The Grower Newspaper September 2011 by The Grower

SEPTEMBER 2011

CELEBRATING 131 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

VOLUME 61 NUMBER 09

Potato growers looking to hedge quarry’s pitfalls Water dispute spills into GTA KAREN DAVIDSON Six thousand acres of Honeywood silt loam, coveted by potato growers surrounding Shelburne, Ontario, sit at the head of a simmering controversy. “The BMW of soil” is how Kate Armstrong describes the legacy of her great-great-great-great grandfather who first farmed there in 1853. It’s prized for the artesian springs and seeps that naturally water the crop through droughts. Quietly amassed since 2006, this land, and its water sources, are now owned by The Highland Companies, a fact that positions them as one of the largest potato growers in Ontario and supplier of about half of the region’s potatoes. On March 4 of this year, in a move out of character for a potato grower, Highland filed an application to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to begin excavating a quarry on approximately 2,200 acres of their holdings. Equally troubling to many in the region, Highland is controlled by The Baupost Group, a privately held Bostonbased hedge fund with assets of more than US$22 billion under management. Now out of the weeds, it appears they want to ditch potatoes and instead, dig for 21st-century industrial gold: limestone. “If the quarry plan goes through, I won’t be able to farm,” says potato grower Dave Vander Zagg. The site of the proposed quarry is critically located at the

INSIDE Nova Scotia hosts apple working group Page 4 OFVGA Summer Tour highlights

Page 12

Focus: New equipment and technology Page 14

www.thegrower.org P.M. 40012319

It’s about the water! Growers are bottling their anger and directing it towards a sign campaign that urges politicians to nix a mega-quarry that would impact a renowned potato-growing area near Shelburne, Ontario. Representing the cause (L-R) are: Jon Squirrell, Mark Atkinson, Glen Squirrell, Diane French, Dave Vander Zaag and Dale Rutledge. headwaters of five rivers -Grand, Pine, Nottawasaga, Saugeen and Boyne – that flow off the escarpment elevation into the countryside. The fertile plateau forms a roof for the Niagara Escarpment whose exposed spine runs through Dufferin County. Given the 200foot anticipated depth of the quarry, surrounding farms would be starved of the water that normally feeds 15,000 acres of potatoes and many other rotational crops. “This is not just about soil but about water,” says Leo Blydorp, director and policy advisor to the Dufferin Federation of Agriculture (DFA). “Aggregates are needed in Ontario to support the province's growth. The question is -- where should our aggregates come from? We believe aggregates should come from outside the Niagara Escarpment, the Greenbelt, and away from environmentally sensitive areas,” Blydorp wrote in an opposing brief submitted to the MNR.

“Water is a main issue as far as it impacts people’s lives,” says Lindsay Broadhead, spokesperson for The Highland Companies, who notes that the topic surfaced often in the 2,000 public letters received in the 45-day comment period and in the additional 3,700 letters received during the extension until July 11. Highland has recently agreed to treat all of the comments with equal weight. They are obliged to respond to concerns in the next two years as MNR reviews the application and to conduct further research if required. From Highland’s perspective, their application meets “considerable” environmental requirements set out by the Aggregates Resource Act, the Planning Act, the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act. “Our analysis concludes that with water management systems, and with checks and balances in place, groundwater levels would be maintained with no adverse

impact on the Pine River subsystem,” says Broadhead. Citing the province’s own study, State of the Aggregate Resource in Ontario, Broadhead says that Highland can help meet the anticipated demand for an average of 186 million tons of aggregate in each of the next 20 years. Proximity of the proposed Highland quarry to the Golden Horseshoe is an asset, she says, because about 100 million tons will be needed with the city of Vaughan considered the nucleus of demand. This view is consistent with Highland’s website, and a video with a panoramic view of Toronto’s city skyline. Not all politicians are of the same view. DFA has asked the township of Melancthon to classify the region as a specialty crops area, a designation that would protect the land for ongoing crops. While the municipal politicians mull over that request, the Conservative MP for the region, David Tilson, has been active on

the file by petitioning for an environmental assessment at the federal level. In contrast, Conservative MPP Sylvia Jones, although initially seen as a vocal opposer of the quarry, has recently been conspicuously silent on the quarry that would blast rock 312 days a year and consume 600 million litres of water a day. Contrary to its savvy business and political moves in Toronto, Highland feels no compunction to polish its corporate citizenship in Melancthon Township. When local potato grower Glen Squirrell signed a letter of concern regarding environmental impacts that was submitted to MNR last spring, it was done in his role as the chair of the Ontario Potato Board. Little did he know that Highland would promptly terminate long-standing agreements to supply seed potatoes to their farm managers. Continued on page 3

PAGE 2 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

AT PRESS TIME… Potato predictions Canada’s empty potato pipeline is likely to get plugged. That’s the prediction of Mark Drouin, vice-president, Canadian Potato Council, as an influx of North American, new-harvest potatoes hits supermarkets in early fall.

Mark Drouin, vice-president, Canadian Potato Council, views new varieties at the Ontario Potato Day, August 19. “Yes, there will most likely be some overshipping at the beginning of the marketing season, but buyers shouldn’t base prices on a long crop,” Drouin says. “I’m advising potato growers to build relationships with their buyers to prepare them for the entire season’s supply. While we have similar acreage to last year, we are projecting decreased yields.” Those statistics, compounded with similar supplies in the U.S., mean the domestic potato crop will tail off sooner than expected going into 2012.

NEWSMAKERS

owners with eligible bunkhouses will receive two separate communications from MPAC: • A letter advising growers that their bunkhouse qualifies for the farm property class rate; and • An Amended Notice to reflect this change for the 2011 tax year. In addition, MPAC will also notify the corresponding municipalities so that they can make the appropriate adjustments to the property taxes. If you think that your bunkhouse may be eligible under the new criteria and you have not received any communication from MPAC, contact 1 866 296MPAC (6722) Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. To review the Regulation, please visit the ServiceOntario e-Laws site.

Apple research boosted in the Maritimes Thanks to a federal investment of $226,000 to the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers Association, Maritime apple growers are looking forward to research results to improve apple quality. Over the next three years, researchers from the association will work with researchers at the Atlantic Food and Horticultural Research Centre in Kentville to study how weather impacts the maturity and quality of new high-value apple varieties.

Bunkhouse update

Stats Canada to survey harvested fruits and veg

Earlier this year, an important change was made to the Assessment Act by the Government of Ontario involving farm bunkhouses. In December of 2010, it was announced that eligible farm bunkhouses would be taxed at the farm property class rate beginning January 1, 2011. The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) has been working with farm organizations to ensure that farmers are aware of the regulation change and identify any bunkhouses that are eligible under the new criteria. In the coming weeks, property

As usual, a Statistics Canada survey will be mailed this fall to all fruit and vegetable growers in Canada to obtain data on harvested production and value of selected crops. A government representative will phone you between October 31 and November 27 to obtain data on harvested production and value of selected fruit and vegetable crops. For the third consecutive year, Statistics Canada has amended the survey to confirm final values for storable commodities from 2010. Called section C, this is applicable to growers of apples, cabbage, carrots, dry onions,

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Funding for carrot processing plant Provincial funding worth $750,000 is slated for a new carrot processor in Wheatley, Ontario. Bolthouse Farms will create up to 100 new jobs within the first two years. The Rural Economic Development Program will allow Bolthouse Farms, which has partnered with a local grower, Nature’s Finest, to grow and process fresh carrots. Bolthouse Farms will renovate a 66,000 square foot processing facility in Wheatley and is anticipated to earn $7 million in sales in its first year.

Congratulations to two Canadian exhibitors who recently showed at the 2011 Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Flavour Expo in Monterey, California. Led by Larry McIntosh and his team, Manitoba’s Peak of the Market took first place, a reprise of their win at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association earlier this year. (The exhibit was featured on page 5 of The Grower’s May issue). Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers won second place ‘Best of Show’ with a newly commissioned booth that incorporated pointof-sale display units. These will be used by retailers through an instore education program to be launched this fall, thanks to funding from the Ontario Market Investment Fund. OGVG representatives at the conference and expo included: director James Cornies, director Jim Veri, general manager George Gilvesy, marketing coordinator Laura Brinkmann, and Ontario Greenhouse Marketers Association manager Margaret Wigfield.

Webinars offer assistance for PTI The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is on standby to help industry meet the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) milestones. Webinars will be held in September. All industry trading partners, companies just starting to implement PTI, companies in mid-stream with the process and traceability solution providers are invited to participate says Lianne Wand, CPMA. There is no registration fee. Note the following sessions: 1. PTI’s 5 Ws (and 1 H): Who, What, When, Where, Why and How – Monday, August 29, 11 am-12 noon EDT/8-9 am pm PDT 2. Implementing PTI: Best Practices for Packer/Shippers – Wednesday, September 7, 2-3 pm EDT/11 am-12 noon PDT 3. Implementing PTI: Best Practices for Assigning GTINs – Wednesday, September 14, 2-3 pm EDT/11 am-12 noon PDT 4. Implementing PTI: Best Practices for Case Labeling – Wednesday, September 21, 2-3 pm EDT/11 am-12 noon PDT 5. Implementing PTI: Best Practices for Hybrid Pallet Labeling – Wednesday, September 28, 2-3 pm EDT/11 am-12 noon PDT 6. Implementing PTI: Best Practices for Retailers – Wednesday, September 28, 2-3 pm EDT/11 am-12 noon PDT To register: visit the PTI website’s events page.

Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers win second place exhibit at the 2011 PMA Foodservice Flavour Expo. Chantal Hébert, Toronto Star public affairs columnist and CBC National News commentator on the “At Issue” panel, is this year’s guest speaker at the Grape Growers of Ontario annual celebrity luncheon. The September 14 event in St. Catharines is the official launch of the Niagara Wine Festival. Colleen Haskins is the new OMAFRA On-Farm Food Safety Program Lead. Most recently, she was with the Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association. Sean Myles has been appointed Canada Research Chair in Agricultural Genomics. He is an assistant professor at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and recently addressed the Canadian Apple Working Group on his research to accelerate apple breeding. Condolences to the family of Danny DiFrancesco who passed away August 3. Most recently, DiFrancesco was the director of sales and marketing with Ippolito Fruit and Produce Ltd. As a long-time member of the produce industry, he mentored many over the years. Also in memoriam is John Fortino, one of the founders of Fortino’s Supermarkets in Ontario. He passed away May 17.

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

Potato growers looking to hedge quarry’s pitfalls

Not far from Horning’s Mills, Ontario, the pristine waters of the Pine River spill over an old dam. Access to water, like this source, worries potato and vegetable farmers if the mega-quarry is approved. Continued from page 1 The community has been rubbed raw to the point that several action groups have coalesced in surprising ways. Unlike many rural land-use issues, the mega-quarry proposal has tapped into a vein of urban activism. The Shelburne area is weekender country, attracting Toronto professionals who have now become comrades-in-arms with their farming neighbours.

Volunteers canvassing and distributing “Stop the Quarry” and “Protect our Water” signs work under the auspices of the North Dufferin Agriculture and Community Taskforce (NDACT). Chair Dale Rutledge has become a local voice strengthened by urban-based Food Secure Canada, Sustain Ontario and the Toronto Food Policy Council. “This marks the first time that food security advocates have worked together with rural

residents and farmers to oppose a development issue,” say Carl Michener, a local resident and a communications consultant working pro bono to raise awareness. “Each of the three groups has a slightly different reason for opposing it.” In the weeks leading to the October 6 provincial election, signs protesting the quarry are becoming as common in Metro Toronto as Melancthon Township. And, politicians of all stripes should expect to be interviewed by city media about agriculture, aggregates and the American company that has set its sights on mining limestone from prime Ontario farmland. Baupost is already on record with its modus operandi of

searching out underperforming, undervalued and often cashstrapped assets to fund big returns. Seeing that template put into action in other American jurisdictions has rural and urban citizens alike questioning Highland’s recent purchase of parts of a rail line that could link the proposed quarry to the port of Owen Sound as well as Toronto. Highland’s spokesperson denies any plan to export the limestone as “expensive” and confirms the company’s plan “to use 100 per cent of the aggregate for the Greater Toronto Area market.” Such business questions will be answered in due course, but the most pressing question today is political: apart from farmers, who is prepared to stand up for

the land? “I still believe in democracy,” says Vander Zagg. “I think our grassroots citizens’ movement will work.” Joined by fellow potato growers Dale Rutledge, Glen Squirrell and vegetable grower Diane French, they’re already busy organizing a postelection event for mid-October, creatively called Foodstock. French shares their optimism and hope in telling of one prominent urban politician who answered the call when asked to support their cause. It’s hard not to believe that if Jack Layton had won his own personal battle, he would have backed up strong encouragement with even stronger commitment.

Take stock of new ground tactics This is not the first time that farmers have battled commercial interests to protect prime agricultural land. What’s always difficult is harnessing a groundswell of opposition for the long haul, both financially and emotionally. In southern Ontario, a chain of food activists links some very disparate groups from both rural and urban spectrums. Here are some ideas that could be replicated in other jurisdictions: July 3 En Plein Air ‘Paint In’ attracted 40 artists to the Hills of the Headwaters August 28 Tractor Canada Convoy with John Varty September 21 Downstream-Downtown will focus on the impact to water September 30 Queen’s Park Rally to celebrate harvest featuring foods from the area October 16 Foodstock, a public food event to be headlined by chef Michael Stadtlander

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United Fresh CEO visits Ontario

French potato grown on Channel island

As part of the United Fresh Produce Association’s tour to six eastern states, senior staff visited Leamington, Ontario on August 17. The meeting highlighted how U.S. policy is shaped by members on key issues such as food safety, labour and increasing produce consumption. “Our visit to Leamington recognizes the stake that our Canadian members have in sound U.S. policy, and vice versa,” President and CEO Tom Stenzel said. “Our industry transcends governmental borders, and deserves fair and equitable business and government standards among all trading partners. Our members in more than 30 countries around the world are just as interested in pending new U.S. food safety regulations as our domestic members.” Source: FreshPlaza.com

Retailer Tesco is now selling the world’s most expensive potatoes across the U.K. Called La Bonnotte, they are usually handharvested on a small French island. An exclusive supply for Tesco is now cultivated on the island of Jersey for the equivalent of £2.65 per kilo. “La Bonnotte are the caviar of the potato world and kilo for kilo are among the planet’s most expensive foods along with white truffles, saffron, macadamia nuts and Beluga caviar,” says Tesco senior potato buyer Andy Blackett. “As seaweed is added to the soil to enrich their production, there is a distinct hint of sea saltiness as well as lemon and an earthy nuttiness.” Source: PotatoPro newsletter

Broccoli growers seek corridor on U.S. east coast

U.K. retailer launches rainbow cauliflower

Most of the broccoli consumed in the United States comes from California or Mexico, but there's a new effort to grow broccoli on the east coast as well. Thanks to a $3.2 million USDA grant, a study is underway on how to create a broccoligrowing corridor from Florida to Maine. Growers in Virginia, especially near the Blue Ridge, are figuring out what strain of broccoli is best suited for their area where heat and humidity can ruin a broccoli crop. Americans are eating more broccoli than ever with consumption doubling in the past 25 years. The project aims to grow broccoli closer to consumers. Source: FreshPlaza.com

Tesco, the United Kingdom’s largest food retailer, is launching multi-coloured cauliflower in an attempt to revive sales of the vegetable. It’s a commodity that’s down 6.5 per cent in U.K. sales while broccoli has edged up two per cent. Vivid orange, emerald green, shocking pink and traditional white varieties

will be sold in the rainbow pack to cultivate kid cravings. Grown in Lincolnshire exclusively for Tesco, the coloured cauliflower types are all naturally produced but have been crossed with other types of Brassica in order to create exciting colour variations. “These cauliflowers are almost works of art and have a real wow factor that should really create a stir with shoppers and hopefully children at dinnertime,” said Tesco greens buyer Jeni Gray. The coloured cauliflower varieties follow the arrival of pink and yellow mushrooms into the fresh produce aisle. Source: FreshPlaza.com

PAGE 4 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

CANADIAN APPLE INDUSTRY MEETING

Competition increases in global apple industry KAREN DAVIDSON

Canadian Fresh Apple Imports by Country of Origin

“The global outlook for apples is competition, competition, competition,” says Farid Makki, senior market development advisor, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. That’s no surprise to the Canadian Horticultural Council’s Apple Working Group which recently met in Nova Scotia to discuss how to improve the industry’s fortunes. Here’s his analysis of both challenges and opportunities. “Everyone – including the U.S.and China – is feeling the pinch,” says Makki. “Worldwide apple production keeps increasing, while production costs continue their upward trend and demand is sluggish.” He itemized the commonalities among applegrowing countries: • Increased concentration along the supply chain with number of firms declining at every level (grower, packer, storage, marketing) • More stringent fresh market requirements (quality, food safety, traceability, sustainability) • Rising cost of resources (land, capital, labour, water, power, transportation and chemicals) and increased challenges in accessing

them (particularly for land, water and labour). • Static or declining demand for fresh apples in many developed countries due to intense competition from processed snacks and other types of fruit such as berries, tropical fruit • Sluggish demand in many countries with growing supplies has led to an increasing share of the world’s apple production entering

international trade • Potential for growth in demand has moved from developed world to the developing world • Apple industry affected by macroeconomic forces that influence key economic parameters such as income levels, taxation, inflation, interest rates and exchange rates. With this international context as background, Makki suggests a

number of opportunities for Canadian apple growers. Besides the obvious step of increasing orchard productivity and yields, growers can seek to improve consistency of quality in packed-out product, alter the product mix with “appropriate” varieties and strengthen the consumer appeal of apples. Perhaps the biggest opportunity is to seize the “buylocal” trend with a brand or trade-

mark. These moves could pay off with stronger relationships with retailers sourcing Canadianbranded apples. Finally, there may be opportunities to increase Canadian apple exports to countries such as Russia and India, where a growing middle class appears to have an insatiable appetite for high quality imported goods, including fresh apples. Continued on the next page

Show ’em you can grow ’em! Photos: Michelle Dunn, Gary Beechy

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR, NOV 4-13, 2011

ake part in the biggest indoor

agricultural show in North America – it’s your chance to show the world the quality of your produce or to promote your ideas for improving agriculture. Through education and entertainment, The Royal’s exhibits help the public get closer to the source of their food, and to experience first-hand the careful preparation and environmental consideration that goes into bringing the bounty of the field to their tables. The Royal is also a great place to bring the family. Take in The Royal Horse Show, see the amazing President’s Choice® SuperDogs or treat the kids to the Family Fun Zone. Wine, dine, snack and sample. Learn about the latest in healthy eating. Or take the opportunity to do some one-of-kind Holiday shopping. For details about programs and registration visit royalfair.org

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

CANADIAN APPLE INDUSTRY MEETING

Competition increases in global apple industry Continued from last page Russia is already the largest apple importer in the world and India has been increasing significantly its fresh apple imports in the last five years, particularly from the U.S. On this final point, the Apple Working Group has been considering a benchmarking (competitiveness) study on the Canadian apple industry, says Joe Sardinha, chair, Apple Working Group. If a proposal is accepted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for funding, a study would look at key export markets in the U.K. and U.S. as well as

the domestic market. “The primary focus is to measure client needs and preferences in key domestic and export markets and to measure the performance of Canadian apples as they compete with a myriad of rival exporting countries,” says Sardinha. “These studies are useful in identifying gaps in quality or other customer satisfaction problems that may be contributing to loss of markets or market share. The potato industry conducted a similar benchmarking project for their sector a few years ago.” The group also looked at overall pricing. It’s down

slightly, says Sardinha, but there is no indication of dumping. Even with a healthy supply of apples, retailers are reluctant to differentiate between the varieties and are “premium-shy.” Gala apples at $.88/pound, for example, provide very slim margins. To try to understand the retail sector better, the Apple Working Group plans to take a page from its potato colleagues. For the annual general meeting next March, the group hopes to have a half-day session with retailers exploding some of the purchasing myths.

Kentville Research Station celebrates 100th anniversary The Canadian Apple Working Group visited the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia for good reason this summer. Besides producing 10 per cent of all Canadian apples, the area is home to the 188-hectare Kentville Research Station which has been a beehive of activity for 100 years. Now called the Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre, it’s celebrating the researchers who have bred or evaluated fruit cultivars specifically suited to the maritime climate. To name just a few, they range from Nova Spy apples to L’Acadie Blanc wine grapes. This is also where 60 per cent of the strawberry varieties grown in Canada were developed. Today, the station’s strengths are as varied as the researchers. For instance, Mark Hodges, research centre director, has his own stake in comparing the bioactive properties of spinach grown in Nova Scotia with that of Texas. He’s looking at whether the generally more stressful environment of the maritime climate actually translates into more antioxidants that protect the plant – and consumers. For the Apple Working Group, Hodges summarized the specific apple research in progress which will have implications for the entire Canadian industry.

Veteran tree fruit breeder, Charlie Embree, has been studying apple varieties for over 40 years. 1) Using genomics to accelerate apple breeding: Mapping of fruit genetic make-up will help speed up apple breeding in the future by identifying genes responsible for

GREA ATT L A K E S

particular traits. We are planning to sequence the genome at seedling stage and then predict adult traits. 2) International cultivar evaluation trial: We are testing new cultivars from around the world for performance in the maritime region. This year we have 189 cvs in our trial (split almost 50:50 between scab resistant and susceptible). 3) From root stock to genetic improvement: We're evaluating and naming promising Kentville breeding progeny, such as apples ('Cotton Candy', 'Masonova', 'Evangeline') and pears ('Canadian Gold'). We're also evaluating 15 new apple rootstocks this year. 4) Research on organic pest management: We are studying innovative herbicide and fungicide replacement strategies for organic apple production. We're also incorporating fruit fly bait as part of apple orchard IPM, as well as studying organic methods to control European Apple Sawfly. Old orchard soils contain root pathogens such as Pythium and nematodes. As fumigants are being phased out, we need alternatives. As a result we're examining effects of different composts and different compost application methods on incidence of ARD.

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PAGE 6 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

New project funds market, consumer research into ethno-cultural vegetables Field trials of new ethno-cultural vegetable crops have started in Ontario under guidance of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC). The project is focused on such crops as: Indian kaddu, Chinese red hot pepper, okra, yard long bean, Asian eggplant, amaranth, fuzzy melon, round eggplant, maca, tomatillo, bottle gourd, daikon radish and Indian red carrot. “Our demographics are changing,” says Brian Gilroy, OFVGA chair. “The vast majority of Canada’s immigrants used to be of European background and now more than half are of Asian heritage. Fruit and vegetable farmers are looking for new ways to diversify their market and we have the unique ability in Ontario to grow many different crops.” “Market intelligence and profitability are important if growing world crops is to be successful in Ontario,” says Jim Brandle, CEO, VRIC. “Our farmers are good at growing traditional crops, but there has been limited expertise in growing, marketing or selling new crops. This is now changing. This project is

about creating a profitable opportunity for growers through to retailers.” The three-year project includes consumer and market potential assessments, analysis of new varieties and crops desired by consumers and retailers, on-farm production trials, taste and quality assessments, and transfer of production information to farmers. Trials are underway thanks to funding provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program. Three meetings are slated to highlight this year’s trial crops and provide information to interested farmers: • August 29 at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Vineland Station • August 30 at University of Guelph research station in Simcoe • September 7 at J. Collins and Sons in Copetown All meetings start at 6 pm. Right: Grower Stan Jackson offers Tinda Asian gourds to a growing multi-cultural base at the Milton Farmers’ Market.

Greenbelt Fund announces 15 grantees The Greenbelt Fund recently announced 15 grantees for the “Broader Public Sector Investment Fund: Promoting Ontario Food.” As a sister organization of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, it is helping to increase the amount of Ontario food served in daycares, schools, universities and colleges, hospitals and long-term care facilities. “In this second round of grants we are seeing leaders who are making systemic change in order to incorporate more Ontario food into their food service operations,” says Bill Duron, program director, Greenbelt Fund. “The education sector is one of those leaders, taking initiatives to educate the next crop of food service professionals. This means more high-quality Ontario food and home-cooked meals in public institutions.” Here is a partial list of the most recent grantees. 100 km Foods Inc.: Providing Fresh Ontario Food to Public Institutions – $171,000 Having established a successful local food distribution system in the Greater Toronto Area, 100 km Foods will now expand their service to public institutions. This grant will help grow their existing distribution model and connect farmers directly with chefs and buyers in public institutions such as the Greater Toronto Airport Authority and the University of Toronto.

Dairy Farmers of Ontario: Bringing Nutrition to Ontario Schools - $100,000 This grant will bring nutritious Ontario dairy products to 40 of the province’s middle schools. The Nutrition Centre pilot project will install vending machines to supply single servings of milk, yogurt drinks made with Ontario dairy and fruit, Ontario cheese and cracker packets, baby carrots, sliced apples and apple or apple/pear juices. As part of the program, 4-H Ontario members will also visit the schools to educate students about local food seasonality and sutainable agricultural practices. Holland Marsh Growers’ Association: Connecting the Farmer to the Foodservice Business - $50,000 One way to connect farmers to the food value chain is by identifying a go-between with foodservice distributors. Holland Marsh Growers are hiring a broker to connect the 100 farmers in the Marsh and their products with foodservice distributors operators and buyers. This project will foster the systemic change that is necessary to grow the amount of Ontario food available to public institutions. The Corporation of Norfolk County: Cultivating Relationship from Local Producers to the Consumer $150,000 To increase the amount of local food served at the

County’s health care institutions, Norfolk will use this grant to track and change food procurement policies at three facilities. A coordinator will liaise with the facilities, growers and processors to determine opportunities for menu revisions and substitute imported product with locally sourced product. The results of this program will be shared with health care facilities throughout the Province. Simcoe County Farm Fresh Marketing Association: A New Model for Local Food Distribution - $35,000 By collecting data on current purchasing practices in the county’s public institutions, the association will develop a strategy to influence the procurement of more Ontario food for county institutions and farmers. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre: Diversity in Local Food Options for Public Institutions - $25,000 This project assesses the demand for ethno-cultural vegetables in public institutions. Vineland will survey distributors, operators and customers to identify market opportunities and create tools and resources for farmers growing these crops. For more information about the Greenbelt Fund’s program and grants, visit www.bpsinvestmentfund.ca.

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

Dr. Oetker ’s first North American pizza plant slated for Ontario When the plant is operational in 2013, vegetable growers hope to get a slice KAREN DAVIDSON Dr. Oetker, the German manufacturer of one of every three frozen pizzas sold in Canada, plans to build its own facility in London, Ontario, rolling out 50 million pizzas per year. Its multi-million investment will generate more than a crust for producers of tomato paste, vegetables, meats and cheeses. “With an array of fresh, high-quality Ontario ingredients nearby, we look forward to supporting local food processors and businesses by sourcing these products for use in the production of our pizzas,” said Dr. Martin Reintjes, executive vice-president, Dr. Oetker GmbH. While the footprint of the 220,000 square-foot plant is still being finalized, government officials are facilitating meetings with potential suppliers. “The volumes will be high,” says John Swan, investment attraction consultant, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) who has visited their plants in Germany. “The specs will also be high. Everything has to be individually quick frozen.” The news is a welcome surprise for Naturally Norfolk, an individual-quickfrozen (IQF) plant in Delhi. “Yahoo!” says Jim Irvin, president. “It’s great to see support for the local food industry, shared across many sectors. This new plant certainly provides an additional opportunity for local growers and processors to participate in Canadian and foreign markets.” While the types of ingredients required

Swan says there’s an opportunity for some of that leafy green to come from Ontario in-season. The list extends to field tomatoes, mushrooms, hot peppers, greenhouse peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes and spring onions. The deal has come to fruition after three years, with a $7 million sweetener from OMAFRA’s Rural Economic Development Fund. Swan is excited to see the results for the food chain. “I don’t think the full impact of the volumes are totally understood and what this could mean in the future,” says Swan.

More about Dr. Oetker Canada

London, Ontario will become the production hub for North America for Dr. Oetker’s popular pizza brands. They include Ristorante, a thin-crust gourmet pizza; Casa di Mama, an Italian homemade-style pizza; and a new product, Panebello, a bakery crust pizza.

are relatively conventional, the new plant will offer an outlet for regional processing says John Kelly, vice-president, Erie Innovation and Commercialization. “This is exactly the kind of expansion we had

encouraged by supporting Naturally Norfolk’s business development and launch this year!” Spinach, for example, is a common item on Dr. Oetker’s most popular pizzas.

Since 1960, Dr. Oetker Canada Ltd. has provided food products to Canadian consumers from its headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario. Dr. Oetker produces and distributes a variety of desserts and dry baking mixes (Shirriff, Added Touch and Dr. Oetker branded) and frozen pizzas (Ristorante, Casa di Mama and Panebello). The Canadian company is a subsidiary of the familyrun Oetker Group which is currently led by Richard Oetker, great-grandson of the original founder. Established in 1891 with the launch of Germany's first baking powder, today Dr. Oetker runs a global business with 2009 sales of $2.5 billion.

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PAGE 8 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

Politics is not a spectator sport! vegetables to engage their candidates, to educate them on the challenges and opportunities that we are dealing with. I have included excerpts from a letter that has been sent to all candidates from the Ontario Apple Growers.

BRIAN GILROY CHAIR, OFVGA Good day! The provincial election campaign will be in full gear as this edition is released and I urge every farmer of fruit and

Dear (Candidate in the October 6th provincial election) Re: Ontario Apple Growers Orchard Revitalization Proposal The Ontario Apple industry is a shadow of its former self. An industry that has been the leader across Canada in apple acreage and production is quickly shrinking. We have constant pressure from imports which in turn reduces returns for our apple

farmers. The Ontario Apple Growers (OAG) now represents 213 commercial apple growers with a farm gate value of $62 million (2010) and both these numbers seem to shrink each year. Our farmers are struggling to have their returns cover increased costs from provincially imposed minimum wage legislation, as well as fuel, electricity, crop protection materials and packaging, to name but a few. The OAG wants to change the trend of shrinking acreage, fewer apple farmers and smaller returns. Our goal is to be proactive and make investments in the industry, for the betterment of apple farmers and Ontarians. This is why the OAG has developed the

“Orchard Revitalization Program” proposal. The proposal addresses and supports many initiatives that are important to Ontarians and the (Political Party) – healthy diets for healthy Ontarians, local food production, environmental sustainability, job creation and rural economic development. It is our desire to have a strong farmer and government partnership that will see growth and sustainability in the apple sector. Unfortunately, OMAFRA Minister Carol Mitchell has recently rejected the proposal. Every other apple-producing province’s government is working with and financially supporting their apple farmers to revitalize

their apple industries. The time has come for Ontario to help apple farmers adopt the technology required to revitalize our apple industry. Thank you for taking the time to review our attached proposal. Feedback has been positive regarding cost/benefit ratio, return on investment and its focus on the long-term sustainability of apple farming in Ontario. If elected, will you help implement the Ontario Apple Growers Orchard Revitalization Proposal? We would be pleased to meet and discuss the issues of Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farmers. Politics is not a spectator sport!

Why Agri-Stability isn’t working for edible hort in Ontario

ART SMITH CEO, OFVGA The national Agri-Stability program is not sufficient for farmers’ needs. To understand why, let’s look at the program design principles and the realities of the time period during which they were developed. One of the underlying principles was that government should not support farmers who had more than two negative margins

in their Olympic average; no matter what the cause. CAIS, the predecessor of our current program, was designed in the days of a 75-cent dollar, cheap oil and much lower costs for inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides and labour. These are all factors beyond a farmer’s control; many farmers are suffering negative margins through no fault of their own yet are paying the price due to poor program design. Agri-Stability does not trigger a payment until there is a minimum 15 per cent drop in production margin, so it is quite possible that a farmer can suffer substantial declines and even losses but not receive an Agri-Stability payment. If this continues over time, the farmer’s reference margin is severely eroded meaning reduced coverage and perhaps ultimately leading to disqualification from the program due to too many negative production margins. Agri-Stability is a whole farm

program that best suits single commodity farm operations, such as grains, cattle or hogs. All hog or cattle prices go up or down together and grain farmers typically only grow a few different crops such as corn, wheat or soybeans, whose prices often rise or fall in tandem. Its intent was to help farmers in years of low returns, and requires rebuilding of margins within the five-year reference margin calculations. To do this, the farmer needs to experience reduced costs or improved prices to increase his/her production margin, meaning it works most effectively for commodities with drastic but short-term pricing cycles. The problem? Much of Ontario’s non-supply managed sectors are experiencing longterm, not short-term, cycles. Edible horticulture is very diverse and most of our farmers produce a wide range of crops, resulting in diversification on

most fruit and vegetable farms. This diversification is a form of self-insurance, limiting both the price highs and lows across the entire farming operation. What it does not do is prevent long-term margin declines caused by everincreasing expenses that our farmers are unable to recover from the market place. The majority of our production is perishable and non-storable, so we don’t have the option of waiting for a better price. Global trade means the size of the Ontario crop has very little bearing on prices our farmers receive. Prices are determined by the large chains and the price at which they can purchase similar, albeit imported produce. On the export side our high dollar value limits what our producers receive. Globalization has made us price takers, unable to recover the higher costs from the market place. Agri-Stability payments are

triggered when a farm’s production margin drops by more than 15 per cent of his/her reference margin. Our crop diversity prevents major drops in total farm income as well as reduces the upward motion of the production margin in a good year. This limits a farmer’s ability to rebuild a reference margin and is causing reference margin declines on Ontario fruit and vegetable farms on a per unit basis. Until the basic design flaws of the Agri-Stability program are fixed, the program simply can not meet the needs of our farmers. We are not bad managers, rather at the mercy of too many factors beyond our control. This is why we need the federal government to financially contribute to SDRM so that it will give farmers the support of a fully funded program they so desperately need. For what it is worth, it’s the way I see it.

Who’s keeping the price of our produce down?

ADRIAN HUISMAN ONTARIO TENDER FRUIT PRODUCERS

I just got back from picking up a few things at our local grocery store and was pleasantly surprised to see so much local produce including Ontario peaches. Everything looked great and people were picking them up and supporting the Buy Local Movement. I also notice the price of our peaches at $2.99 per 3 L basket and being a bit of a history buff, I remembered that the same 3 L basket of peaches sold at $2.99 over 20 years ago. I couldn’t help but wonder if the producers’ costs were the same as they were back

then (NOT). On the way home I stopped at a local fruit market and saw the same peaches in the same 3 L basket priced at $4.99 and people were picking them up. So, who’s keeping the price of produce down? Certainly not the growers who have seen their costs skyrocket in recent years. Is it the consumer? It didn’t seem like the consumers who were ready to pick up a good basket of fruit at a reasonable price at the farm markets. So it seems like it is the retailers who use Ontario fruit as a loss leader in order to attract

STAFF Publisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Editor: Karen Davidson, 416-252-7337, kdavidson@ecomente.ca Production: Carlie Robertson, ext. 221, production@thegrower.org Advertising: Herb Sherwood, 519-380-0118, hsherwood@cogeco.ca

OFFICE 355 Elmira Road North, Unit 105 Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 CANADA Tel. 519-763-8728 • Fax 519-763-6604

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. P.M. 40012319

The Grower is printed 12 times a year and sent to all members of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association who have paid $30.00 (plus G.S.T.) per year for the paper through their commodity group or container fees. Others may subscribe as follows by writing to the office:

$30.00 (+ G.S.T.) / year in Canada $40.00/year International Subscribers must submit a claim for missing issues within four months. If the issue is claimed within four months, but not available, The Grower will extend the subscription by one month. No refunds on subscriptions.

customers to their stores. We appreciate the support we receive from our retail partners. Growers couldn’t survive without them. Our growers move large volumes during these feature weeks. Unfortunately, the following week, when the retail price moves up to $3.99 and $4.99 sales drop off. It would seem that consumers have been trained to wait for the loss leader pricing. But, wouldn’t it be a better strategy to advertise at say $3.49 or $3.99 per basket and allow both the retailer and the grower to

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director

Brian Gilroy, Meaford Mac James, Leamington Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Ryder, Delhi Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin

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

Brian Gilroy, Meaford Mary Shabatura, Windham Centre Fred Meyers, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Ryder, Delhi Ray Duc, Niagara-on-the-Lake Jason Verkaik, Bradford Mac James, Leamington Norm Charbonneau, Port Elgin Doug Bradley, Tillsonburg Jan Vander Hout, Waterdown Don Taylor, Durham

make a reasonable margin? One major retailer in Quebec does just that and moves just as much volume week after week and year after year regardless of what the competition does. Their customers seem prepared to pay a reasonable price for a good basket of fruit. Result – the growers are happy, the retailer is happy and the consumer is happy. Yes, $2.99 per basket moves a lot of fruit but if no one is making a profit, what’s the point. Wouldn’t it be wiser to start raising the bar a little each year?

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC AGCare/Nutrient Man.

Charles Stevens, Newcastle Harold Schooley, Simcoe David Lambert, Niagara-on-the-Lake Ken Forth, Lynden Mark Wales, Alymer Murray Porteous, Simcoe Charles Stevens, Newcastle

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER

PERSPECTIVE Farmers are early with election priorities

OWEN ROBERTS UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH A mandated, mandatory election such as the one Ontario will experience next month takes the spontaneity out of campaigning. But does it ever help with planning. For example, consider how farmers have prepared for the October 6 political face-off, with a succinct election kit and overarching key messages.

The nine-page kit, assembled by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, offers direction for preparing local strategies that will ensure agriculture and food are a priority in rural ridings…which, of course, should be the case anyway, but always isn’t. Why go to such measures? The federation says it’s in farmers’ best interest to “engage and equip” candidates with sound, factual information about agricultural issues in Ontario. “The politicians we help elect will be making decisions and creating policy that can impact the future of Ontario’s agri-food industry,” it says. “Let’s do everything we can to help them understand the importance of our industry.” To that end, the federation has a few statistics for farmers to keep in their back pockets. It points out that in Ontario, agriculture supports 164,000 jobs, pays $7 billion in wages and salaries, generates $3.4 billion in taxes and

contributes 13 per cent of the province’s gross domestic product. These are all important figures in a recovering economy, as is the fact that every $1 of farm product generated in Ontario produces $6 in final sales. In other words, a lot of people depend on farmers for a living — and depend on farmers’ ability to make a living. That’s why decision makers need to clear and maintain a path that’s free of impediments that make it tough to farm, such as the regulations and red tape created in urban boardrooms that are far removed from rural Ontario. Farmers are Ontario’s biggest land-owning business segment, and need to be at the table either personally or through elected representatives when decisions are made that affect farming. Everyone suffered through a long period of change and disengagement as agriculture fell off the public agenda. Now that it’s back

on, farmers have some catching up to do. Effective lobbying and communicating are more important than ever, explaining agriculture’s role in society for matters such as environmental protection. But there also has to be a clear understanding in society that regulations are needed that give farmers the same kind of access to roads and highways as the public, to move harvests to consumers or the next level of processing. In fact, some organizations, such as the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, say regulatory reform is the number one issue for agriculture. The province knows farmers are serious about this, and asked the federation of agriculture to stickhandle Ontario’s Open For Business information gathering and census-building exercise over the past year or so. The idea was to find ways to make Ontario a more attractive and productive place to

do business. Federation president Bette Jean Crews says it was groundbreaking that the farm community was called on to lead the charge. One of the recurring themes through this consultative process was regulatory reform. The federation says other issues on farmers’ plates this election are energy, ecological goods and services, rural infrastructure, and business risk management. Broken down, these include the food-versus-fuel debate for crops, support for farmers’ efforts to preserve land and water used by the public, healthy rural communities that serve farmers and foster tourism, and shared support for insurance programs that protect farmers when prices are low but people still have to eat. Prospective politicians who see a farmer coming with campaign kit in hand should be prepared. Farmers mean business, in more ways than one.

LETTER TO EDITOR Reader questions need for consumer study on peaches I was increasingly astonished while reading the front cover article in the most recent issue of The Grower. First, I am totally surprised that one needs to do a study to

discover that people prefer flavour in their peaches. Second, comparing U.S. peaches to Canadian peaches seems rather pointless as there are so many Canadian growers who do not produce a delicious peach. And

third, a study to determine how to grow a good quality peach seems also a waste of time. The latter has been done by some of us for years. My husband and I have been growing good quality peaches and

other fruit for more than 30 years. Although we are only a small operation, we make a good living off our farm. We produce topquality fruit, demand for which is greater than what we can supply. We emphasize pruning at the proper time, are very careful about the amount of nitrogen we apply, hand thin our peaches and pick at the optimum time. Obviously, produce grown in the U.S. needs to be picked greener in order to survive the trip north. However, there are Canadian peaches in my local

grocery store that should have been left on the tree for another week. So perhaps recommending all Canadian peaches is not such a great idea. Mr. Andrewes and Mr. Lepp are to be commended for wanting to bring a good-tasting peach to the consumer. Perhaps if all growers would be concerned about the taste of their product, the consumer would not need to be encouraged to buy Canadian. Henny Schouwenaar St. Catharines, ON

The Essex County Associated Growers are pleased to announce the 61th Annual Bounty of the County convention & trade show Tuesday, November 22 & Wednesday, November 23, 2011 Kinsmen Recreation Complex 249 Sherk St., Leamington, Ontario

View the newest agricultural technology/equipment, and attend informative speaker programs. For more information, contact Jillian McCallum at (519) 326-4481 or ecag@bellnet.ca.

PAGE 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

Board Briefs Following are highlights from the OFVGA board meeting held July 21, 2011. The purpose of this brief is to keep you up-to-date on issues that the OFVGA is working on, as well as projects and initiatives the organization is involved in. Safety Nets Self Directed Risk Management (SDRM): Section chair Mark Wales reported that the principal focus to date was on developing and finalizing details of the new program, with the horticulture working group meeting throughout May and June. SDRM coverage includes two per cent of an operationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Allowable Net Sales (ANS) up to $2.5 million and 0.5 per cent on amounts above that in year one. Growers do not need to make a matching contribution in the first year of the program. For subsequent years, coverage includes two per cent ANS up to $2.5 million, 1.5 per cent coverage on 2.5 to 5.0 million and one per cent on amounts beyond five million. After year one, farmers will need to make matching contributions and will be required to have an AgriStability account. Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell made the official announcement of all the Risk Management Programs (RMP) on a farm near Mitchell at the end of June. Horticulture-specific information sessions will be held as follows: August 31 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Red Pine Inn, Alliston September 6 - Travel Lodge, Chatham September 7 - Knights of Columbus, Delhi

September 8 - Prudhommes Inn, Vineland All commodity sessions will be held as follows: August 30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hall, New Liskeard September 22 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; St. Isidore Recreation Centre, St. Isidore (French) September 27 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Emo Inn, Rainy River ( 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9 pm Central time) Please pre-register for the session you wish to attend by visiting www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/RMPInfoSessionRegForm.htm or calling 1-877-4241300. For more information on the new program, visit www.ontario.ca/rmp. Wales and OFVGA Chair Brian Gilroy attended a meeting in Ottawa arranged by Member of Parliament Bev Shipley where 17 Ontario rural MPs and representatives from Ontario's non-supply managed commodities discussed the issue of federal participation in RMP. Out of this meeting was a promise to form a smaller group of four MPs and commodity representatives that would work to find solutions. Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Meeting: The recent FPT Ministers Meeting was held on July 4-7 in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Agenda items included a presentation of the National Food Strategy that the Ontario and Canadian Federations of Agriculture have been working on, as well as discussions surrounding Growing Forward 2, the proposed successor to the current framework. Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minister Mitchell did not sign the FPT press release as there was no support for Ontario's Risk

Management programs. Crop protection Minor use budget cuts: It was recently announced that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has proposed cutting the six million dollars it provides to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to help with work on minor use and international harmonization issues. Currently, the budget at Health Canada (which oversees PMRA) is not facing any reductions. OFVGA is working on this issue in conjunction with the Canadian Horticultural Council, Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Pulse Canada. GROU program: Canadian pricing for Agrimec was recently reduced to within one per cent of the U.S. price. The Grower last month featured an article on the import experience of two Canadian farmers who used the program to bring product across the border â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as well as the savings they were able to realize for their operations. ReTain, made by Valent, was asked to be placed on the approved GROU list but the manufacturer did not release the required data for the U.S. product. As a result of lobbying in Ontario, ReTainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s price has been reduced by 33 per cent, bringing it very close to the U.S. price. The reduction is retroactive to purchases made as of October 2010. The herbicide Velpar, made by DuPont, is now available for importation under GROU. Property Water: Section chair David Lam-

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bert attended the Canadian Water Summit, where agriculture was highlighted several times as being the most consumptive water user. There are efforts underway to begin charging industry for water use; agriculture must make sure to maintain an exemption from any type of payment scheme. Regulations: A number of farmers across various edible horticulture commodities are reporting difficulties with duplication and/or lack of clarity between various agencies and government departments. This is resulting in problems getting approvals for expansions and other changes. OFVGA will be highlighting this issue as part of the Open for Business initiative being coordinated by the OFA on behalf of Ontario agriculture. If you currently are or have recently experienced difficulties in this regard, please email the OFVGA at info@ofvga.orgwith any details. Municipal assessments: Mark Wales will be meeting with the chair of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) in August to review property definitions and other issues that relate to agricultural assessments. Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan had promised at a meeting with Ontario Federation of Agriculture representatives last December to address this issue, but no action has been taken to date. Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) CHC president Jack Bates, Vice President Murray Porteous and Executive Vice President Anne Fowlie spent a day at the national headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Pest Management Centre at the end of June to meet with various senior government officials. This included Dr. Manjeet Sethi, head of the Pest Management Centre. There was acknowledgement that we are seeing major pests today which were not a problem in the past and that industry concerns over resistance must be addressed. It is becoming increasingly important for industry to articulate in a substantive manner the benefits and results of the PMC and minor use program. The CHC representatives also met with Steven Baker, Vice President Operations, and Cameron Prince, Lead, Modernization Initiative, at the CFIA. This was an opportunity for horticulture to profile the sector and its issues to the new VP. Recent projects and outcomes were reviewed and the need for financial risk mitigation in Canada through a US-style PACA-like trust program. Advocating for Agriculture Crystal Mackay and Heather Hargrave from AGCare and the Ontario Farm Animal Council

(OFAC) provided the Board with an update of the public outreach activities the two organizations are involved in. OFVGA is a member of AGCare. Current projects promoting farming and food production include the popular Faces of Farming calendar, the Real Dirt on Farming II publication, a school-based Farm Creativity Contest for kids, the Farm Flicks video competition for 16 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25 year-olds, a new Friend a Farmer pilot project that will pair a farmer with a classroom for a year and allow the two to correspond with each other, ag ambassador training for youth, the virtual farm tour website that features tours of 21 different farms including three horticultural operations and farm tours for food media and culinary students. Erie Innovations update John Kelly provided the Board with an update of activities at Erie Innovation and Commercialization. Some current projects include: Ontario South Coast Wineries and Growers Association: There are a number of wineries already established in the area such as Florence Estates Winery, Villa Nova Estate Winery, Burning Kiln Winery, Wooden Bear L Winery and Blueberry Hill Estates and there is interest in the development of others to take advantage of the ideal climate and geography available in these counties. Currently, there are more than 100 acres of grapes being grown in Norfolk County alone, with another 20 acres planned. One of the medium-term goals of this new organization is to create Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth Designated Viticulture Area (DVA) in the region, behind Niagara, the Erie North Shore and Prince Edward County. The Association includes not only grape growers but growers of cherries, blueberries and other fruit who are interested in producing fruit wines in the region. Ontario Lavender Association: This new association covers lavender production in all of Ontario, not just the South Central Ontario Region, and includes farmers as far away as Ottawa and Windsor who are interested in developing lavender as a product, including soaps, aromatherapy popcorn (lavender kettle corn) and creams. Another major interest is the development of lavender festivals. An event of this nature in Washington State results in six million dollars of economic impact over the course of one weekend, which members are now trying to re-create in Ontario. In July 2011, 400 people attended a festival here in Ontario that proved to be very successful for the host farmers, who sold out of most of their products over the course of the weekend. Continued on the next page

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

Talking farming to foodies LILIAN SCHAER The Stratford area was the focus of a farm tour for 45 Toronto-area food writers this past spring. Columnists, editors, recipe developers, cookbook authors, bloggers and other culinary professionals spent a day learning about how food is produced, meeting local farmers and getting a chance to have their food and farming questions answered by experts. The spring media tour, hosted by AGCare and the Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC), has become a popular event on the food world calendar in the Greater Toronto Area. In fact, this year, the event was fully sold out with a waiting list several weeks in advance of the tour. Since its launch in 2006, approximately 30 participants per year have taken advantage of the opportunity to tour local Ontario farms and meet directly with farming experts in order to learn what it takes to grow Ontario’s food. The role of talking to people about where our food comes from seems, by default, to have come

to rest with farmers. Most Canadians, as we know, are several generations removed from the farm, meaning there is little direct connection to the land and the crops that are grown on it. Our schools do not teach agriculture and the food and home economics programs of years past have mostly disappeared from modern classrooms. At the same time, the local food movement has awakened consumer interest in Ontariogrown or produced foods and chefs are clamouring to bring more of them onto menus across the province. That’s where AGCare (of which OFVGA is a member) and OFAC saw an opportunity to build an outreach program for food media and culinary professionals by taking them directly to the source – farms and farmers themselves. The tour focuses on different regions and different types of products every year. This year, due to many requests from past participants, the tour headed out to Perth County, with stops at Montforte Dairy, an organic vegetable farm and a hog farm that specializes in heritage swine breeds and wild boar. Steve Martin from Waterloo area

Organic produce grower Antony John speaks to food writers on his farm near Stratford. Martin Family Fruit Farm talked about his family’s apple business and their perspectives on organic versus conventional production systems. Other local farmers mingled with tour participants to answer questions about crop, dairy, egg and beef farming. AGCare and OFAC also reach out to up and coming chefs and culinary instructors, offering four farm tours per year on a lottery system to interested Ontario cooking programs. This year

marks the fourth year of this initiative; approximately 125 students from Fanshawe College in London, George Brown in Toronto, Sir Sandford Fleming in Peterborough and Loyalist College in Belleville will participate this year. Two student tours were hosted this past spring with the remainder being held this fall. As a tour host, it can be daunting to have a busload of reporters, writers and culinary professionals show up on your doorstep.

However, it also represents a tremendous opportunity to tell your story, debunk myths and shatter some popularly held misconceptions about Ontario food and farming. We appreciate all of you who have taken the time to host a tour or speak to tour participants over the past number of years. This program would not be possible without people willing to show off their businesses and talk about what they do to produce food in Ontario.

innovative technologies, including the use of tissue culture to increase numbers, varietal selection to enhance disease and cold resistance, and agronomic developments.

particular poly-hydroxylated fatty acid and Russian dandelion as a good source of natural rubber that can be used in tires and latex gloves. University of Guelph and OMAFRA in Simcoe are interested in the opportunity for these to become large crops in the area. Erie Innovation and Commercialization is also steering the

development of an Ontario Castor Consortium, including the University of Guelph, Trent University, Queen’s University, University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo. The next OFVGA board meeting will take place on August 25th at the Best Western in Simcoe, starting at 9 a.m.

Board briefs Continued from page 10 Other new associations: Dr. Kelly is working towards helping growers of both hazelnuts and sweet potatoes to organize into associations similar to the lavender and south coast winery groups in order to help these growers advance their sectors. Studies and projects looking at how farmers can access the market place: Erie Innovation and Commercialization secured funding through the Sand Plains Development Fund for a study conducted by the George Morris Centre. This report looked at the issues faced by small and large buyers and sellers in Ontario. For example, most large buyers don’t deal with small sellers and it can be a challenge for large sellers to connect with the large buyers. Volumes, quality, consistency of product, price can be stumbling blocks. Many small sellers, which include a large number of Ontario growers, can’t get access to large buyers so are forced to look to smaller markets. The George Morris Centre has now been asked to recommend how to move forward. Some activities are already happening, such as the ontariofresh.ca initiative of the Friends of the Greenbelt, so perhaps there are opportunities to integrate efforts. A funding application has just been submitted to the Greenbelt Fund for a project to help identify how growers can access the broader public sector (institutions, schools, hospitals, universities, daycares), which is a significant

buyer of product. Development of biomass for energy: Dr. Kelly chairs a business case working group that is looking at using biomass for the Nanticoke power plant. All coal-fired facilities in Ontario must be transitioned out of coal by 2015, so this group is looking at the technical, financial and value chain perspectives of biomass crops for energy, such as miscanthus, switchgrass and native blue. Very few farmers have experience growing these crops so OFA and OSCIA secured funding from the Agricultural Adaptation Council to develop real life situations where farmers are growing and harvesting these crops. About 900 acres are part of this program, with some sites within SCOR. Hazelnut development: Ferrero Canada manufactures a spread (Nutella) and confectionary products in Brantford which use hazelnuts, sourcing most of them from Turkey, as well as the U.S. and Italy. The company is interested in the potential growth of local hazelnut production. Ontario’s challenges for growing hazelnuts are cold temperatures, eastern filbert blight and a bud mite. New varieties and cultivars are being developed to address these, but the challenge is to grow an industry from zero to 10,000 acres in about ten years. A steering committee involving Ferrero, OMAFRA, the University of Guelph, Society of Ontario Nut Growers and others has mapped out the plan for hazelnut development. This includes many

Russian dandelion and castor: Both crops have industrial oil applications, castor for its

PAGE 12 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

OFVGA SUMMER TOUR AND BARBEQUE

T is for transition in Norfolk County this year. Sweet potatoes, however, have proven a worthy crop with 700 acres in cultivation. Invention has saved the crop from quick extinction on Ontario soils, with custom-made planters and diggers that can efficiently harvest the volumes needed. With seedstock sourced from Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Peter Van Berlo insists on timely planting for the finicky crop. Sweet potatoes dislike cold feet and won’t get a good start without warm soil temperatures. Similarly, harvest must be completed quickly before frost

Anita Buehner, Bonnieheath Lavender. Photos by Herb Sherwood. KAREN DAVIDSON Deep in its veins, Norfolk County is still tobacco country. Whether it’s actual acres of tobacco or memories of it, the crop’s heritage is everywhere. As the destination for this year’s Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association summer tour, Norfolk County’s fields of leaf reminded everyone of how that crop helps to cover the risk of transition to lavender, sweet potatoes or grapes. Transition is exciting for Anita and Steve Buehner of Bonnieheath Lavender, former tobacco growers, who started growing lavender in 2003. It’s been a long haul searching for cold-tolerant varieties that will also yield the quantity and quality of oil. At their Waterford, Ontario farm, they have just planted a sun-ray design of lavender radiating from a central gazebo. The pattern is designed to showcase different shades of lavender.

Utilizing structures from the past, they are drying sheaths of lavender in old tobacco kilns. That’s before the sheaths enter a de-budding machine and the heads are distilled into essential oils. Besides lavender, the Buehner’s have planted eight acres of grapes with the intention of adding an on-farm winery to the mix. A tractor tour showcases not only the oldest black oak in Norfolk County, but native grasses planted in 2009 as part of the Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program. Butterflies and other insect species are attracted to this buffer zone between grapes and nearby forest. Together, all of these elements portray a farm that’s evolving into an agri-tourism destination. Their first lavender festival this summer attracted 400, a positive start to developing a trail to other like-minded farm entrepreneurs in the area. Tobacco is still part of the mix for the Van Berlo family with 150 acres planted

Peter Van Berlo, Berlo’s Best Sweet Potatoes

takes a nip. With proper equipment, only ideally-sized sweet potatoes are gathered from the field yielding about 25,000 pounds per acre. The expensive step is curing sweet potatoes, storing them at 85 degrees F for several days before final storage at 55 degrees F. They are handled as little as possible before being washed and packed, upon client demand. Berlo says they can hardly keep up with the growing demand for sweet potatoes. Continued on next page

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER

OFVGA SUMMER TOUR AND BARBEQUE

T is for transition in Norfolk County Delhi’s town history is steeped in the tobacco auction exchange, but as recently as this summer, a new business is pointing the way to opportunity. Just two months into operation, Naturally Norfolk’s Individual Quick Freeze (IQF) plant is going full steam with the help of a government grant matched by private investors. Jim Irvin has repurposed a plant to preserve the bounty of local growers. To date, the line has processed onions, edamame, elderberries, blueberries and strawberries, displacing about two million pounds of imported product. Besides freezing produce, Naturally Norfolk can dry fruits such as raspberries and can make slurries or purees out of strawberries. The plant’s business model of offering service for fees is working with several clients who still maintain ownership of the product. Pearl onions are a current example of how Naturally Norfolk is freezing the product for a grower group. A second business model is also in play with Irvin planting his own peas, beans and sweet corn, harvesting and freezing at his plant. However, Mother Nature’s late spring has put the harvest back and there-

Jim Irvin, Naturally Norfolk.

fore, line schedules. Balancing all the client needs during the season means the plant is running 24/7. Tobacco heritage is preserved in a magical way at Burning Kiln Winery. Mike McArthur and several partners have parlayed tobacco acres into a winery that’s just opened this summer with the first of the 2010 vintage. Also chair of the South Coast Winery and Growers’ Association, McArthur is encouraging others to adapt their tobacco soils to a higher calling. The objective is to have enough growers to tend 125 acres of grapes, the critical mass to qualify for a fourth designated viticultural area in Ontario. That goal appears to be attainable in about two years. John Kelly, vice-president, Erie Innovation and Commercialization, has played a pivotal role in connecting these various operations with government programs, business mentorship and organizational management. With his office situated at the Simcoe Research Station, Kelly continues to oversee a remarkable transition in Norfolk and the south central Ontario region.

The Burning Kiln Winery opened two months ago with a 2010 vintage.

Ontario Ag Minister Carol Mitchell and OFVGA chair Brian Gilroy.

PAGE 14 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Robotics revolution STORIES BY KAREN DAVIDSON When global positioning systems (GPS) stormed agriculture a decade ago, no one imagined that the next horizon would be robotics. The technology that has revolutionized the automobile industry is about to make inroads into foreign territory: horticulture. “The timing is ripe for robotic technology to go into new verticals,” says Matthew Rendall, president, Clearpath Robotics, Kitchener, Ontario. Born in 2009, the fledgling company is an offshoot of the University of Waterloo’s department of mechatronics engineering, one of its newest disciplines. Robotic history is steeped in military and aerospace applications. The most high-profile example is those unmanned drones in Afghanistan. With a proven track record, development companies are looking for new

applications. “Agriculture was at the top of our list,” says Rendall. “With the downturn of the automobile industry in 2008, it was natural to look at agriculture which is still labour-driven. About 18 months ago, we started to look at ginseng, asparagus, tomatoes, peaches and grapes for opportunities to deploy prototypes.” Ginseng is a good example of a crop that could become more efficient. With susceptibility to pests and disease, and exposure to fluctuating international markets, ginseng could benefit from cost control. Most of all, escalating labour rates threaten long-term profitability. Rendall thinks that Clearpath’s robotic mule, the Husky, may replace manual labour in transporting product from the field. “Any repetitive activity in a row crop is a candidate for robotics. We’re a long way from a totally

A robotic mule, the Husky, will be showcased at Canada’s Fruit and Veg Tech X-Change, September 1-3. robotic harvest – horticulture will still need hand-picking – but robotic-assisted farming can help.” What Rendall will be demonstrating at Canada’s Fruit and Veg Tech X-Change in early

September is a micro tractor that can be hitched to a trailer for transporting blueberries from the field. The sensors, so critical to precision agriculture, will be showcased in a new application. Although still at a prototype

stage, robotics must be cost-competitive with other farm equipment to be adopted. That business case will need to be built by evaluating transportation savings from the field to packhouse and labour savings. “We’re at a stage where we’re ready to engage innovative farmers who want to see Canadian technology in Canadian crops,” says Rendall. He maintains that the technical expertise is there, but now needs to be married to market champions and financial investors. For some, robotics may seem as out-of-this-world as the astronaut’s walk on the moon. But if you could imagine a mower hitched to a robot programmed to cut orchard grass at night – with military precision -would you be willing to take that first step? To participate in a prototype trial, call Matthew Rendall at 1-800-301-3863 ext 801.

Robotic sprayer saves labour, improves pest control

This Dutch-made robotic sprayer saves labour and metes out consistent pest control in the cucumber greenhouse of Beverly Farms, Waterdown, Ontario. Photo by Denis Cahill. The VanderHout’s like their two robotic sprayers so much that they have two more on order. This greenhouse operation with 15 acres of cucumbers wants

in-house sprayers for the expansion planned for later this year near Waterdown, Ontario. “The payback is difficult to calculate,” says Jan VanderHout,

“but for certain, it’s a laboursaving device that takes only one person to monitor versus two people to spray.” Whether the sprayer is used for fungicides or insecticides, it reduces occupational exposure to the products and consistently delivers crop protection row after row, with no fatigue. “There are no idiosyncracies throughout the greenhouse,” says VanderHout. Manufactured in Holland by Berg, this piece of equipment can be calibrated to specific needs for use on a pipe rail system. It runs with an electric motor on a rechargeable 24-volt battery. The machine is calibrated for the speed of a brisk walk, adjusting water volumes and crop protection product according to the crop’s needs. These precise calculations mean that there are no missed spots or areas of heavier

coverage, improving the thoroughness of pest control compared to manual application.

“

It’s a labour-saving device that takes only one person to monitor versus two people to spray.” - Jan VanderHout

For this robotic sprayer to work at top-notch levels, VanderHout recommends carefully balancing spray volume, droplet size and ground speed using water to calibrate the sprayer especially when the robot is new. In some models, the sprayer is automatically moved from row to row sending a text to the operator’s phone in the event of an error.

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SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Tips on robotic spraying of greenhouse tomatoes

DR. JASON S.T. DEVEAU, APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST GILLIAN FERGUSON, GREENHOUSE VEGETABLE IPM SPECIALIST Many people think it was Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) that coined the word “robot,” but it was actually Czech playwright Karel Capek (1890-1938), from the Czech word for “forced labour” or “serf.” Now some greenhouses are using robots to spray tomatoes in Leamington, Ontario. There are a lot of advantages to using automated sprayers in a greenhouse scenario. Unlike handguns or pulled trolleys, they produce a more consistent spray pattern and they greatly reduce the chance of operator exposure to pesticide. Still, robot sprayers are only as good as the parameters that control them. Some preliminary trials were held at Nature Fresh Farms to diagnose the spray coverage produced by the robot (see Figure 1).

pipes and emitting a spray pattern that appeared to completely envelop the target row. When the cards were retrieved, however, the coverage was not all that it could be… when asked, the robot made no excuses (see the right-hand column of papers entitled “Flat fan” in Figure 2). The nozzles were then changed from the verticallyaligned flat fans to hollow cones. The intent was that the spray would be emitted from so many new angles that it would penetrate the canopy more effectively and via a swirling motion, cover more of the targets. The robot was retooled, the paper targets replaced, and the sprayer sent back down the alley. This time, the spray was more dispersed and gave the appearance of better directed coverage… until the cards showed differently. In fact, it appeared there was even less coverage! Perhaps it was too much pressure, causing the spray to overshoot the tomatoes. The pressure was reduced to 100 psi and the same cards were left in place and re-sprayed. With the exception of the card behind the tomatoes, there was very little change. Perhaps the spray was too fine and larger droplets would bounce and fall through the canopy? In 2004, work performed by scien-

about 85 drops per square centimetre (a benchmark for good coverage) rather than the drench that led to run-off. A judicious

Figure 3 – TeeJet’s Twinjet Nozzle Figure 2 – Water sensitive paper sprayed with water using a variety of sprayer parameters. Cards are yellow until contact with water turns them blue. The cards in the right-hand column were sprayed with flat fans and illustrate insufficient coverage. The cards in the middle column were sprayed four times with hollow cone nozzles and illustrate insufficient coverage. The cards in the left-hand column were sprayed with dual flat fan arrangement and illustrate excessive coverage. dle column of papers entitled “Hollow Cone (x4)” in Figure 2). Finally, almost in desperation, the tips were replaced with dualflat fans (see Figure 3), which are often used in field crops such as wheat to apply fungicides to control fusarium in wheat heads. The targets were replaced with fresh cards and the sprayer was returned to its original settings, with the exception of dual flat

fans installed at 45 degree angles rather than vertically-aligned conventional flat fans. The result was spectacular. The cards received so much coverage that two became drenched and curled. (see the lefthand column of papers entitled “Dual Flat Fan” in Figure 2). This is where the trial ended, but the next step is to consider reducing the output until the cards receive an even application of

reduction should result in financial savings in pesticide costs by reducing wastage. Even without the reduction in output, the operator can be confident that the spray is hitting the target, which should only improve control. Take home: Greenhouse tomato growers should consider using water-sensitive paper to test nozzle arrangement on their high volume sprayers. Dual flat fans have not been investigated in cucurbits or peppers, but it might be worth exploring. Incidentally, the robot didn’t seem to care one way or the other.

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Figure 1 – Robot sprayer in greenhouse tomatoes The sprayer was set to operate at ~350 pounds per square inch, traveling at a rate of 75 meters per minute, spraying from a vertical boom equipped with five flat fan nozzles. Water sensitive paper (which turns from yellow to blue when water contacts it) was placed in three locations in the tomato canopy: directly behind the fruit and facing the sprayer, upside down (exposing only the edge of the card to the sprayer) and sideways (also exposing the thin edge of the card to the sprayer). When engaged, the sprayer flew down the 125 metre alley, riding on the hot water

tists in Spain demonstrated that the optimal distance from tomatoto-nozzle in a greenhouse was about 35 centimetres because gravity distorts the spray beyond that distance. The tips were replaced with nozzles emitting coarser droplets and the same cards re-sprayed. Still no change. Perhaps the sprayer was moving too quickly? It has been demonstrated that a slower travel speed can improve canopy penetration in fruit trees, berry bushes and grape vines. The sprayer was slowed to 50 metres per minute and the cards sprayed for a fourth time… to no avail. (see the mid-

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PAGE 16 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Climate change research to sustain grape and wine industry 2011 is a perfect example of extreme weather. A wet, cool spring in central Canada gave way to hot, droughty conditions in July that prompted irrigation. Go figure. Fortunately, the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence Program has been tapped for $2.86 million so a team of scientists can better understand how climate change is impacting Ontario’s grape and wine industry. Brock University Professor Gary Pickering will lead a team of 19 researchers conducting extensive research in a number of climate-related disciplines that have become a threat to Ontario grape growers. Pickering, a biological sciences professor who is also a researcher in Brock’s Cool Climate Viticulture and Oenology Institute (CCOVI), said the evidence is “irrefutable.” “Adapting to climate change represents arguably the single most urgent challenge facing the world,” he said. The funds will be used for the following projects: Climate Change This program will use advanced modeling techniques to determine how the climates of Ontario’s wine regions will evolve over the next 30 years. With industry it will develop adaptive strategies to reduce risks and optimize growing conditions, as well as identify potential new viticulture areas for future expansion. Grapevine Hardiness The severe weather events that

have taken place in recent years are anticipated to worsen substantially in the future. These weather events challenge the ability of many vinifera grape vines to not only produce quality fruit, but simply to survive. This program is aimed at optimizing grapevine winter hardiness by understanding the acclimation and de-acclimation process of grapevines, and the viticultural and environmental stresses affecting them.

prevalent in Ontario because of climate change, and also grapes that fail to attain full ripeness because of unsuitable weather during the growing season. The focus of this program will be the application of technologies already patented by this research team, as well as the development of new approaches to removing these compounds from juice and wine. Sparkling Wine Production This program will use a system biology approach to develop strategies based on wine yeast to increase the efficiency and profitability of sparkling and wine production in Ontario. This will help to solidify sparkling wine as a successful style for the province, as well as hedge against unfavourable climate for table wine production, and help to diversify Ontario’s wine offerings in the competitive international marketplace.

Grapevine Molecular Biology This program will develop plants and markers to breed for winter hardiness, and will identify genes that can act as markers for a breeding program. This program will lay the groundwork for the creation of winter hardy elite vinifera wine varieties, which will provide a permanent and reliable solution against vine damage caused by low temperature winter injury.

Debbie Inglis, director of CCOVI, leads Jim Bradley, MPP for St. Catharines, and Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation, on a tour of CCOVI’s research facilities. come climatic barriers to obtaining fully ripe grapes. The semidried fruit can then be fermented into an appassimento-style wine, similar to Amarone, using varieties grown in Ontario to produce

value-added quality-driven unique products with distinctive flavour profiles. The goal of this program is to identify the best drying techniques and to optimize the production process overall.

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SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Platforms ease picking strain, decrease labour costs Hydraulically-operated platforms are becoming the equipment of choice in highdensity apple orchards for labourintensive tasks that would normally be performed using ladders such as pruning, thinning, tying tree tops and stapling wires. Global Fruit, Clarksburg, Ontario started with an Italianmade model in 2004 to install the support systems and hail netting for 140 hectares of orchard planted to Red Prince, Honeycrisp and McIntosh varieties. But through normal wear-and-tear, equipment

breakdowns were inevitable and shortage of parts forced the farm crew to manufacture their own platforms – with custom features of course. In total, seven platforms are currently in use at the farm using a self-propelled, modified fourwheel drive utility tractor and an automatic steering feature. Once started, the platform is programmed to move forward at .1 meters per second. “We could not operate in a high-density orchard without them,” says Dave Hutchinson,

In mid-August, platforms were tested at Birnam Orchards near Arkona, Ontario. Workers were thinning Empires. Photo by Leslie Huffman, OMAFRA.

At Global Fruit, the platforms were customized to add a picking bag on a swivel pedestal that allows workers to pick into the bag and gently lower the full bag into the apple bins.

Global Fruit orchard manager. “Besides productivity gains, the platform’s ergonomic design reduces strain on workers.” Platforms allow two workers to prune one to 1.5 hectares per day – a considerable improvement compared to less than .5 ha with ladders. On thinning, look for productivity of 650 trees per hour which translates to 1.5 to 2 hectares per day. Some of the biggest gains are realized in harvest with averages of five to six bins/worker/day compared to

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PAGE 18 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Fresh air system reduces cooling costs With a monthly hydro bill of $10,000, Doug Van Luyk is strongly motivated to save money on his Holland Marsh farm. So last year, he installed a computerized fresh air system that turns off the refrigeration unit in his carrot cold storage once outdoor temperatures reach 32 degrees F. At that point, outside cold air is pumped in to keep his 400 tons of carrots at the appropriate temperature. With last winter’s cold temperatures in the first year of operation, energy costs plummeted to about 20 per cent of normal. “Until we installed this fresh air system last year, we never turned the refrigeration off on this farm,” says Van Luyk, Newmarket, Ontario. “With global warming, we don’t get the cold weather

in November, so it’s important to get carrots to 32 degrees F as soon as possible after harvest.” But wise stewardship of the crop also includes conserving energy. “It’s very challenging to estimate the cost of running refrigeration equipment, says Doug Trivers, Dayson Agricultural Ventilation Ltd., who installed the fresh air system. “Evaporator fans, condensor fans and compressors all consume energy. Depending on the refrigeration system design, the equipment will run at different speeds or cycle on and off throughout the day to control the amount of heat to be removed from storage. Defrost cycles are also required, which add to the complexity of ‘estimating’ power use. Unless we actually monitor the power of the

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refrigeration equipment alone, we really do not know the power used by refrigeration equipment. To convince growers to install these new systems is tough if you can’t quantify the savings.” “What I do know is when Mother Nature cooperates with a cool night during fall pull-down, a single 10 HP fan can remove the same amount of heat as 20 HP of refrigeration – and no defrost is required!” Trivers explains how the fresh air system works. A plenum wall is built with fans behind it to push the air between the boxes of carrots. Cold outside air is blended with inside storage air, then humidified before being delivered to the carrots at a temperature of 32.2 degrees F. “We are careful not to freeze

the humidifier water,” says Trivers. In conventional systems, exhaust fans blow air out, but there’s limited capability to control the temperature of the incoming air which enters at ambient temperature. To add even more energy savings, variable speed drives were added to the plenum fan motors. Doug Van Luyk Once the field heat is fan will use 1/8th of the power. out, and less airflow is required, While the technology is the drives are used to slow down nothing new to potato growers, the fans. Fan laws work in the it’s only thanks to recent grants grower’s favour – at 80 per cent of the speed, the airflow is 80 per that carrot farmers have been able to implement the computerized cent but the power consumption systems. “I can actually check is cut in half. At half speed, the the barn temperatures and modify them from a smartphone,” says Van Luyk. The grants came from Ontario’s Environmental Farm Plan and the Greenbelt Green Energy Program for Agriculture covering a percentage of the costs. With this system in place, the benefits are threefold: humidity is distributed evenly throughout, the quality of the stored crop is improved and energy is saved. Van Luyk’s project is one of nine that sought energy savings in vegetable storages in the Holland Marsh.

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SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Eight-row potato planter covers more ground in a day Potato planting just got more efficient with a German-manufactured Grimme 840 compact, eight-row folding planter. Dave Vander Zaag, an Alliston, Ontario potato farmer, put this new equipment to work in the spring of 2011, planting 95 acres per day compared to 60 acres per day. “Our customer was looking for

increased productivity,” says Daniel Man, HJV Equipment. “He had a 6-row Grimme planter but due to the high traffic volume going from one location to another, going to a standard 8-row model was not an option.” Some of the initial enhancements were the installation of hopper extension, cat walk,

Faster harvester At the Aug 18 Ontario Potato Day hosted at HJV Equipment, a new 3-row Spudnik harvester was on display, ready for immediate harvest in the Alliston area. “It’s the first in Ontario,” says Paul Smith, HJV Equipment, “with a terra float system and depth-sensing technology.” This means that no cut potatoes will enter the bunker system, translating into a higher-quality harvest. What’s more, the Idaho-made machine can continuously harvest with no need to stop for transfers to a truck. If an operator has to stop even six to seven minutes to unload every time, those minutes can add up to lost productivity. That can mean quite a difference in expenses, either through overtime at the crunch of harvest or lost quality in narrow windows of harvest. This new machine is currently harvesting at the farms of Bob McKenzie and Dave VanderZaag. Paul Smith, HJV Equipment

8-row Grimme potato planter rollover tarp with easy tarp, two chemical application kits, four camera kits with 19-inch monitor and a PTO generator. As part of the 8-row folding prototype, HJV included a hilling system for onepass planting and hilling to reduce field time and create efficiency. “One obstacle was that the hopper capability was not as large on the standard 8-row, therefore we created a solution to accommodate it,” says Man. “To optimize the capacity, we designed and manufactured a potato box that quick attaches to a pay loader with a hydraulic front door for easy metering of the potatoes in

the hopper. We then incorporated a rollover tarp for the potato box.” Here is how the new planter performed compared to the previous 6-row Grimme system. Previous 6 Row Grimme Planter with bulk truck and elevator (based on 12 hour day) Planter fills per day 15 Planter filling time approx 12 min Planter filler time per day 3 hours Planting time 9 hours Planting speed 4 miles per hour Row per pass 6 Acres per day 60

New 8 Row Folding System loading with pay loader (based on 12 hour day) Planter fills per day 28 Planter filling time approx 1.50 min Planter filling time per day 0.75 hours Planting time 11.25 hours Planting speed 4 miles per hour Rows per pass 8 Acres per day 95

BIRD REPELLERS GREAT EAGLE (44” wingspan) $99.95 BLACK EAGLE (26” wingspan) $59.95 BLACKHAWK (13” wingspan) $29.95

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PAGE 20 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Labeling machine stickers time-sensitive data on polybags Some sectors of the produce industry might be hardpressed to take the ‘pizza test.’ That’s the ability to identify the sources of all the ingredients on a pizza. Where were the tomatoes grown? Where were the peppers grown? And so on. What’s more, that information needs to be communicated on the face of polybags. For Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (NFGA), the challenge is to meet specifications in export markets which require the name of the supplier, batch code, pull code and other assorted information on a one-inch by 1.5-inch square rectangle at the bottom of the bag of apples. A year ago, the business installed a Posie Packer labeling machine to reduce the manual labour of stickering bags, but the process still has challenges. “With a wicket of 250 stickers, there is a fan of stickers at the end of the roll,” says Tom O’Neill, general manager, NFGA. “It’s hard to get the sticker at the very bottom of the bag because the bag shifts going through the labeling machine. ”

Posie Packer machinery profitably eliminates drudgery jobs involved in labeling produce bags.

Nevertheless, the automated labeling machine is an improvement over hand-stickering. Labels, either paper or plastic, imprinted with supplier information in a human readable format, offers the lowest cost method to transmit traceability information to the consumer. The Posie Packer company, based in Guelph, Ontario, claims that its bag-labeling machine can apply labels up to five times faster than manual application with the ability to apply two labels per cycle on wicketed or non-wicketed poly bags (plain, gusseted or zip lock). There are no limitations on size of bag or required label location. Labour costs associated with labeling can be reduced up to 90 per cent. John Vandergrift, owner, Posie Packer, offers a free assessment of how bags, labels and label location will run on the machine and the potential return on investment. His website, www.producebaglabeler.com, also offers access to a database of more than 75 traceability software providers.

Conveyor improves carton delivery When P.G. Enns Farms in Niagara-on-the-Lake decided to upgrade sorting equipment for their peach packing operation, they quickly realized that they also needed to improve their system for delivering empty cartons to the packers. That’s when he called Pacline, Mississauga, Ontario. Although Enns Farms did have a basic monorail system to carry empty cartons, this old system was now incompatible with the new sorting equipment. They replaced the simple monorail with a PAC-LINE overhead conveyor system. It features a universal chain inside an enclosed tubular track. The new conveyor track, which can handle steep elevation changes and tight curves,

was precisely designed to take empty cartons from the carton-forming area and to go up over and around new sorting equipment and then back down to a level convenient to the peach packing operators on the floor. This system allowed the floor to be clear and uncluttered of cartons and packing material, adhering to the highest standards of food and operator safety. Robb Enns says that the PAC-LINE- system has improved productivity for their packing operation. “It is such a simple system, I don’t know why everyone in this business doesn’t have one.”

VEGETABLE EQUIPMENT FOR CARROTS, ONION, POTATOES FOR SALE - 4 row potato windrower, all new belts and bearings 1 year warranty. $24,000 - Onion digger , new chains and cutter bar. $3500 - 2 self propelled carrot harvesters. $18,000 and $24,000 - 1300 gallon Gregson sprayer 100ft booms, chemical eductor, floatation tires, mint condition. $55,000 used 2 seasons - Self propelled 785 Willmar sprayer. $40,000 or best offer. - Thomas B88 air Vac harvester, Good condition. $35,000 - Lockwood 2 row harvester, Good condition. $8,000 - Hill Machinery telescopic bin piler with 36" sizer and grading table. $6500 - MF 410 grain combine in mint condition. $3500 - 2 row, 3pt hitch Univerco Regi weeder. $2500

Only at Sheehan’s Truck Centre we offer our customer’s everything from great trucks, fast delivery of parts to extraordinary customer service. We are located in a 52,000-sq/ft facility with 65 highly trained staff to take care of your transportation needs. We have over 200 new and used vehicles on display in our newly paved lot. Call us today for a test drive, quote on a new truck or any other questions that you may have.

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SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Small is big at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show to the local food “buy local buy fresh” demands,” says Doug Wagner, vice-president of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. A number of companies will be demonstrating equipment specifically designed for organic and horticultural production, including small-scale agricultural equipment for intensive vegetable production, weeding and special

mowing applications. “Sometimes visitors get overwhelmed by the sheer size of the large equipment,” says Wagner, “so we are making sure we showcase small and demonstrate the versatility of these machines.” The expo will also feature mini-seminars on important related topics. One of the speakers will be Don Ross, a well-known

author in eastern Ontario who has helped establish “Local Flavours,” a group of 120 members who assist in developing markets for local producers. Other topics will include how to brand product, mixing agri-tourism with food production, and new Lorie Jocius (R) and Stefanie developments in organic Nagelschmitz, Canada’s Outdoor Farm production. “The Organic Council Show, tend to the new organic garden showcasing rainbow Swiss chard. of Ontario will be highlighting the opportunities and breakthroughs the Director. “We will also be on organic sector is making in agrohand to inform farmers about the ecology, green technology and new Foodland Organic designaprofitability,” says Jodi Koberins- tion which identifies Ontarioki, the Council’s Executive produced organic foods.”

ANUFACTU ER M RIN CK G

Market gardeners will find a new focus in the Organics and Market Vegetable Expo at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, September 13 – 15 near Woodstock, Ontario. “This year we have rearranged the real estate on the North Mall to make way for a larger offering for those producing market vegetables and organics in response

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PAGE 22 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

Looking back and looking forward As the 2011 garlic crop stays nestled under a varying blanket of snow, growers met on Saturday Dec 11 for the annual fall meeting. After a year of some of the strongest demand and best prices for our crop, it was an opportunity to look at what happened and what

the future will bring. We had a growing season that had extreme drought in the deep southwest, a lot of heat units everywhere, and more than sufficient rainfall in many areas. We had some scattered and very serious damage due primarily to bulb

COMING EVENTS 2011 Sept 1 – 3

Canada’s Fruit and Veg Tech X-Change, St. Williams, ON

September 6 Self-Directed Risk Management information meeting, Travelodge, Chatham, ON

is hereby given that the

153rd Annual Members and Directors’ Meeting

September 8 Self-Directed Risk Management information meeting, Prudhommes Inn, Vineland, ON

of the

Ontario Fruit andVegetable Growers’ Association will be held in

Sept 8 – 11 The Shores of Erie Wine Festival, Amherstburg, ON

Niagara Falls, Ontario at The Crowne Plaza Hotel

Vineland Research Station’s Centenary Open House, Vineland Station, ON 11:30 am - 4:30 pm

January 9, 10 and 11, 2012 Election of Directors of the Association will take place as well as dealing with resolutions and any other business that may arise.

Sept 10, 11 Stratford Garlic Festival, Old Stratford Fairgrounds, Stratford, ON Sept 12

Ontario Asparagus Association Twilight Meeting & BBQ, 6:30 pm, Simcoe Research Station, Simcoe, ON

OFVGA Annual General Meeting and Convention Policy

Sept 13 – 15 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock, ON Sept14

Ontario Berry Growers’ Association Twilight Meeting, Jennen Market, Thamesville, ON

Sept 14

Grape Growers of Ontario Celebrity Luncheon featuring Chantal Hebert, Club Roma, St. Catharines, ON

Sept 25

Toronto Garlic Festival, Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto, ON

made their garlic a scarser and more expensive commodity, all of these factors as well as overwhelming Canadian consumer demand for our product have resulted in some great selling and pricing opportunities. So what will this mean for the 2011 and future crops? With demand strong and prices to growers ranging from $5 to $ 10 per pound depending on where and in what form you sell, the outlook is very positive. One major chain has

NOTICE

September 7 Self-Directed Risk Management information meeting, Knights of Columbus Hall, Delhi, ON

Sept 10

and stem nematode. Becky Hughes from New Liskeard pointed out that nematode numbers will build up in a cool wet year (2009) and you will always see the damage effect in a hot drier year ( the hot being the key). For growers who had an infestation it was devastating. As well there have been growing challenges in China, California and other areas. Along with rampant inflation in China which has increased the cost of all their produce and thankfully

As the OFVGA prepares for its 152nd annual meeting, the association would like to remind its member organizations of the following policy – put in place in 2004-05 – in order to ensure proper delegate preparation and resolutions submission. • All member organizations are entitled to one (1) delegate per 50 members within their respective organizations, maximum of five. • All member organizations are to provide to the OFVGA the number of its active membership. • All resolutions should be brought forward, in writing, by December 15 of each year. • Any of the member organizations who are required to submit their director’s name in advance (currently seven of the 10 board affiliates) should do so by December 15 of each year.

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MARK WALES GARLIC GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO put Ontario garlic back on the shelves in their high value stores and have realized that they must pay a decent price in order to have the best product for their customers. Seed was in very short supply and will continue to be for some years to come. As growers we are looking to increase production from bulbuils as a possible way to increase acreage sooner. However more research in proper methods needs to be done as historically growing from bulbuils has not always been successful. As an association we will be doing some research and posting the info for members on our website. We will be applying for a sizeable Agricultural Adaptation Council grant to continue with our Clean Seed program development in light of the problems with bulb and stem nematode. It was pointed out by researchers at the meeting that fumigation has no effect. Because of the nature of garlic, you can sterilize the soil but if you plant infected garlic cloves then you just perpetuate the problem and the weather will determine how bad your damage will be. Crop rotation helps but you would typically need to wait at least five years before returning to an infected field and again, if you plant infected seed then you still have the problem. We will be looking during the project on how to quickly increase the supply of clean seed for growers. So all in all, a well attended fall meeting with lots of input from members. We have lots of work for the years ahead. One other item that we did discuss was price. With any product you have to always be careful not to price yourself out of the marketplace. Garlic, although unique, may still need to remember this. At some point as price rises, the goodwill and pent-up demand for our product could evaporate if prices get too high. As growers we do of course need to ensure that we get the best return for our crop, so that is what we will have to balance in determining next season's price points. On behalf of myself and your association, I hope the holidays have been good to you and your family as we all look forward to producing the best garlic in the world.

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

Engage Agro to distribute codling moth insecticidal virus

Codling moth in apple Certis USA has registered CYD-X in Canada, an insecticidal virus that is used by conventional and organic growers to control codling moth in apples and pears. CYD-X contains a naturally occurring virus that infects and kills the larvae of the codling moth. Because the virus is host-specific, it does not infect

beneficial insects or other wildlife. Its novel active ingredient offers flexibility in organic production, in IPM programs or in tank mixes in conventional programs to control this pest. Engage Agro, based in Guelph, Ontario, will be the distributor of this new product.

MARKETPLACE

To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 REAL ESTATE Gerry Loeters for Royal LePage, RCR Realty. PH. 519-765-4217 Cell. 519-773-6460

ORCHARD FOR SALE. Outstanding orchard Farm in full

Beautiful Bayfield

40 acre country property. Presently used for Greenhouse & Market Gardening Operation. Large Pond & 4 bedroom brick home. MLS 299970 Call John for information.

John Jantzi, Sales Representative RE/MAX a-b Realty Ltd., Brokerage 519-273-2822 (office) • 519-571-3894 (cell) - John LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL.....GIVE US A CALL! Each Office Independently Owned & Operated.

production with very good varieties including strawberries and younger trees. List of varieties available with age and quantity of trees, crops not included in asking price, but available. Also list of equipment available but not included. The orchard is recognized as the best or one of the best orchards in Ontario. Very good home and storage buildings on property. Great opportunity to get into the business with increased production in the coming years. Asking $1,300,000.00. Address: 5893 Sawmill Road and 5894 Sawmill Road, RR2 Aylmer, Malahide TWP, Elgin County

Sutton Group-Select Realty Inc. JoAnne Baines, sales representative

Philip Chabot, broker

519-495-7117 Elgin County – 129 acres, 112 wkble on the lake, east of Port Stanley. 40,000 sq ft greenhouse with tempered glass and Dutch Venlo. In potates, vegetables and cash crops. Natural gas runs to the back of the parcel where 2 sheds are located; 1@ 40x80 with concrete floor & 1@ 36x110. Irrigated from 2 ponds and lake. 3 bdrm ranch on half acre included but can be purchased separately. Offers many possibilities. $1,400,000 for complete package. Norfolk County – Profitable Gourmet Potatoe Farm marketing to the Toronto Food Terminal. 400+ owned and leased land. 49 acres and buildings included. Equipment is in addition. $2,200,000. FOR FULL DETAILS ON THESE AND MORE, INCLUDING MAPPING AND PHOTOGRAPHS PLEASE VISIT: www.JustFarms.ca

PAGE 24 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 EQUIPMENT

BIN CARRIERS

CONTAINERS SPRAYERS FOR SALE

NEW AND USED Several Models: 5-Bin or 6-Bin, Tandem Axles or Single Axle With Soft-Ride Flotation Tires, Narrow, Low Profile Model With Adjustable Width Axles For Plastic or Wood Bins Apple Bin Dumpers (Rotator) - Fit Forklift or Tractor Loader NEW TURBO-MIST SPRAYERS - VARIETY OF MODELS IN STOCK LOW DRIFT SPRAY TOWERS to fit any TURBO-MIST - IN STOCK NOW Perfect KG220,, H.D. Flail Shredder, New Hammers . . . . . . . . $6,500 Seppi 200 Flail Mower, Cut Grass or Mulch Prunings. . . . . . . . .$5,500 Wifo Heavy Duty Bin Rotator Attachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coming Perfect ZA380, Adjustable Offset, Swing Cutter, New Blades . . $5,500

3 referb JB Modulars Sprayers • REFURB JB LV 321 Narrow, $5995.00 • NEW Hardi 3pt. Air Cannon, $4500.00 • NEW 100gal 3pt JB Air, $7500.00 • New Durand Vineyard Sprayer Great Price. Over Stock. • Barely used Hardi Mercury call for $$

Produce Pr odu uce P Packaging ackaging

Manufacturer & Distributor

1-800-265-2397 • www.wwp.on.ca Mount Forest 519-323-1060 • Leamington Area 519-326-2394

HAVE A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS HARVEST D O N A RT H U R O R C H A R D E Q U I P M E N T (519) 599-3058 donarthur@georgian.net Clarksburg, ON

FOR KLIFT

CONTAINERS

M.F. 4500, 21 ft. Mast, 48” forks. 2WD Diesel PH: 519-599-5535 evenings Email: mcmurchyfarms @georgian.net

LOUTH & NIAGARA ORCHARDS

FOR SALE

P.O. Box 43 • Virgil, Ontario • L0S 1T0 • 905-468-3297 4000 Jordan Road • Jordan Station, ON • 905-562-8825

Vegetable Walk-in Cooler 40 long/30 wide/10 high Sliding/loading door on 40 side

3 years old Please contact George: 905 971 2144 or email amltd3@netzero.net

CLASSIFIEDS APPLE BINS FOR SALE: used in good condition. Approx 500. Phone 519-599-5841, email oaklane@georgian.net 100’s of 40"L X 32"W X 29"H wood crates available. Must sell! Below market pricing. Ask about any other size crate, skid or pallets you use. We deliver or you pick up. Call Phil: 519-835-0295 Email: philip@barco.ca www.barco.ca

Supplying Fruit and Vegetable Growers with: • Baskets • Masters • Fertilizer • Vineyard Trellis Supplies

CLASSIFIEDS

Onion Harvester pull type side discharge, $2,500; Onion Harvester self propelled side discharge, $6,500; Univerco Onion Puller, $12,500; Univerco Carrot Harvester, $15,000; Pickling Onion Equipment, $7,500; Howard 8 foot Rototiller, $3,500; Multivator, $2,500; 2705 MF Tractor, $8,500; 2775 MF Tractor, $13,000; TM 125 New Holland Tractor, $38,000; 100 pieces 6 inch Irrigation Pipe; 100 pieces 5 inch Irrigation Pipe; Pipe Fittings (call for pricing) ; 21 Irrigation Stations, $200 each; 7 Irrigation Guns, $300 each; Berkley Irrigation Pump diesel driven, $6,000; PTO driven Irrigation Pump, $1,500; 250 Used Wood Totes, $35.00 each. Call Leamington (519) 326-0093.

Irrigation pipe for sale. Mostly 3 inch lengths and some 4 inch. Call 289-237-3893.

Advertise your used equipment in the classified section of The Grower newspaper Call Carlie 519-763-8728

• Berry Boxes • Waxed Cartons • Crop Protection Material

www.thegrower.org www.ofvga.org

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 25 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 NURSERY AND ROOTSTOCK

Alpine Nurseries

(Niagara) Limited

SPECIALIZING IN FRUIT

The best producing orchards start with exceptional trees.

TREES & GRAPE VINES & ELDERBERRIES. VARIETY AND PRICE LIST AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Apples Apricots Cherries Nectarines Peaches Plums

Howard A. Colcuc Nursery Manager

Quality Fruit Trees for 60 years.

R.R. #4 Creek Road Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON. L0S 1J0 Tel: (905) 262-4971 Fax: (905) 262-4404 howardcolcuc@rogers.com

Mori Nurseries

1695 Niagara Stone Rd., RR#2 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S1J0 T: 905-468-3217 F: 905-468-7271 Email: fruittrees@morinurseries.com

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QUALITY FRUIT TREES • APPLE on M9, B9 and M26 • Peach on Bailey • PEAR on Quince

ORDER NOW FOR BEST SELECTION

]

WARWICK ORCHARDS & NURSERY LTD RR 8, 7056 Egremont Rd. Watford, ON N0M 2S0 warwickorchards@brktel.on.ca Tel: (519) 849-6730 Toll free: 877-550-7412 Fax: (519) 849-6731

POSTS

Change of address??? 866-898-8488 ext. 221 or online at www.thegrower.org

PAGE 26 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

To advertise phone: 519-380-0118 • 866-898-8488 x 218 • Fax: 519-380-0011 BLUEBERRIES

IRRIGATION

REFRIGERATION

KOOL JET

Reliable Refrigeration Systems

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Visit our website to view our complete line

CROP TUNNELS

Advertise your business in Canada’s most popular agriculture newspaper! Call Herb Sherwood 519-380-0118

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER

119/11 replaces three regulations On July 1, 2011, Ontario introduced a new regulation regarding fruit, vegetables, honey and maple products. Regulation 119/11 falls under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001. It replaces three regulations in the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act: Regulations 378 - Grades, Fruit and Vegetables, 384 Honey and 386 - Maple Products which have been revoked. Regulation 119/11 affects the sale, packaging, labelling, transportation and advertising of produce, honey and maple products. Regulation 119/11 applies to fresh fruit and vegetables, honey and maple products. It also includes sprouts, fresh culinary herbs, in-shell nuts and peanuts and edible fungi, not subject to the federal Canada Agricultural Products Act. This provincial regulation reflects current industry needs and practices and removes barriers to innovation while promoting food safety. Labelling requirements are in addition to any federal requirements that may apply under the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (Canada) and the Food and Drugs Act (Canada). Refer to federal government requirements to ensure compliance. This document notes several important changes for farmers and packers. An official copy of the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 and Regulation 119/11 Produce, Honey and Maple Products can be accessed on the Ontario government e-laws website, under Current Consolidated Law at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES What is Covered This regulation applies to any produce that can be commercially grown or harvested in Canada. This includes fresh fruit and vegetables and, for the first time, sprouts, fresh culinary herbs, nuts and peanuts in the shell, and edible fungi. This regulation does not apply to: • produce grown and harvested

for personal use and consumption, • minimally processed fruit or vegetable products, for example sliced mushrooms, fruit or vegetable trays or apple cider. Please refer to Regulation 119/11 for a comprehensive list because this is new, • any produce imported from outside Canada that is not commercially grown or harvested anywhere in Canada (this produce is covered under federal legislation) • any fruit or vegetable grown for the purpose of seed production, • and for the first time, in-shell nuts and peanuts harvested for any purpose other than for human consumption. Please note this is new. Regulation 119/11 prohibits harvesting, selling, packing or transporting contaminated produce.

Grade Standards Produce, other than potatoes, no longer needs to be sold by grade as of July 1, 2011—this is new in this regulation. As requested by industry, grade standards still apply to potatoes until July 1, 2016. Packaging and Containers This regulation now allows produce, other than potatoes, to be packed in any suitable package of any size. Between July 1, 2011 and July 1, 2016 potatoes are required to be packed in the package sizes specified in the regulation.

Advertising and Display In the previous regulation, advertising rules applied to “print” materials only. Regulation 119/11 advertising and display guidelines apply to any “media” (for example: print, electronic, digital) after June 30, 2011. The regulation requires the product’s origin, the net quantity for packaged produce and in the case of potatoes, their grade. To help consumers, signs are required for displays of produce at retail outlets and farmer’s markets. After June 30, 2011, the signs must include these elements: • The origin of the produce. • The price per unit of weight, if sold by weight. • The word “sweet” or “hot” for peppers, as appropriate. The print on a retail display sign must be readily discernible and of a size reasonable in proportion to the size of the sign. Product Labelling Regulation 119/11 requires produce packages or master containers to be labelled with the packer’s name and full address (or that of the person for whom it is packed). The label must also identify the country or province of origin of the produce. The print size required is the same as that required under the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act. If labels on produce contained in master containers are easily and clearly discernable, the same information need not be applied to the master container. If the produce is packed in such a way that it is not readily visible, the common name of the produce must be indicated. If labels on previously used packages or master containers do not meet the new regulation’s labelling requirements, they must be completely removed or obliterated and replaced with new labels. Packages of nuts, peanuts and edible fungi must now comply with origin labelling requirements

by July 1, 2013. Labelling is not required on packages of raspberries and strawberries that have a capacity of 1.14L (1 quart) or less if they are sold directly from the field where they are grown. Packages of peppers need to state whether they are “hot” or “sweet”. Potato packages must be labelled with the grade of the potatoes (until July 1, 2016). Packages of yellow flesh potatoes are required to indicate that the contents are “yellow fleshed potatoes”. Packages of apples, pears and Yukon Gold potatoes no longer need to be labelled with the varietal name.

Regulation Prohibits Misrepresentation Regulation 119/11 also protects farmers, packers and consumers from misrepresentation. The Regulation outlines specific requirements prohibiting false or misleading information on labels, packaging and containers, or master containers. In particular, it prohibits the misrepresentation of: • the name and full address of the packer of any produce or the person for whom it was packed • the place where produce was grown or harvested • the amount of produce in a package • any grade of potatoes established in the regulation.

Food safety audits and record keeping COLLEEN HASKINS, ON-FARM FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM LEAD, OMAFRA GUELPH The requirement of having a food safety audit for farm production is increasing, and some of the major retailers are requesting a short turn- around time for these to be completed and producers to be certified. Produce commodities are classified into different risk categories, and some retailers are requiring high-risk produce to be certified first. Audits are focused on the season in which the commodity is being produced, and typically occur during harvest or packing. Many audits require a minimum of three months of records to be completed prior to an audit being conducted., However if nutrient applications were made in the previous fall for the next year’s production, those records may be considered during an audit as well. With any food safety program, it is imperative to maintain and keep your records as proof of due diligence for your farm productions and often to be kept for two years at a minimum. Contact your retailer or customer to verify which food safety program they require and the requirements for record keeping before you schedule your audit. Now is the time to get started and the good news is, we can help! Food safety questions? Ask us. Visit our website for more food safety information and additional resources. www.ontario.ca/good-ag-practices.

PAGE 28 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

Strawberry virus sampling CAITLIN SIMOPOULOS, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Strawberry viruses are generally controlled through clean plant propagation. Although viruses are rare in cultivated strawberries, wild strawberries can potentially harbour viruses that can spread to neighbouring cultivated fields. While many viral infections show no symptoms, mixed infections of more than one virus can cause per cent crop loss (Chang et al., 2007). OMAFRA and the University of Guelph’s USEL (Undergraduate Student Experiential Learning) program have introduced a strawberry virus research project to investigate the type and amount of virus in strawberries across Ontario as well as to develop tests to diagnose possible viral infections. After program completion, we hope to develop information sheets on specific virus symptoms, as well as more

Figure 1, interveinal chlorosis

Figure 2, crinkled leaves

Figure 3, mottling

information on the development and use of strawberry virus diagnostic tests. Sampling in fields showing possible viral infections is in progress. Some symptoms we presently believe could be caused by a virus are interveinal chlorosis (Fig. 1), crinkled leaves (Fig 2.), mottling (Fig. 3),

stunted plants, small and asymmetrical leaves, cupped leaves, and a patchy field. If you have observed these symptoms in your strawberry fields, please contact Pam Fisher at pam.fisher@ontario.ca. Thanks to the Ontario Berry Growers Association for supporting the project with

funding from the Farm Innovation Program. Chang, L., Zhang, Z., Yang, H., Li, H., Dai, H. 2007. Detection of strawberry RNA and DNA viruses by RT-PCR using total nucleic acid as a template. J. Phytopathology. 155, 431-436.

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Checklist for worker policies training COLLEEN HASKINS, ON-FARM FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM LEAD, OMAFRA GUELPH When training your workers in policies on the farm, especially for work during crucial productions times such as harvest and final packing, it is necessary they are aware of all the food safety risks and are trained appropriately. Areas that need to be addressed during Worker Policy Training are: • Worker Practices – designated areas for eating, drinking, smoking, medications and other personal belongings • Hand Washing – ensure training on proper hand washing techniques, using potable water, soap, hand wipes and sanitizing gel • Clothing and Footwear – suitable clothing, footwear (and safety equipment) for the expected task is available, clean, intact, and there is separate storage space for work clothes • Injuries and Illness – any open wounds, cuts or individuals displaying symptoms of an illness are not in contact with food without taking the appropriate measures to prevent contamination. Keep in mind, a “worker” is any individual on the farm associated with the farm processes and production of the commodity. For training information and resources, please call 1-877-4241300 or visit our website www.ontario.ca/good-ag-practices. Food safety questions? Ask us.

SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 29 THE GROWER

Grapes worth celebrating PURE PROTECTION LEADS TO PURE PERFECTION

Spray Oil 13E. Protection at its purest – CAS# 8042-47-5 Introducing Spray Oil 13E, from the largest producer of white oils. It’s proof that not all oils are created equal, and not all grapes achieve perfection. It is an innovative isoparaffin oil that offers the highest purity levels on the market with CAS# 8042-47-5. Spray Oil 13E effectively protects your high value grape crops by quickly eradicating pests and disease and then continuing to provide extended protection. All without any phytoxicity or burning issues. So use it early

to avoid problems from developing, as it won’t damage your crop and it reduces the need for resorting to traditional toxic chemicals later. As many pesticides have been delisted, your choices are limited and becoming more so every day. So when you have a choice to make, be sure to choose the purest – Spray Oil 13E. It’s an effective choice with unlimited possibilities. For more product information call 1-866-335-3369.

PAGE 30 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER

MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS

Tough changes, great opportunities

CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA It must be very interesting inside government circles these days as they struggle to find ways to cut their budgets and still get the work done. Most of us have been there before with our business or personal finances. There may be games played where one hopes that if a certain set of options are laid out, the inevitable choice is to be exempted from cuts because the result could be catastrophic. Wiser heads may decide that they will make severe cuts while just accepting the backlash from the public as a result of the loss of service or speed of delivery. The ones we need to foster are those who will look at the whole of that for which they are responsible, and then decide how to do it all, but smarter, and accept the backlash from those who may say they are taking too much risk, or that they are no longer doing what an Act or Regulation requires. In fact, almost all the operational activities in any government department or ministry are set by policy, directive, or guideline. These are NOT “the law,”

but the staff has often forgotten this and remains so dedicated to them that they become stuck in a rut that makes changes to procedures difficult if not impossible. I know: I once had the opportunity to suggest major changes to legislated requirements and when I was innovative, it took a lot of argument (why would they think I couldn’t argue?) but in the end, my suggestions prevailed (and are still in vogue today). In fact the policies, directives and guidelines are set by staff to define the what, when, where and how they work to fulfill the Act and Regs. They are changed, altered, averted or ignored at times when it suits the staff. It only takes a very strong senior person to condone this as it upsets ‘protocol.’ Nonetheless, they are in fact only self-imposed rules of practice, and can be changed by the very staff that created them! There are many ways that major changes could be made at both the federal and provincial levels that could create savings of staff time, and resources but I will constrain my ideas to the realm of pesticides. First and foremost, we need to accept the reviews and conclusions of competent authorities for any data requirements toward pesticide registration. Of course, that means constant verifications for such competencies, but that could be a part of a much wider global/NAFTA approach to registration anyway. (We already do such things for laboratory competency, so this is Not a new approach) Canada could/should focus on a very few areas of the registration process that the rest of the globe could use, and a

bare-bones approach on some other areas where we currently expend large amounts of staff time and resources. Likewise, we can adopt time-saving methods such as changes by letter of notifications rather than vast data requirements and reviews. It seems to work elsewhere! (And it could be done rapidly too!) Many submissions that take up to 18 months could be done in weeks or days instead. Efforts could be better synchronized with other government agencies as well. If Food Safety is at the bottom of residue testing and not the ‘use’ of a product per se, than maybe we do not need to be spending so much effort on seeking the lowest dose, or the lowest MRL, but focus instead on the best efficacy and a residue level that on a crop/food basis does not pose a food safety risk. Once again, considerable staff time could be re-directed to more important issues. One of those important issues could be to create and massage a “Canadian” dietary model that could be used to ensure Food Safety calculations are done with us in mind. (I for one am tired of hearing that our Canadian government uses a U.S. model because ours is 40 years out-of-date.) If on the other hand we would also accept all other U.S. approaches to pesticide regulation, we could abolish our entire system. (I am not necessarily in favour of going that far!) There are huge expenditures made on residue test trials done every year. What risk could be proven if these were dramatically cut by relying on data already known from elsewhere? If 50

trials from a wide range of sites and countries already show a narrow range of variation, why are we spending inordinate amounts of resources to ‘do it all again’ here? The same would apply for soil residue tests, efficacy tests, worker exposure tests, and many more. We CAN be more efficient, but even if the senior management could convince a minister that it would be safe to do so, the bigger ‘sell’ will be to get the staff to change how they work. Entrenched thinking is often the biggest barrier to improvement. (That is why the Japanese ‘Kaizen’ approach of involving all staff in continuous improvement keeps anyone from getting stuck with ‘ownership’ for any status quo, and leads to a better environment for change.) These same ideas can hold water at the provincial levels as well. Many requirements have just continued without serious thought about change or elimination. What were good ideas or absolute needs under past conditions may well not be so important or even necessary today. Nonetheless, it always takes political will to push forward on major changes, especially when some are dearly held onto by staff. Hence we have ten provincial and three territorial Acts and Regs that all have different approaches to doing the same things. Even some things that one would take as givens such as mandatory grower, vendor and applicator training, examination and re-testing are lacking. Common approaches to permit requirements do not exist. Even the prohibitions on uses vary by

province. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have a much simpler common ‘code of practice’ for all provinces that would allow simpler cheaper and faster approvals or prosecutions where needed? Wouldn’t it be less expensive if much of the work done at provincial levels was done once at the federal level and adopted at the provincial level? It can be done, but only if the death-grip on provincial regulation were to be loosened. I am not proposing that any federal or provincial bureaucrat needs to fall on their sword over any of this. In fact, we need the same determined approach that they have now in doing their jobs (and holding on to dearly believed principles) to be redirected into changing their approach to do it even better with fewer resources. We know that these budget cuts are inevitable! We also know that just expecting staff to do even more work so much harder that they can do it all as in the past will send them to the stress-leave list or worse. We also know that they DO want to ensure all the safety requirements are met. We want them met too! We are proud of Canada’s worldwide reputation for this safety! It CAN all be done ‘smarter’ while still ensuring those safety levels we crave. It will take bold steps. They MUST be taken. We will support them to make them work. As Canadians all, we must work together on this because the status quo is not an option, and any other alternative is not acceptable.

Pest Management Centre’s Sustainable Crop Protection Projects Project Code PRR06-130 PRR07-230

Project Title Environmental assessment and phytosanitary efficacy of a drift recovery sprayer Developing mating disruption for the integrated management of grape berry moth

Crop grape grape

BPI06-320

Potato virus Y (PVY O and PVY N:O) impact on potato cultivars and management through oil sprays

potato

MUR07-040

Development of novel and blended formulations and application technologies for low risk management of wireworms in potatoes

potato

PRR07-490

Sustainable management of the soybean aphid with biological control agents and reduced risk- and bio-pesticides

soybean

PRR06-880

Reduced risk management of lygus plant bugs in Ontario strawberry

strawberry

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SEPTEMBER 2011 –– PAGE 31 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

New aphid control in highbush blueberries and leafy vegetables Fulfill 50WG insecticide is now registered to control aphids in highbush blueberries and leafy vegetables. This is welcome news as aphids can harm crops directly by sucking nutrients from plant tissue or can be the primary vector of devastating plant diseases. In leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and celery, aphids can transmit viruses that cause stunting, leaf curling, yellowing and

Chateau herbicide WDG label expanded on field peppers JIM CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USE COORDINATOR, GUELPH The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for Chateau herbicide WDG for control of weeds on field peppers in Canada. Chateau herbicide was already labeled in Canada for control of weeds on several vegetable and fruit crops. The following is provided as a general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Chateau Herbicide WDG.

Chateau Herbicide can be applied at a rate of 140 g per ha (coarse-textured soils) to 210 g per ha (medium textured soils) as a hooded or shielded spray to row middles prior to transplanting peppers for pre-emergence control of weeds. Rainfall or irrigation must occur between application and transplanting in order to activate the product. Do not apply more than 210 g per ha during a single growing season. Plants should be grown on raised or plastic mulched beds that are at least 10 cm higher than the treated row middle and the mulched bed must have a minimum of 60 cm bed width. There are a number of other very important precautions to follow for field peppers; consult the label for details. For a copy of the new minor use label contact Kristen Callow, OMAFRA, Ridgetown (519) 674-1335, Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 8263539 or visit www.valent.ca

sunken lesions, resulting in marketable yield losses. In recent years, the blueberry scorch virus, vectored by aphids, has caused up to 80 per cent yield loss in certain blueberry varieties and has become a widespread disease across British Columbia. “Fulfill 50WG will allow producers to manage the direct and indirect detrimental effects of aphid infestations, which can be

extremely damaging to crop quality and yield,” says Ann Vermeersch, technical lead at Syngenta Canada. The active ingredient, pymetrozine, enters the leaf tissue quickly, working to stop aphids from feeding after they come in contact or ingest the product. The translaminar and systemic activity provides residual control of aphids for up to two weeks.

Additionally, this product fits well into an integrated pest management (IPM) system. Producers have often had to rely on broadspectrum insecticides to prevent aphid infestations. The specialized chemistry minimizes the impact on non-target beneficial insects and pollinators. The combination of residual control and specialized chemistry in an IPM system will help pro-

ducers reduce the number of insecticide applications needed for aphid control and diminish the risk of flaring up other pests in the field. For more information please go to www.syngenta.com. Source: Syngenta news release

PAGE 32 –– SEPTEMBER 2011 THE GROWER