole plant light use efficiency. Inter-lighting, applying supplemental light
within crop canopy, could help to improve light distribution and interception within canopy, improving crop yield and light use efficiency. However, the high bulb temperature with HPS lamps has prevented their use as interlighting in the popular twin-row greenhouse vegetable cultivation system (with small row width). Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have low bulb temperature, making it a good fit for inter-lighting. Hybrid lighting systems with various intensities of top HPS light and LED inter-light have been investigated on greenhouse cucumbers and tomatoes in the last few years at AAFC-Harrow. It was found that the LED interlighting system achieved 30-80% higher energy use efficiency than various types of HPS lighting. It was also discovered that the LED inter-lighting allowed the plant to maintain its vigour and had much higher fruit yield in late growing season on greenhouse tomatoes, in comparison to HPS. A hybrid lighting system with proper combinations of top HPS lighting and LED inter-lighting was identified for tomatoes; the system achieved significant energy use efficiency than conventional HPS lighting system. Light quality (spectrum compositions) also has a large influence on plant growth, fruit yield and quality such as antioxidants and other phytochemicals. However, the light spectrum compositions have not been explored much in the past for improving plant growth and fruit yield & quality because traditional light sources such as HPS are broad spectrum, making it difficult to generate specific spectrum composition. It is now feasible with LEDs, a light source with narrow wavelength band. In collaboration with Dr. Cao’s group at Food Research Centre (AAFC-Guelph), the effects of various spectrum compositions on fruit contents of antioxidants and other phytochemicals are evaluated. A spectrum composition which promotes phytochemicals in mini-cucumbers has been identified. Because the light spectrum composition
for promoting plant growth and yield may be different from that for high fruit nutritional value, various vertical light spectrum profiles are being investigated at AAFC-Harrow to identify vertical spectrum profile for improving both fruit yield and nutritional value of greenhouse vegetables. The overall goal of the lighting research program at AAFCHarrow is to develop sustainable year-round greenhouse vegetable productions with optimized light-
ing configurations & control strategies, and the best climate control and crop and fertigation management practices for maximizing energy use efficiency, fruit yield and quality in greenhouse vegetable production, providing vital support to the Canadian greenhouse industry. Funding for this research (both past and present) has been provided by the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers; the AgriInnovation Programs of
Growing Forward 1 and 2; and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Dr. Xiuming Hao is a research scientist with the Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre at Agriculture and AgriFood Canada’s research station in Harrow, Ontario. This is an executive summary of his presentation for the Canadian Greenhouse Conference on October 8.
A program designed to help Ontario farmers with water taking permit needs
Mr. Shearer’s mandate is to provide surface water taking permit and impact study services to agricultural water takers throughout the Province of Ontario. The purpose for the development of this position at the OFVGA was to lessen the confusion and costs to farmers of the required water taking permit process and subsequent studies. Mr. Shearer will assess clients’ needs in terms of support required in order to successfully complete their PTTW application as well as to assist clients to assess best options for water taking given cost and regulatory constraints.
G W
eorge Shearer ater Specialist
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association 105-355 Elmira Road North Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 p: 519-763-6160 ext. 219 c: 519-222-3272 water@ofvga.org
f: 519-763-6604
PAGE 18 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
FOCUS: GREENHOUSE INNOVATION
Research greenhouse is expected to open in May 2015 An artist’s rendering shows the scope of the Vineland facility A $10 million, pre-commercial scale research greenhouse is currently under construction at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) for vegetables and nonedible horticulture. It’s slated to open in May 2015. “We see this as a positive development,” says Don Taylor, chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. “While we fund some research at the Harrow station of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, these are aging facilities.” Several projects are already underway at Vineland including the quest for improved flavour in tomatoes. “We’re good at productivity,” says Taylor, “but we need to pay attention to flavour characteristics.” Comprising almost one acre in size, the structure is a standard Venlo design with insulated glass sidewalls and a header house, the nerve centre of the environmental control system. Temperature and humidity will be controllable
in all greenhouse growing areas, a critical feature for research and reduction of variance. Below-ground trenching will reduce shading. The vegetable portion will have a seven meter gutter height, the commercial vegetable greenhouse standard. Two houses will have space of 540 m2 each. The new greenhouse will be used to expand expertise in small-scale variety trials, crosses and selections in cucumber, pepper and tomato in controlled environments. Reverse genetics is an exciting area of research by which phenotyping or testing the performance of plants with altered traits can improve characteristics in tomatoes and peppers. Developing new innovative plant varieties for commercial release that offset imported products and open new markets is a key goal. Another area of research is plant pathology, incorporating the latest containment and water technologies to inves-
tigate new and emerging strains of pathogens to prevent disease spread. The new greenhouse will also enable research on biocontrols, exploring the use of predatory insects on economically-damaging insects. “This new greenhouse represents a significant opportunity for the horticulture industry in Ontario. What sets this project apart is the unique ability it will provide for problem solving and collaboration with our ever-widening range of partners and the commercialization of great science,” says Jim Brandle, CEO, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. With 2,500 acres of greenhouse vegetables under cultivation in Ontario, OGVG invests $270,000 annually in research, matching other funding sources to multiply the impact. All growers are looking forward to enhanced research capacity under Ontario conditions.
Controlling grey mould Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) is a serious problem in most growing regions of greenhouse peppers in Canada. There are few products available for the management of this disease in greenhouse peppers in Canada. During the annual Biopesticide Priority Setting Workshop in March 2013, Botrytis grey mould in greenhouse pepper was selected as a priority issue and Problad Plus was selected as a potential product solution for the management of this disease. Problad Plus is a broad spectrum, preventive biopesticide containing 20 per cent of Banda de Lupinus albus doce (BLAD), a naturally occurring seed storage protein in sweet lupines. Developed by CEV S.A. (Consumo em Verde,
Portugal), Problad Plus is registered in the U.S. under the trade name of Fracture for the control of several diseases including botrytis grey mould on grapes, almonds, strawberries, tomatoes, and stone fruits. This project consists of two trials aiming to generate efficacy and crop tolerance data for Problad Plus in controlling botrytis grey mould in greenhouse peppers. The trials will be conducted during 2014 in British Columbia and Manitoba provinces. If successful, the data from these trials will be used to support regulatory submission for first time registration of Problad Plus in Canada. Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER
FOCUS: GREENHOUSE INNOVATION
Hospital foodservice caters to patients in award-winning pilot
L-R – Nancy Hewitt, foodservice market specialist, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers; George Gilvesy, general manager, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers; Marianne Katusin, manager operational readiness for foodservice, HaltonHealthCare Services; Elma Hrapovich, director of nutrition and foodservices, Halton Healthcare Services. Together, they celebrated the First Local Food Week Award from the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers for the exemplary use of greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Photo by Anne-Marie May.
KAREN DAVIDSON Oakville, Ontario -- Marianne Katusin is a trailblazer. She has led a Greenbelt-funded pilot that makes local produce the centerpiece of a new room service for three hospitals under Halton Healthcare Services. Upon “checking in,” patients receive a menu that fits their specific nutrition needs. The breakthrough is that they can order room service from 7 am to 6 pm, eating what they want, when they want. Want some vegetable soup after surgery? No problem. The result is less food waste and much happier patients on their way to recovery. “This has been a game-changer for us,” says Katusin, manager of operational readiness for foodservice at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, just west of Toronto, Ontario. “We were surprised that 500 people attended our food expo last June – there was that much interest in our new program.” So successful was that event that it’s being repeated at the
hospital as well as Georgetown Hospital and Milton District Hospital this fall. Katusin says that partnerships have made the difference. Hospitals aren’t equipped to handle huge inventories or to execute complex food preparation. Gordon Food Service has been instrumental in supplying Ontario-grown, greenhouse vegetables which are available almost year-round. Steve Crawford, business development specialist for produce, dairy and local, has been instrumental in procurement. In addition, seven of 10 vegetables on Katusin’s menu have been replaced with locally-grown, frozen vegetables through the foodservice purveyor. “This partnership demonstrates that introducing local vegetables into a healthcare setting has its rewards,” says Nancy Hewitt, food service market specialist for the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG). “The increase in café sales during the OGVG local food week competition proved that introducing local fresh menu items matter to patrons, staff and
visitors and most importantly, to the food and nutrition department. This success has fuelled the introduction of new local menu items which means more Ontario greenhouse vegetables will be moving through the supply chain.” Hewitt explains that hospital cafés are typically the first to introduce more local fare into their daily menu offerings. With the various diet restrictions surrounding patient feeding, introducing Ontario greenhouse vegetables at bedside is certainly more complex but hospitals are introducing more local fare through garnishes, salads and sandwiches. Many Ontario hospitals ‘finish’ product in their kitchens but most recently a leading retherm (food warming equipment) company has created a new recipe resource that makes it easier to offer local produce on menus for patients. “I’m pleased to say that OGVG was top of mind when they were creating these new hospital, patient-friendly recipes,” concludes Hewitt.
B.C. greenhouse generates electricity using methane gas from Vancouver landfill Village Farms International has closed its acquisition of Maxim Power Inc for approximately $5.2 million, renaming the company VF Clean Energy Inc. Maxim Power operates a cogeneration facility adjacent to Village Farms, using methane gas from the Vancouver landfill to generate electricity for B.C. Hydro and thermal heat for the greenhouse. The co-generation facility, which has operated since 2004, will continue to produce electricity under an existing
long-term agreement with B.C. Hydro as well as generate thermal heat for the greenhouse. “This acquisition is in keeping with the company’s strong mission of sustainability in farming and growing in a responsible manner,” Michael A. DeGiglio, president and CEO of Village Farms, said when the sale was initially announced. “In the short term, we believe enhancements to the co-gen facility will result in more electric generation as well as increased
thermal heat for our own facilities. This will increase our ability to further reduce our use of natural gas and decrease our carbon footprint. In the longer term, working with strong partners, we plan to receive clean carbon dioxide from the cogeneration facility.” The facility is situated in Ladner, which is a part of the municipality of Delta and a suburb of Vancouver.
PAGE 20 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
White mold in vegetables: FAQs Figure 1: Sclerotia MARION PAIBOMESAI, JANICE LEBOEUF, ELAINE RODDY, VEGETABLE CROPS SPECIALISTS; MICHAEL CELETTI, PLANT PATHOLOGY PROGRAM LEAD - HORTICULTURE
Prolonged wet (not saturated) soil conditions and warm temperatures (15-20°C) favour the germination of sclerotia. A note for carrots – white mold can develop in storage at temperatures greater than 0°C.
What is white mold and what vegetable crops does it affect? What field crops does it affect?
How does white mold overwinter and does it overwinter in Ontario?
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a plant pathogenic fungus that causes a serious disease called white mold in beans, brassica crops, carrots (may also be called sclerotinia white rot), cucurbit crops, peas, sweet potatoes, peppers and tomatoes and lettuce drop in lettuce and pink rot in celery. White mold may also affect edible beans, soybeans, canola, sunflowers, peanuts, lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, alfalfa, buckwheat and apples. The pathogen may infect up to 408 different species of plants. There are also numerous weed species that are also susceptible including lambsquarter, pigweed, Canada thistle, sow thistle, wild mustard www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs. htm?docid=20320
White mold overwinters in the soil as small, black sclerotia, which are hard structures about the size of a pea (Figure 1). Sclerotia may survive in the soil for several years! Vegetable crop rotations can make it difficult to manage this disease as there are several different hosts including weeds.
How does white mold get into a field? • Hard, black sclerotia produced in a previously infected crop may survive in the soil for several years. • Flower petals of susceptible crops/weeds infected by ascospores (air-borne spores), that blow in from adjacent fields • Wind and surface water due to excess surface irrigation or heavy rain-transported soil or crop debris infested with sclerotia (fungal survival structures) • Contaminated machinery may introduce sclerotia or debris with sclerotia into the field • Sclerotia in seed lot What conditions are favourable for the development of this disease?
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What does white mold look like on different crops? Symptoms vary depending on host, the part of the host plant that is infected and the environmental conditions. The most obvious early symptom is fluffy, thick, white fungal growth on the stems of plants. Infected stems of many host plants will appear bleached under dry conditions not favourable for the cottony mycelium growth. White mold symptoms on several crops include: Lettuce: White mold in lettuce is usually called drop. The fungus infects tissues that are in contact with the soil causing a brown, watery rot of the lower leaves and crown. Outer leaves wilt and the entire plant may collapse. White cottony growth and sclerotia may also appear on affected tissues. Cucurbits: White mold symptoms normally first appear on damaged vines or where an old leaf or spent flower rests on the fruit. Vines damaged by sprayer tracks, and varieties with deep indentations at the base of the “handle” are more prone to white mold infections. Dark green
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water-soaked lesions develop on the vines or fruit. The lesions enlarge rapidly, girdling the branches and stems, causing leaves to turn yellow and die. White mold infections will cause the stem to split, revealing a dense white, cottony fungal growth. Small, shrivelled, black (pea-like) sclerotia may be found embedded in the fungal growth. White mold infections occasionally develop on fruit. They tend to occur at the junction of the fruit and the stem or where an older leaf has been decomposing on the fruit surface. Tomatoes: White mold may affect young transplants when environmental conditions favour the germination of sclerotia to produce mycelium that infects the lower stem at the soil line. Water-soaked lesions develop, followed by a prolific, white fungal growth on the stem. On older plants, lesions may occur anywhere on the stem. The stem becomes soft and bleached or light grey. During cool, moist weather, a cottony growth appears on the stems. Black sclerotia may be found on or within the stem. The stem may collapse and die. Infected fruit rots completely. Parts of the plant above the infected area wilt and die.
Figure 2: lettuce drop
Figure 3: pumpkin
Figure 4: tomato
Peppers: White mold symptoms normally first appear at a leaf scar or where an infected flower petal sticks to the plant. Water-soaked lesions develop on the stem at the point of infection. Symptoms on pepper are the same as described above for tomato. Cole Crops (particularly cabbage): White mold or white cottony soft rot symptoms first appear as dark lesions near the soil surface or on the leaf, flowers or stems where an infected senescent flower petal from a neighbouring weed host has landed. In cabbage, the lesions quickly expand into the head
Figure 5: pepper which becomes completely colonized by the fungus. The entire infected head may appear bleached to tan during dry conditions or completely colonized with a white fluffy
mold. Often black sclerotia are imbedded in the infected tissue or the white cottony mold. Continued on next page
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OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER
VEG FOCUS
White mold in vegetables Carrots: White mold is a destructive disease for storage carrots that starts in the field. Infections begin when senescent leaf tissue deep in the canopy is infected. The mold grows down the senescing leaf towards the crown, which causes the petiole to turn brown and die. Foliar infections often weaken the tops at the crown which may make it difficult to mechanically harvest. In storage, the fungus colonizes the roots from the infected crown. Infected roots develop a white cottony fungal growth and small black sclerotia. The fungus can spread to healthy carrots in storage.
Figure 6: carrot bin
Celery: White mold in celery is usually called pink rot and it may occur at any growth stage and even in storage. In the field, infections typically start at the base of the stalks causing brown lesions which typically have pink borders (hence the name ‘pink rot’). White cottony fungal growth and sclerotia usually form on infected tissues. Infected stalks rot and eventually collapse. Figure 7: celery Beans: Infections typically occur where spent blossoms rest on a leaf axil or on a cluster of young pods. Water-soaked lesions followed by a dense cottony growth appear on the infected pods. The spread of the disease in beans usually peaks as the field reaches its time of optimal harvest. Infected stems also develop the white mold often with black sclerotia inside the stem. For more information and photos of white mold on brassi-
Figure 8: beans
cas, tomatoes, peppers and cucurbits, please see Ontario CropIPM http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/IPM /english/index.html. How do you manage white mold? • Practise a three-to-four year crop rotation away from susceptible crops (See question 1 for list of affected crops). • Avoid applying high rates of nitrogen fertilizer as excess nitrogen promotes a dense crop canopy which may limit air movement, prolongs wet conditions conducive for sclerotia germination and thus allows for more favourable conditions for the disease to develop. • Increasing row spacing and plant spacing to allow air movement through the canopy and allowing soil to dry quicker can help reduce sclerotia germination, except during periods of prolonged wet and rainy conditions. • Sub surface irrigation allows the water to get to roots when needed without creating the wet conditions in the top few centimeters of soil that is conducive for sclerotia germination. • Deep burial of infected crop debris will bury the sclerotia too deep to germinate. Only sclerotia that are within the top two to three cm of the soil surface will germinate to produce apothecia. • Applying a registered effective fungicide particularly during flowering will reduce the infection and colonization of flower pedals. Refer to Publication 838. Vegetable Crop Protection Guide for products registered on various crops. For example Contans WG
is registered on several vegetable crops. Please see label for labelled crops and application details as this product is unique in that it needs to be applied preventatively when there are no susceptible crops in the field. • Good weed control prior to flowering will eliminate potential alternative hosts. • In various carrot growing regions (Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Washington State), trimming of carrot foliage has been used on commercial fields to modify the microenvironment in the crop canopy to help reduce white mold infections. Following a three-year project conducted in the Holland Marsh area of Ontario in co-operation with local growers, Mary Ruth McDonald and her research team from the University of Guelph found a disease reduction by up to 12 per cent in the field; however, there were no significant differences found during storage assessments, likely due to low level of disease pressure during the trial. Trimming should occur when the carrot canopy has just begun to close, which is usually in mid-late August in Ontario, depending on weather, planting date, carrot cultivar etc. For more information on the Ontario study, please see www.agr.gc.ca/eng/?id=12990014 09710.
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Edamame bean research in Ontario ELAINE RODDY, VEGETABLE CROPS SPECIALIST, OMAFRA EVAN ELFORD, NEW CROP DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, OMAFRA AND DR. LAURA VAN EERD, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH. It can be really exciting to look at a new crop and imagine the endless market potential. However, finding production information for new crops is often a challenge. Ontario research can be limited or non-existent. Organizations such as the University of Guelph, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and OMAFRA are actively researching new crops and slowly we are starting to fill in some of the gaps in production information. In 2014, one such research project involved edamame beans. Edamame beans are a vegetable soybean. Special varieties are grown and harvested while the beans are still green (Figure 1). They can be sold in the pod or
shelled and are popular both fresh and frozen. They are common in Japanese cuisine, but they are now becoming quite mainstream in North America. While they are a type of soybean, it does not automatically follow that commonly used soybean production methods will apply to edamame production. Nitrogen response trials were conducted at three locations in Southwestern Ontario: Ridgetown, Rodney and Simcoe. The goal is to see the impact of increasing amounts of nitrogen on
yield and crop quality. While the harvest data is still being analysed at this time, Farm and Food Care Ontario produced an interesting video about this project. It can be viewed at http://youtu.be/eOxN9E5estc. This project was funded by the Water Adaptation Quality Initiative. For more information on edamame beans or other new crops, visit OMAFRA’s specialty crop website, Specialty Cropportunties: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/Cro
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PAGE 22 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
BITS AND BITES
New report highlights unique advantages of agriculture in the Greenbelt The latest study from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation captures the changes in agriculture from 2001 to 2011 and highlights the natural and locational advantages of farming in Ontario’s Greenbelt. The report, Agriculture by the Numbers: Understanding the Greenbelt’s Unique Advantages, outlines changes in agriculture over time in the Greenbelt, compared to the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Ontario. Using data from Statistics Canada’s 2001, 2006, and 2011 Census of Agriculture, the paper looks at key variables such as number of farms, area farmed, use of farmland, production levels, and farm revenue. “Agriculture is changing across Ontario and in the Greenbelt,” says Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. “With the Greenbelt’s unique climate and soil, farmers have an advantage in growing particular crops such as tender fruit. Being close to an urban centre also provides farmers access to a growing market. It’s clear that continuing to protect the Greenbelt
and its farmland is critical for the future of farming in Ontario.” Key findings from the study include: • The Greenbelt includes 5,501 farms and 856,424 acres of farmland; it accounts for 10.6 per cent of Ontario’s farms and 6.8 per cent of its farmland. • While there has been a decline in the number of farms across Ontario, the size of farms has increased. • In comparison to other areas of the province, the Greenbelt has several natural advantages in agriculture including climate, soil types, and geography, reflected in the specialized production in its two Specialty Crop areas. • The Greenbelt’s proximity to the Greater Golden Horseshoe supports local food supply chains by producing a large share of Ontario’s fruits and vegetables. • The decline in livestock in the Greenbelt largely parallels trends across the province reflecting market realities beyond farmers’ control, as well as some specific challenges related to proximity to urban development.
These include complaints about odours, and constraints such as availability of supporting infrastructure and minimum acreage requirements.
Ontario beekeepers launch lawsuit against Bayer and Syngenta Two Ontario-based beekeepers have filed a class action lawsuit against Bayer CropScience and Syngenta alleging that their neonicotinoid insecticides have caused bee deaths and honey production losses. The papers were filed to the Ontario Superior Court in Windsor September 2, claiming more than $450 million in damages. Lead plaintiffs are Sun Parlor Honey Limited, Cottam, Ontario and Munro Honey, Alvinston, Ontario. These operations are located in Essex and Lambton counties respectively, in the most southwestern corner of the province. The defendants are the Canadian branches of Bayer CropScience and Syngenta as well as their parent companies.
In the statement of claim, they allege that more than $2 million have been lost due to bee deaths and related decreases in honey production since 2006 when this class of insecticide became widely adopted. Bayer is the manufacturer of imidacloprid and clothiandin pesticides. Together, Bayer and Syngenta manufacture a third insecticide, thiamethoxam, which has been marketed for a decade. The plaintiffs have hired the London, Ontario legal firm of Siskinds and specifically its partner Dimitri Lascaris to prosecute the case. Lascaris is leader of the Securities Class Actions Group and previously worked in securities law for the New York and Paris-based offices of a major
Wall Street firm. The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association is not directly involved with the lawsuit, however a BeeCause Advocacy Fund is posted on its website inviting beekeepers to participate and giving directions on how to become involved in the lawsuit. In a news release to members, the OBA said the class action suit seeks to recover losses including: killed or weakened bees; non-productive queens and bee colonies; breeding stock; contaminated wax, combs and hives; reduced honey production and lost profits; costs incurred to meet honey and pollination contracts; and increased labour, equipment and supply expenses.
ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION
156TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING JANUARY 13 & 14, 2015 CROWNE PLAZA NIAGARA FALLS, ON
AWARD OF MERIT NOMINATIONS
REVISED TWO-DAY FORMAT
The award is our way of recognizing the outstanding contribution made by an individual or organization to our fruit and vegetable industry.
with meetings Tuesday and Wednesday, banquet Tuesday night.
Is there someone you would like to nominate? Deadline: Nov. 30, 2014
REGISTRATION INFORMATION, AGENDA AND AWARD OF MERIT NOMINATION FORM AVAILABLE AT
www.ofvga.org
NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION visit www.ofvga.org to find the link to register online.
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER
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PAGE 24 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
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PAGE 26 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER
MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS
A sporting chance
CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA Sport has taught us a lot about perseverance and gutting it out, the joy of victory and the agony of defeat. The best athletes have no ‘defeat’ word in their vocabulary- just a ‘let me compete against (them) again attitude.’ This is taken to the next level in the business world, which covets the services of top athletes who exemplify the never-quit attitudes needed for corporate success. Just having these winners around your staff allows that spirit to rub off for everyone’s gain. Most sports are team oriented, and even individual games, like golf, can at times take on a team aspect as with the Ryder Cup in golf. So it is with major international negotiations. There might be any large number of bilateral discussions at a meeting, but in order to get any meaningful results, it takes a large group (team) of delegates to impact a significant number of their
counterparts. So it was at the most recent Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR). There were over 100 countries present. Large countries had large delegations to ‘work the floor.’ Many small or very small countries had decidedly large delegations relative to the scope of their pesticide use. Unfortunately, Canada had only four people in its delegation, including one grower organization delegate. On the other hand, Ghana from West Africa had eight delegates. So did Kenya! Is it any wonder that Canada cannot make a significant impact? Is it any wonder that when changes are proposed that we might favour, there is little or no impact that Canada can make from discussions with anti-position voting countries due to the sheer impossibility of ‘making the rounds’? CODEX is a self-governing group with such a ‘flywheel’ that it seems impossible to effect change there. Nonetheless, the unequal power wielded within by some regions prevents change. By accepting the status quo, we as a Country accept that our producers should NOT be able to compete fairly in global trade. CODEX ‘work’ gets done by ‘volunteer’ toxicologists from around the world, who seem to like the ‘way it is.’ I was castigated a couple years ago for suggesting that there needed to be changes made. The response was that Dr. X from country Y had
If change is needed, maybe we first need a bigger team with top picks on the basis of drive and desire. It is up to growers, the pesticide industry and the government to make those decisions, and to accept the outcomes. been going ‘to help out’ for years, even after retirement, and was ‘really good’ at it, and ‘liked’ to go to the work meetings. There may have been a point made there -- it would seem that ‘comfort’ in the work is more important than moving ahead with modern thinking, new approaches, and younger minds who can accept change. It has been excruciatingly slow to see the acceptance of proportionality being used to bridge differences in use rates on crops to come up with a residue tolerance despite the differences. There continues to be changes made in Crop Group members which can and has led to different residue limits set at CODEX for crops that we consider to be in a different group. From the minutes of the latest meeting, I see more of that happening. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has been much more forthcoming the past few years in seeking out grower needs and priorities to take forth to the next CODEX meetings. Every year we find more and new issues that need resolution there. The queue of work is four years long and counting! The potential trade loss during that timeframe is staggering when any one of the residue/crop combinations could
nix a multi-million dollar deal. The questions that ‘we’ need to ask are: Do we have enough players on our team? Do they have the drive and vision to get the job done? Do they have the skill set, including languages and cultural knowledge to make contacts with other delegates from around the world? Do they have enough support (time, money, and logistics) to do what is needed? Will they go the distance? Can we win with what we have or do we need to recruit additional team players who want to carry the ball? I guess we all need to ask those questions. If people are satisfied with the status quo, then we can just do nothing. If change is needed, maybe we first need a bigger team with top picks on the basis of drive and desire. It is up to growers, the pesticide industry and the government to make those decisions, and to accept the outcomes. In an entirely different venue, I have seen absolutely fantastic changes that have occurred in the level and complexity of the relationships between our PMRA and the U.S. EPA staff. At recent meetings, they were able to sit down together and go through a long list of issues on joint minor use projects, and reach consensus
on them all. The Pest Management Centre (PMC) under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and their IR-4 counterparts in the U.S. were able to get all their regulatory issues resolved so joint projects would be completed simultaneously. Cooperation and selflessness were the name of the game that day. It certainly bodes well for areas beyond just minor use projects. I have heard of other situations that still beg for that spirit of cooperation, however. I really think that the intervention of producers’ voices into discussions between regulators and registrants would yield gains for both. Certainly grower perspectives on use patterns, pest needs, dos and don’ts for re-entry times and personal protective equipment use could ‘fix’ impasses long before they became that. It would change the dynamic, but all for the good. Better time frames for completion of reviews, better labelled use patterns, and better understanding of what growers can and would accept on a label are all possible. There is much to be gained, but we all need our ‘A Teams’ at play, and willingness to never accept defeat! That gives the ‘system’ a sporting chance of serving everyone’s best interest.
Brown marmorated stink bug update HANNAH FRASER, ENTOMOLOGY HORTICULTURE PROGRAM LEAD, OMAFRA An adult brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) was caught in a trap at another one of our survey sites in Niagara, near Niagara-on-the-Lake. The presence of adults in traps indicates growers / consultants need to be on the look-out for this pest in their crops. It is very easy to miss BMSB when it is at low levels. This pest is highly mobile, and the adults can move in from adjacent areas at any point in the growing season. See the OMAFRA website for management recommendations. It is likely this will be revised as we learn more about the biology of BMSB in Ontario. Brown marmorated stink bugs have been confirmed as
established (breeding populations) in Hamilton, London, Newboro, St. Catharines, and Windsor, ON. In addition, we have captured adult BMSB in pheromone traps set up on commercial farms near Beamsville, Cedar Springs (2013), Essex, Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. David’s, and Waterdown. There have been homeowner finds (indoors) in the Golden Horseshoe and GTA (Hamilton, Burlington, Milton, Toronto, Vaughan, Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Stoney Creek), Western Ontario (Cedar Springs, Essex, Windsor, Kincardine, London, Paris, Tecumseh, Maidstone), and Eastern Ontario (Newboro, Ottawa) Stay up-to-date on findings of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug in Ontario at OMAFRA’s Brown Marmorated Stink Bug web page.
OCTOBER 2014 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER
MINOR USE
Frontier Max herbicide to control weeds on grapes JIM CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USE COORDINATOR, GUELPH The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for Frontier Max herbicide for control of weeds on grapes in Canada. Frontier Max herbicide was already labeled for management of weeds on onions, cabbage, peanuts, corn, beans and ornamentals in Canada. This minor use project was originally submitted by Ontario in 1997 and subsequently taken over by the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Centre (AAAFC-PMC) in 2009 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel in Canada. Management of weeds on grapes has been an on-going priority of producers. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Frontier Max herbicide. Frontier Max herbicide can be used for control of weeds applied as a single pre-emergent application
directed to the base of vines at a rate of 963 mL per hectare. Do not apply during bud swell, bud break or at time of first flush of new growth. Do not apply within 30 days of harvest of grapes. Frontier Max herbicide should be used in an integrated weed management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Frontier Max herbicide is toxic to aquatic organisms, mammals and terrestrial plants. Do not contaminate aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers. The use of this chemical may result in contamination of groundwater particularly in areas where soils are permeable and/or the depth to the water table is shallow. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Frontier Max herbicide label carefully. For a copy of the new minor use label contact Wendy McFadden-Smith, OMAFRA, Vineland (905) 562-3833, the Grape Growers of Ontario (905) 688-0990 or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/registranttitulaire/tools-outils/label-etiq-eng.php
Goal herbicide to control weeds on highbush blueberries The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for Goal 2XL herbicide for control of weeds on highbush blueberries in Canada. Goal herbicide was already labeled for management of weeds on dry bulb onions, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflowers, strawberries, field grown conifers, conifer seedlings and poplar in Canada. This minor use project was originally submitted by Ontario in 1999 and subsequently taken over by the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Centre (AAAFC-PMC) in 2003 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and
extension personnel in Canada. Management of weeds on highbush blueberries has been an on-going priority of producers. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Goal herbicide. Goal herbicide can be used for control of labeled weeds plus field pansy and wood sorrel at a rate of 1.0 L per broadcast hectare. Apply in a band on either side of the highbush blueberry rows when the weeds are in the two to four leaf stage. Apply only one application per year and do not apply within 50 days of harvest of blueberries. Goal herbicide should be used in an integrated weed
DuPont to sell its copper fungicide business to Mitsui DuPont Crop Protection has announced an agreement with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) for DuPont to sell its global Kocide and ManKocide copper fungicide business assets to Mitsui. The sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter 2014, subject to approvals from applicable regulatory authorities. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. As part of the transaction Mitsui will acquire DuPont Crop Protection's global copper fungicide trademarks (including the DuPont Kocide and ManKocide brands); product registrations; registration data; manufacturing know-how (including process patents); certain third-party contracts; and DuPont's Houston, Texas copper fungicide production facility. "This agreement is another step in the execution of our DuPont Crop Protection business growth strategy," said Rik Miller, president, DuPont Crop Protection. "The agreement further enhances our focus on innovative new offerings that drive profitable growth both today and over the long term." Under the agreement, DuPont will continue to sell Kocide and ManKocide branded products within Asia Pacific exclusively for a period of up to five years under a supply and distribution agreement, and also will continue to supply DuPont's current copper fungicide mixture partner needs globally. Kocide copper fungicides remain important fungal and bacterial disease management tools and are registered for use in more than 75 countries globally and in all major regions of the world. The most important crops for copper fungicides are grapes, citrus, olives, vegetables and fruits. Source: DuPont news release
management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Goal herbicide is toxic to aquatic organisms, mammals, birds, terrestrial plants and beneficial insects. Do not contaminate aquatic habitats when spraying or when cleaning and rinsing spray equipment or containers. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Goal herbicide label carefully. For a copy of the new minor use label contact Pam Fisher, OMAFRA, Simcoe (519) 4262238, the Ontario Berry Growers Association (613) 258-4587 or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca
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 of cider mill washwater at Bennett’s Apple and Cider in Ancaster 2) treatment of winery washwater at DiProfio Wines and Lincoln Farm Winery in Niagara 3) treatment of pond water at Hihojo Farms for supply of hog drinking water
For additional information please Contact Lloyd Rozema at: cell. 905-327-4571 email. lrozema@aqua-tt.com
PAGE 28 –– OCTOBER 2014 THE GROWER