The Grower September 2014 by The Grower

SEPTEMBER 2014

CELEBRATING 135 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION

VOLUME 64 NUMBER 09

TECHNOLOGY

Chanelling rain, sun, energy of workers to grow a perfect pepper

Orangeline Farms expanded their 20 acres of double poly greenhouses last year, adding 12 acres under glass. Brothers Jordan and Duffy Kniaziew adopted the latest technology in infrastructure, specifically the capture of rainwater to nourish their peppers and new specialties: strawberries and giant runner beans. Here, Duffy provides a tour of the new complex near Leamington, Ontario. Photos by Glenn Lowson.

INSIDE OFVGA summer tour goes to the city Page 8 Focus: New equipment and technology Page 14

High-density apple orchards featured in Georgian Bay Page 18

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

KAREN DAVIDSON Leamington, Ontario – For Duffy Kniaziew, greenhouse heaven would be a sunny-side-up day of 23°C and five to 10 millimetres of rain overnight. As president of Orangeline Farms, he sounds strangely reminiscent of a field farmer who wishes for Saturday night rain – seven times over. Along with brother Jordan, vice-president, sales and marketing, they have adopted some of the most advanced technology in the Canadian greenhouse industry. Flexible heating hoses, for example, can be raised higher as the crop moves up trellises. And in the brilliantly lit greenhouse, robotic cars weave silently through the alleys, hauling the pepper harvest to the packing station. Yet, in this carefully calibrated ecosystem, the Kniaziew’s are humble enough to respect rainwater, the ultimate endowment of Mother Nature.

“Rainwater has value to us,” says Duffy Kniaziew (pronounced NA-JEV) who explains that the industry has been challenged lately to meet stricter environmental rules regarding water management. “We decided to research where the best practices were headed and realized that rainwater is an asset. It’s better than well water or municipally-sourced water because it has less sodium and fewer chlorides.” That insight led to a new roof design for the 12 acres of glass greenhouses built last year. Rainfall is channeled into an outside pond with a liner. Several million litres of water can be stored, ready to be pumped indoors into holding tanks. Like any other utility or fuel, backup systems exist to supplement rainwater. While the rainwater is free, the infrastructure to manage this precious resource is not. “There’s no how-to manual for managing these automated systems,” says

Kniaziew. “We’re still learning how to optimize the water while saving more of the nutrient solution.” A tour of the greenhouse reveals investment in PowerBees, automated guided vehicles that follow markers or wires in the floor using lasers for navigation. While these were pioneered in the auto industry, they adapt well to greenhouses with wide pathways where it’s easy to program repetitive routes. “These machines improve the handling of the product,” says Kniaziew. “The speed of the ride can be predetermined for the gentlest travel to cold storage. With a consistent system, we can be more focused on the workers themselves.” European-designed automation may be daunting, but Kniaziew explains that their equipment is monitored by video cameras and the pictures relayed back to global networks for technical diagnosis. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PAGE 2 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

NEWSMAKERS

AT PRESS TIME… CanadaGAP changes for 2015 Starting April 1, 2015, CanadaGAP auditors will be looking for assurance that packing, repacking, storage and wholesale operations seeking CanadaGAP certification have sourced their product from suppliers who are also certified to CanadaGAP or to another industry-recognized, third-party food safety audit/certification. “The time is right for this change,” noted Jack Bates, chair of the CanadaGAP board. “The board is unanimous in seeing this as the next logical step to maintain the rigour and integrity that has come to be associated with CanadaGAP certification.” The next release of CanadaGAP manuals (2015) will reflect these revisions. Direct any questions to the CanadaGAP office at 613-8294711 or info@canadagap.ca.

PEI French fry plant to close The Island’s potato industry is “reeling” with the news that McCain Foods will close its Borden-Carleton French fry facility as of October 31, 2014. “We were shocked and disappointed by the news from McCain,” said PEI Potato Board chairman Gary Linkletter on August 7. “As is the situation in several parts of North America, contract volumes at McCain’s

PEI plant were reduced over the past few years. We understand that global French fry demand has increased significantly during 2014, and we had hoped that McCain would use the excess processing capacity in Borden to supply some of that expanded demand. Instead, we’re now dealing with the loss of the plant.” In 2014, McCain contracted with 23 Island family farms for delivery of more than $7 million worth of potatoes to the BordenCarleton plant that’s operated since 1990. McCain representatives have confirmed that they will honour the contracts they’ve signed with growers for 2014, but plans for beyond 2014 are not known at this point. Linkletter concluded, “Given today’s announcement, we’re concerned for the growers who contracted with McCain in 2014, the McCain and employees and their families, and the support industries involved with the McCain plant. We have had some discussions with provincial and federal government representatives today, and we’ll sit down with them shortly to discuss options for finding other markets, including reverting to delivering potatoes to McCain facilities in New Brunswick for processing in 2015 and beyond. We’d also like to identify a means of keeping the plant operating in some manner.” Statistics Canada, Island growers planted 90,500 acres of potatoes in 2014, down 20 per cent from the high of 113,000 acres in 1999. The potato industry is worth more than

$1 billion to the Prince Edward Island economy each year.

It pays to post jobs Earlier this summer, Employment and Social Development Canada suddenly changed the rules on how job openings must be advertised. All Canadian growers who rely on workers through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program must post on the online job bank at www.jobbank.gc.ca. The job bank posting is a requirement in addition to any jobs you post in local newspapers or trade publications. By going to the website and typing in “farm worker,” you can see the variety of postings ranging from ginseng farm labourer to greenhouse worker. Minimum wages are listed as are expectations of the worker and number of weekly hours. “I’m advising to post jobs 365 days a year,” says Ken Forth, chair of Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS) “Employers must be vigilant that their advertisement is refreshed every 30 days to prevent the advertisement being dropped. In case you have a worker who gets sick or needs to go home, you’ll be covered with the internet posting and it shouldn’t take so long to get a replacement worker.

Kudos to the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers who won second best booth at the Produce Marketing Association Monterey Foodservice Conference & Expo. With more than 160 exhibitors, this event is focused solely on fresh produce in foodservice. The interactive booth was a hit with “Asian” twisted bruschetta and refreshing cucumber water.

L-R: Margaret Wigfield, OGMA; Fiona McLean, OGVG marketing & communications coordinator; George Gilvesy, OGVG general manager; Nancy Hewitt, foodservice specialist. Congratulations to 2014 Canadian Winery of the Year: Peller Estates Niagara. Judges for the National Wine Awards of Canada, who tasted 1335 wines from across the land, complimented the consistency of the Peller family wines. The winery received a platinum medal for their 2012 Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc plus four gold medals for: 2012 Private Reserve Gamay Noir Carlton Vineyard, 2013 Private Reserve Rosé, Signature Series Merlot and 2012 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Dr. Claudia Schmidt is the new research scientist, horticultural economics at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Her responsibilities are to provide business case support to Vineland’s business development office and research teams, and provide strategic advice to the senior management staff. Previously, she was a research associate at the George Morris Centre. The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association has made two staff changes. Andrew Graham is taking over as executive director. A 23-year veteran of the association, Graham has been involved in project development, delivery and management with a focus on environmental programs. Harold Rudy assumes a new position as executive officer, research and business development. Rudy’s new role is to increase collaboration with the research community, starting with the University of Guelph. He will be identifying closer linkages to establish and leverage research funds for applied, on-farm research. Brothers David and Bobby Harris are Prince Edward Island Potato Growers of the Year, announced at the annual O’Leary Potato Blossom Festival in late July. They operate Harris Brothers Inc., employing 16 people. The World Potato Congress appointed three new directors and an international advisor at its June 2014 annual general meeting. New directors are: Ron Gall, New Zealand, Dr. Nora Olsen, U.S. and Anne Fowlie, currently executive vice-president, Canadian Horticultural Council. The new international advisor is Dr. Peter VanderZaag, Alliston, Ontario. Winkler-based Southern Manitoba Potato has re-branded as it heads into another chapter of growth for the company which was established in 1960. With the new branding, Southern Potato has adopted the positioning of “Growing Partnerships.”

L-R: Marion, Keith and Jeremy Kuhl

Food and Beverage Ontario has moved its offices from Cambridge to Guelph, Ontario. The new headquarters are based at 100 Stone Road West, Suite 201, Guelph. Phone 519-826-3741. Best wishes to entomologist Les Shipp on his retirement from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Harrow Research Station after a 34-year career. Most recently, he has helped pioneer bee vectoring which allows biopesticides to be delivered to greenhouse plants.

SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 3 THE GROWER

COVER STORY

Chanelling rain, sun, energy of workers

A collecting pond – with a liner -- is put to good use during an August 12 thunderstorm. It receives the rainwater channelled from the greenhouse roofs and then water is pumped, as needed, into indoor storage tanks. Through laboratory testing, the Kniaziew brothers have discovered that rainwater has less sodium and fewer chlorides than municipally-sourced water.

Freshly picked red peppers are sorted at a grading station.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 It’s often the case that settings simply need to be reprogrammed. All of this automation supplements hand labour for delicate crops that have now expanded from peppers to strawberries and long runner beans. At Orangeline Farms, pickers are responsible for specific rows during the entire growing season. Workers post their photos to the rows and their identification is linked to the harvesting carts. Once the carts have been weighed and unloaded at the packing station, their volume and picking rate is immediately displayed on a Hortimax Labour Insight board. Strategically located beside the lunch room, the figures

Flexible heating hoses can be moved up the trellises as the vines grow.

Giant runner beans are the latest addition to the Zing! line-up.

lead to friendly competitive banter. Who is the fastest today? Gathered on a daily and weekly basis, this labour data can generate patterns of picking behavior by individual and group. Different picking rates can be caused by a dip in pepper production or to a spate of bad weather – two reasons for depressed output, not necessarily related to the worker. When managers analyze the data, they can decide how to correct and improve the output in specific rows of the greenhouse. With such a modern greenhouse, the Kniaziew brothers have also invested in marketing to tell their story. As this is Jordan’s responsibility, he has branded their greenhouse vegetables with the Zing! label and positions these products as healthy foods for active lifestyles. Their new giant

runner beans, for example, are a high-value package that might very well appear beside the herb section of a grocery store. All of these technical improvements have allowed the farm to extend their shoulder season by four to six weeks in the early winter. They can now grow and market peppers from end of February to mid-December. Most of their production finds a home with domestic retailers. Their Zing! story should resonate well with retail buyers, but it is still the case that product must compete with foreign imports. “We’d like to make more inroads,” says Duffy Kniaziew. “We never like to hear that retailers are already supplied. That’s why we’re growing in specialties that no one else can deliver locally.”

PAGE 4 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

INTERNATIONAL RUSSIA

NEW ZEALAND

ASIA

Fruit and vegetable imports banned from western countries

Smitten apples for North America

New products unveiled

convening meetings to consider compensation for loss of income due to the Russian import ban. Specifically, growers of cauliflower, cucumbers, mushrooms, peppers and tomatoes are the ones hardest hit. Dutch-based horticulture companies are enduring stormy weather, with an estimated 500 companies at risk. Some growers acknowledge that they can endure the crisis for 10 to 12 weeks before folding. Greenport Holland has launched a ‘Strong Together’ campaign on Facebook with more than 6,500 likes on Facebook.

Prevar Limited, based in New Zealand, has an exclusive licence agreement with Pegasus Premier Fruit Co in Washington state, to grow Smitten apples. Co-owners Barclay Crane and Randy Steensma are behind the marketing of exclusive cultivars for the North American market. Ten sites are already growing the cultivar in Washington state. They describe this cultivar as having extraordinary eating quality, storage and shelf life, with initial reports of $55 to $60 dollar per box packouts. This new cultivar is viewed as one to replace older varieties such as Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. New Zealand began commercial plantings six years ago and has exported for three years.

Hong Kong is hosting the continent’s largest fresh produce trade show from September 3 – 5. Asia Fruit Logistica will host more than 460 exhibitors from 38 countries, including Canada. New products and technologies are key to boosting growth in the fast-moving fresh fruit and vegetable business in Asia. At the New Zealand pavilion, visitors will get to see Piqa Boo,

Source: FreshPlaza.com

On August 7, Russia announced a broad ban on fruits, vegetables and other foodstuffs originating in Canada, the U.S., E.U, Australia and Norway for one year. The policy is expected to hurt the Netherlands particularly hard which exports €600 million a year to Russia. The U.S. will also feel the effects with $1.6 billion in food exports to Russia. The impact on fruits is relatively small with fresh apple exports at $13 million and pears at $12 million. It is expected that countries such as China, South Africa, Serbia, Azerbeijan, Turkey and Latin America will benefit as they move to fill gaps in supply. The European Union is now

the first of a groundbreaking new range of pear varieties. Bred by fruit science company Plant & Food and commercialized by Prevar, the Piqa range of pears combines the flavour of European pears with the texture of Japanese varieties and the shelf-life attributes of Chinese types. New technologies will also be making a debut at Asia Fruit Logistica, with Italian company Turatti showcasing its new strawberry capper, which removes the fruit’s calyx. Source: FreshPlaza.com

CROSS COUNTRY DIGEST MARITIMES

Wild blueberries get funding boost Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has announced an investment of more than $1.7 million to the Wild Blueberry Association of North America which will be used to market and promote Canadian wild blueberries internationally. The investment will help the wild blueberry sector to access new, and boost existing, foreign markets. Marketing campaigns targeted at the United States, European Union and East Asia will promote the benefits of using Canadian wild blueberries. In addition outreach to trade representatives and consumers will occur through meetings, trade shows, and incoming missions to Canada. Formed in 1981, the Wild Blueberry Association of

North America has been promoting and marketing Canada’s number one fruit export and represents and assists growers and processors in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. In 2013, wild blueberries generated close to $196 million in export sales. Wild blueberry production in Canada has increased to meet export demand which, over the past 10 years, has grown by more than $40 million. Funding comes from the AgriMarketing Program, a fiveyear, $342 initiative under Growing Forward 2 that seeks to build and promote Canada's ability to expand domestic and export markets through promotional activities to help position and differentiate Canadian products.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

That’s a wrap! The island’s 250 potato growers have put a promotional wrap on hay bales dotting the countryside. The Prince Edward Island Potato Board’s initiative started a year ago and has grown in scale this summer. With 89,000 acres devoted to potatoes, it’s easy to find locations to place the bales near major highways where locals and tourists alike are reminded of a major economic asset. Several

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phrases are used including: “Rows and Rows of WorldFamous PEI Potatoes” or “Grown Here, Loved Around the World” or “I Heart PEI Potatoes.” Right: This wrapped bale can be seen near the Wilmot River. Photo courtesy of the PEI Potato Board.

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SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 5 THE GROWER

PAGE 6 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

CANADIAN HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL

CHC Board of Directors summer meeting and tour The summer Board of Directors meeting and tour was held in Winnipeg and the surrounding area on July 23-24, 2014. Hosted by Keith Kuhl and Peak of the Market the meetings and associated visits were productive, informative and an opportunity to showcase Manitoba’s horticulture sector. In conjunction with the Board meeting there was an opportunity for members to meet with the Management Team from Peak of the Market and also tour the distribution centre which is undergoing major renovations. A number of guests joined the Board for the tour, including Bev Shipley (Lambton-KentMiddlesex) and Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, and representatives from Bayer CropScience, CropLife Canada, Farm Credit Canada, John Deere Canada, Peak of the Market and Syngenta Canada. The tour guide was Dr.

Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MP Bev Shipley at Mayfair Farms, Portage-la-Prairie, Manitoba. Photos courtesy of CHC. Tracy Sinners- Carnelley, Director, Research & Quality Enhancement for Peak of the Market. CHC President Keith Kuhl emphasized the importance of the interaction with industry partners to enhance relationships in order to ensure success for all. Tour stops included: • Connery’s Riverdale Farms

(Portage-La-Prairie): family owned farm producing over 650 acres of asparagus, broccoli, green onions, strawberries, carrots, and cooking onions • Mayfair Farms (Portage-laPrairie): owned and operated by the Giffin family, the farm grows raspberries and an assortment of mixed vegetables

Peter Swetnam, Dr. Tracy Shinners-Carnelley and Keith Kuhl at Connery’s Riverdale Farms, Portage-la-Prairie, Manitoba • Kroeker Farms Limited (Winkler): potatoes, onions and cereals on approximately 5000 acres, of which fifty percent are irrigated; the farms has both conventional and organic production • Southern Manitoba Potato: owned and operated by family of Keith Kuhl and produces 6, 370 acres of potatoes, wheat, canola,

corn and soybeans • The day concluded with a bar-bque dinner hosted by Keith Kuhl and family. Sincere thanks to the Manitoba hosts and guests who participated in the tour.

Consultation period closes for Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) The Fresh Produce Alliance (Canadian Horticultural Council, Canadian Produce Marketing Association, Dispute Resolution) has submitted comments to Industry Canada’s consultations on the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). The coalition brief is fully supported by the respective memberships. All submissions have been posted to the Industry Canada website at http://tiny.cc/bankruptcy-act. Of particular note the is the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) submission, which high-

lights the importance of a thriving small business sector as an essential component of a healthy economy, and efficient and fair bankruptcy legislation is a critical component of a well-functioning SME sector. The CFIA submission specifically address payment protection for SMEs, including the case of fruit and vegetables producers. “CFIB agrees with the Fresh Produce Alliance that a deemed trust mechanism will be an effective tool to help small businesses recover payments when a buyer declares bankruptcy and will also provide much needed security to fruit and vegetable producers.” Their recommendations

include establishing a deemed trust mechanism to provide security and increase fairness for buyers and sellers of fresh produce in case of buyer bankruptcy. A delegation from the US, including representatives from Western Growers, Florida Tomato Exchange, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh travelled to Ottawa during July to engage is a series of meetings with various officials in support of their submission to the consultation which strongly supports the creation of a PACA-like mechanism for Canada

Mid-Summer Apple Meeting and Tour The CHC Mid-Summer Apple Meeting was held on July 21-22, 2014 in Penticton, BC. The event was hosted by the BC Fruit Growers’ Association and sponsored by Summerland Varieties Corporation and AgroFresh. The industry meeting and orchard tour were well attended by apple growers and industry representatives from across the country as well as the Okanagan Valley. The working session included discussions on market situations and trends, research projects and priorities, CFIA regulatory modernization, crop protection and the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. The agenda also included presentations from Summerland Varieties Corporation on the commercialization of new tree fruit and berry varieties, AgroFresh on their products SmartFresh and Harvista, trade data from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and an overview of the Okanagan Sterile Insect Release Program. The 2015 Mid-Summer Apple Meeting and tour will be held Kentville, Nova Scotia. The July 22 orchard tour included stops at: • Lual Orchards in Oliver (BCFGA Research & Development Ltd.’s test orchard) • Machial Orchards (Oliver) • Hester Creek Winery (Oliver) • The Sterile Insect Release Facility (Osoyoos) The CHC Apple Working Group would like to recognize and thank the hosts and sponsors for a successful and much appreciated event. For more information on the Mid-Summer Apple meeting and the CHC AWG, please contact Amy Argentino, Manager, Projects and Programs at aargentino@hortcouncil.ca or 613-226-4880 (ext. 208).

SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 7 THE GROWER

OFVGA

Board briefs Highlights from the July 2014 OFVGA Board meeting Following are highlights from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) board meeting held July 24, 2014. The purpose of this brief is to keep you up-to-date on the issues that the OFVGA is working on, as well as projects and initiatives the organization is involved in. Crop protection Section chair Charles Stevens reported that the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States has reduced the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for Mancozeb. This means Canadian growers exporting produce where Mancozeb has been used to the U.S are now subjected to stricter rules with respect to MRLs. Canada has not made a similar change, which means U.S growers are not subject to the same regulations. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is proposing re-evaluation of Metiram. A 90-day comment period is open until September 18, 2014. OFVGA will be working in conjunction with the Canadian Horticultural Council to submit a response on behalf of growers. For more information or to provide comment, visit www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cpsspc/pest/part/consultations/_prvd2 014-03/prvd2014-03-eng.php. PMRA has revoked the emergency registration of Ripcord for Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) control on bushberries, including blueberries. More information on SWD can be found at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ crops/facts/swd-catches2014.htm. OFVGA will be participating in upcoming consultations that will be held by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs with respect to the use of neonicotinoids. Consultation dates have not yet been announced. Labour Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is requiring all Ontario growers who participate in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) to post their open jobs on the online job bank at www.jobbank.gc.ca. This is in addition to other job posting requirements. All SAWP employers have been notified of the change; more information is available from F.A.R.M.S at 1866-271-0862. Research Dr. Tyler Whale has been hired as the new President of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies to take over from Gord Surgeoner, who is retiring this

fall. Whale was previously with the Catalyst Centre at the University of Guelph and will assume his new position in September. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is hosting an information meeting at their research farm in Vineland on July 30 starting at 6 pm. Topics to be covered include ethnic vegetables, sweet potatoes, hardy roses, and Vineland’s consumer insights research. More information can be found at www.vinelandresearch.com.

This irrigation equipment tangled with a tornado near Keswick, ON. GF2 funding is available for environmental and climate change. Photo by Glenn Lowson

Safety Nets Section chair Mark Wales provided an update on the new Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) being proposed by the provincial government. It is expected to entail a 3.8 per cent combined contribution based on employer and employee each contributing 1.9 per cent on annual earnings of up to $90,000. Employers with comparable pension plans may be exempt, although more information around this and other details have yet to be determined. The introduction of the program is expected in 2017. Growing Forward 2 funding for farmers Harold Rudy, Barb Caswell and John Laidlaw of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association made a presentation to the board on Growing Forward 2 funding opportunities available for farmers and to provide clarification around the application process. While previous funding programs followed a first-come, first-served principle, the Implementation stream of the GF2 funding uses a merit-based approach. There are six focus areas for producer, processor and organization and collaboration funding applicants: environmental and climate change, assurance systems, market development, animal and plant health, labour productivity enhancement, and business and leadership development. The three main program components are workshops and education, capacity building and implementation. Workshops are available for Environmental Farm Plan, Growing Your Farm Profits, Food Safety (webinar format), and biosecurity. A workshop for traceability is currently under development. The workshops are not a pre-requisite for funding, but answers from the respective workbooks may be needed to complete certain questions on the Focus Area Project Information Forms provided with funding applications. The GF2 cost-share funding cap per single farm business, covering both Capacity Building

and Implementation funding programs, is $350,000 over the five-year timeframe of the GF2 program (to March 31, 2018). Maximum funding provided to a project for capital expenditures cannot exceed $100,000. Capacity building includes things like audits, plans, workshops, training costs or consulting work; a lot of what is needed to develop a strong application for implementation funding can come out of this step. Cost share is available at 50 per cent and is determined based on set eligibility criteria; there is no merit component to this level of funding. Implementation funding is available for projects involving replacement, repairing, building or purchasing activities, such as making improvements to a manure storage or implementing a new inventory system to improve traceability. Application evaluation is merit-based and applicants must select from a list of pre-

ferred Best Management Practices within the six areas of focus. Cost share of 35 per cent is available, with up to 50 per cent if a project is designated as innovative. Applications are accepted during set intake periods and are not evaluated until the intake period has ended. The next intake periods are August 4 – 28 and November 10 – December 11, 2014. Projects are reviewed to determine eligibility and then scored based on merit. Projects can be declined if they meet the BMP requirements but do not have a high enough merit level. Tips for success: • Read the program guide carefully. The Focus Area Project Information Form provides an understanding of how merit is assigned. • Take time to complete your application; projects are not evaluated on a first-come, firstserved basis. It can be helpful to fill out an application first in writing before submitting it online.

• Do the capacity building work to have plans and assessments in place and make sure you submit the relevant documentation with your project application as required. • Get the quotes you need or collect invoices – you can still apply for funding for a project that has already been completed as long as the work has been done in the current program year. Each program year ends on March 31. • Summarize expected expenses and milestones for the project and provide a clearly written project description that outlines what you’d like to do and why. More information about GF2 funding opportunities for farmers is available at www.ontariosoilcrop.org/en/programs/growing_fo rward_2.htm or by contacting the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s regional program leads at www.ontariosoilcrop.org/en/programs/workshop_leaders.htm.

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Apprenticeship in Horticulture Technician The Apprenticeship in Horticulture Technician program consists of two, twelve-week sessions: Level 1 (Basic) & Level 2 (Advanced). 7KH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI *XHOSK·V .HPSWYLOOH &DPSXV LV now accepting applications for Level 1 (Fall 2014 entry) and Level 2 (Winter 2015 entry). Your career options include: Business Owner/Operator Landscape Designer Landscape Horticulture Technician Retail Sales Representative Pest Management Scout Nursery or Greenhouse Technician For more information, please contact Shelly Byrne at 613-258-8336, Ext. 61345 or shbyrne@uoguelph.ca

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PAGE 8 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION SUMMER TOUR TO TORONTO

Photo by Herb Sherwood

Photo by Carlie Robertson

The Ontario Food Terminal: A Shakespearian theatre full of sound and fury KAREN DAVIDSON To move more than five million tons of perishable produce every day still takes a lot of raw energy. Even with tow motors, men must put their muscle behind some unwieldy loads that won’t easily move up a ramp. And that’s on top of a $2 million hydro bill to power North America’s third-largest

wholesale market. Yet, this theatre of commerce is modernizing says operations manager Gary DaSilva. Besides building a covered walkway in the heart of the wholesaler section, the board of directors recently approved $6 million for a backup generator to be installed sometime in the next two years. This move is needed to mitigate risk of power outages as was experienced a year ago when

torrential rains flooded Toronto neighborhoods. With the Ontario Food Terminal (OFT) managing18 cold rooms, the risk is potential loss of up to $25 million in inventory. The nature of globalization is on full view in any given cold storage with produce ranging from Greek string figs and South African apples to American pears. Improvements to the cold chain are critical to maintain food

safety standards. Rabba Fine Foods is a good example of a buyer that uses the OFT cold rooms without having to invest in their own warehouse. With 33 stores in the Greater Toronto Area, this neighbourhood chain is at the market four days a week buying produce. Six of their own trucks navigate perennial gridlock to get product to consumers. “Distribution is our Achilles

heel in Ontario,” agrees Jamie Reaume, OFT board chair. The terminal’s location just off one of Toronto’s busiest commuter highways often begs the question of whether a move is in the future. The fact that more than 5,000 buyers are registered to use the wholesale facility as early as 2 am speaks to the power of a robust “stock” exchange. Multimillion dollar renovations put an end to any debate of moving.

SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 9 THE GROWER

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION SUMMER TOUR TO TORONTO

FoodShare pilots Mobile Good Food Truck FoodShare is collaborating with a number of agencies including the City of Toronto’s health department to deliver the weekly service. A revamped WheelsTran truck visits the food deserts of the city, offering fresh fruits and vegetables. “Many areas of the city aren’t hospitable to farmers’ markets, so we’ve had a spectacular response to mobile

trucks,” says Meredith Hayes, senior manager for education, FoodShare. What has worked well is supplying culturally appropriate foods. Shoppers are delighted to find a range of locally grown okra and long beans and other mainstay root vegetables in season. If a particular item is not offered one week, organizers will try to have it for sale the following week.

More about FoodShare Toronto

Mobile food trucks get rave reviews for the novel dishes from Gorilla Cheese to Slow Taco. But something new is percolating near the Toronto, high-rise apartment towers that are a slog to a farmers’ market

or green grocer. In these communities of “vertical poverty,” the Mobile Good Food Truck is coaxing seniors and disadvantaged citizens to come out of their apartments to sample fresh, local produce.

FoodShare’s Good Food Programs connect families and communities with affordable, fresh, culturally diverse vegetables and fruit, increasing consumption of healthy produce and improving the income of Ontario family farms. Every year, FoodShare delivers 40,000 Good Food Boxes through 180 volunteer-run drop offs, and the Bulk Fresh Produce Program for Schools and Community Agencies delivers affordable fresh produce directly to more than 300 locations, serving 70,000 children weekly. FoodShare supports more than 20 Mobile and Good Food Markets within the City of Toronto and Ontario’s North through a partnership with Nishnawbe Aski Nation. With the Ontario Food Terminal and 25 local farms, FoodShare establishes better food access and more direct farmer linkages through expanded food hubs.

Wanted: more local suppliers to Freshline Foods The Ontario Food Terminal is home to many wholesalers including Fresh Advancements. It provides the raw product for sister company, Freshline Foods, a leader in fresh-cut fruit and vegetables located a few kilometres to the west. Freshline Foods, for example, routinely cuts imported pineapple and mango into spears for fruit platters while locallygrown cabbage and carrots form the basis for custom blends of cole slaw. If a client wants to add a little basil to the salad mix,

that’s no problem. Each order is to custom specifications. “We are a Canadian company serving Canadian customers, from restaurants to retailers,” explains Noel Brigido, vice-president, Freshline Foods. “Food safety is our number one concern. We cannot risk a food recall.” Brigido points out that the challenge is for smaller, independent growers to become certified in food safety protocols. Freshline sources produce from bigger suppliers but would like to

broaden their supplier base. It’s difficult to find those niche players. For example, there’s an opportunity in melons. Varieties grown in Ontario are for the fresh market. They are sweet-tasting

but lack the texture to stand up to fresh-cut salads. “Our quality is not measured by visual cues,” explains Brigido. “For pre-cut fruits, we need the pressure, the firmness to be there. Different varieties for the

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fresh-cut market are required.” Many Ontario growers are suppliers to Freshline Foods, but the opportunity stands for more business if specifications are understood for pre-cut produce.

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PAGE 10 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

Just another two per cent

RAY DUC CHAIR, OFVGA With the passing of Ontario’s provincial budget, the Ontario Registered Pension Plan (ORPP) will become a reality. Under this plan, employees who do not have a workplace pension plan will have 1.9 per cent deducted from their pay and the employer will

have to match that deduction, which essentially becomes a payroll tax. The cost of labour varies from farm to farm, but one constant on farms producing horticultural products is that labour is a major component of the overall expenses and cost of production. This tax comes on the heels of another 7.3 per cent increase to the minimum wage ($.75 per hour). The ORPP is not to come into effect until 2017, and this will give us time to prepare and make adjustments. Farms will adjust by reducing labour costs through reduced hours for employees and decreasing the number of new hires. In this market of top-down pricing and global competition, farms cannot expect to recover these costs from the marketplace. Reducing labour or improving efficiency of labour may be the only options.

It was a little over a year ago when Premier Wynne challenged the Ontario agri-food industry to double its annual growth rate and create 120,000 new jobs by 2020. I viewed this challenge with skepticism but was encouraged by the fact that the government seemed engaged in the agri-food industry. However, I fail to see how downloading these costs to our sector can help us meet the ambitious targets. These two concepts are in contradiction with each other. Lobbying against social programs is certainly a difficult balancing act; perhaps the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) will come short of providing a comfortable retirement for some Ontarians but there has to be a better way to help those without a workplace plan. The ORPP is being opposed by 86 per cent of small businesses in Ontario who are

calling it a job killer. We already have a substantial employer health tax, the highest minimum wage and the second highest Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) rate in Canada. How much more can we be asked to pay before there is a significant economic impact on our sector? There is a limit -- the ORPP is only another 1.9 per cent but it’s 1.9 per cent that our competitors are not paying. If this continues, we will not be competitive in the Canadian market let alone the global marketplace. It puts Ontario production at a significant competitive disadvantage. We will continue to take our concerns to the government and we will be reminding the minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs what is needed for us to meet the premier’s challenge. The agri-food sector generates

$34 billion in gross domestic product and sustains 740,000 jobs. If the government is serious about growing our sector, they must support Ontario farmers to remain competitive. Increasing costs which our competitors do not have will not achieve this. Additionally, they must bring spending on research and innovation back to levels we once had and invest in rural infrastructure at a proportionate rate as urban investment. The challenge the premier laid out is not unachievable, but it will take sound government policies and investments in rural Ontario. I did not notice these spending initiatives in the recent budget but I did notice another two per cent hit!

Harvest is really a time to shine!

JOHN KELLY EXECUTIVE VP, OFVGA

Ontario is blessed with the ability to produce a tremendous variety of food crops to help sustain its population, as well as make a significant contribution to the economy. Anyone who has lived in agriculture knows that we can produce with high quality, consistency, sustainability and safety. The problem we encounter however, is that most of the population is a generation or two removed from the farm and have no appreciation of the scope and scale of farming and agriculture in Ontario. When I speak to colleagues in downtown Toronto, for example, on what happens in agriculture I am often met with a polite “yes I think it is great that we can produce food in Ontario” but with no knowledge really of what it takes to get Ontario fresh and processed produce to market. When we start talking about

the leading sectors in the economy, invariably the conversation will turn to the auto sector, information technology (IT), aerospace, pharmaceuticals and other sectors that directly impact them on a daily basis (most drive, use a cell phone and computer, and have had a need for pain relief at some time in their past). Who has the latest vehicle or cell phone? The conversation does not often turn to what variety of potato they choose, or who produced their cucumber or pepper. And when they start talking about the latest apple, the discussion is not surrounding that which grows in Ontario orchards. (I sometimes wonder if Apple™ Corporation, after they chose the MacIntosh™ – Mac™ for short, wouldn’t use a Gala or Honeycrisp for one of their other technologies). There is also a lot of ignorance about the level of contribution of agriculture, let alone edible horticulture in particular, to the province’s economy. Knowledge of the grape and wine sector in Niagara is high. Comparatively speaking however, the same cannot be said for that of the greenhouse vegetable sector. A huge contributor to the rural and small urban economy, it is not a well-known area. We are one of THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTORS to the economy, and we need to keep telling our stakeholders this message. So harvest time is really a time to shine the light on agriculture. We need to get our urban neigh-

STAFF Publisher: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association Editor: Karen Davidson, 416-557-6413, kdavidson@ecomente.ca Production: Carlie Robertson, ext. 221, production@thegrower.org Advertising: Herb Sherwood, 519-380-0118, advertising@thegrower.org The Grower reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Any errors that are the direct result of The Grower will be compensated at our discretion with a correction notice in the next issue. No compensation will be given after the first running of the ad. Client signature is required before insertion. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association is the sole owner of The Grower. All editorials and opinions expressed in The Grower are those of the newspaper’s editorial staff and/or contributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the association. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either whole or in part without the prior written consent of the publisher.

A cabbage field extends to the horizon of Lake Erie in Ontario’s Norfolk County. Photo by Glenn Lowson

OFFICE 355 Elmira Road North, Unit 105 Guelph, Ontario N1K 1S5 CANADA Tel. 519-763-8728 • Fax 519-763-6604 The Grower is printed 12 times a year and sent to all members of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association who have paid $30.00 (plus G.S.T.) per year for the paper through their commodity group or container fees. Others may subscribe as follows by writing to the office:

$30.00 (+ G.S.T.) /year in Canada $40.00/year International Subscribers must submit a claim for missing issues within four months. If the issue is claimed within four months, but not available, The Grower will extend the subscription by one month. No refunds on subscriptions. P.M. 40012319

Farm Show in Woodstock. Not only is it a great exhibition of agricultural technology, it is a tremendous learning experience. The same can be said for our politicians. It is no secret that there is a divide. Those of our representatives in the Ontario legislature who are not familiar with the practice of farming – I wager if asked -- would take the time to learn. The legislature does not sit again until October 20, so now is a great time to get politicians

bours to understand real agriculture and real agricultural practices. I think it is great that we have urban schools in Toronto growing different plants and using them as tools to teach students about plant nutrition and physiology. It does not however teach them the true essence of food production and the business aspects of agriculture. I encourage you to invite people to see your operation in action. Bring them out to Canada’s Outdoor

engaged. I think that we need to show them the real story on horticulture, and the impact that Queens Park decisions, such as those affecting minimum wage, labour and crop protection, can have on the rural economy. The fall harvest is a great time to show what we have done and what it takes to get it done. Take advantage of this time and let us shine!

ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013

OFVGA SECTION CHAIRS

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Crop Protection Research Property Labour Safety Nets CHC

Chair Vice-Chair Fruit Director Veg Director Director

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

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

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

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

SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 11 THE GROWER

PERSPECTIVE Agriculture needs to be a municipal issue too

OWEN ROBERTS U OF GUELPH What’s sparked the accelerated sense of passion in Ontario municipal candidates this year? People always get geared up for local politics, because municipal issues affect them so directly. But this year election fever seems to have started very early, way back in the early summer months, long before the October 27 election was even on most voters’ radar. Maybe there’s a ripple effect from the ceaseless Rob Ford circus in Toronto. Or maybe with people’s ongoing drive towards the security of a community and all things local, municipal politics are taking on an even greater meaning to voters. I’m not sure, but whatever it is, this municipal election has the makings of an unusually vigorous slugfest. The Ontario Federation of

Agriculture wants you to wade into the municipal conversation now. As urban Canadians increasingly feel a part of agriculture through continued local food development, so will their elected representatives be urged to speak out on it. And that’s fine if these representatives are bringing forward important issues that have urban and rural angles, such as transportation and employment. But if they’re trying in earnest to make decisions on agricultural matters they really don’t understand (e.g., raising livestock in their backyard, farming equipment using municipal roadways and support for basic research, among them) farming has a problem. You’d think that given all the communication platforms at our disposal that information sharing would be easier than ever. But that’s not the case. Even though the pursuit of local food keeps climbing, the understanding of rural issues does not. Everyone with a cause has access to the same communication platforms as farmers. That’s not to say their causes are more important than the most basic one of all – that is, growing food. And there’s no bigger constituency than consumers of that food. But as the federation says,

farmers are a minority in most Ontario municipalities. That means they must be active as farm families and farm business owners. They must work with local governments to help them understand agriculture and not let rural communities be forgotten. “We must be sure that local services to farmers, farm families and farm businesses are top of mind with candidates,” says federation president Mark Wales. This plea is not unlike a similar request the federation made to farmers prior to June's provincial election. Farm issues transcend political borders, which farmers were reminded of when

candidates were most recently creating provincial platforms. Municipally, the overarching message to farmers from the federation is similar: get active. Make sure municipal office candidates hear and understand the concerns of farm constituents. Then, if they’re elected, they can make informed decisions on issues that impact Ontario agriculture. The federation echoes comments about the importance of local governments to people’s lives – specifically, to farmers. “Municipal leaders are responsible for important community functions, including services,

building and maintaining infrastructure, waste management and land use planning,” says Wales. Municipal councillors are also responsible for funding all these services, roadways and bridges through taxpayer and farm property tax dollars. To help, the federation has created an elections kit that can guide farmers' discussions about agriculture with local municipal candidates. The kit, available at www.ofa.on.ca, includes a sample letter to candidates, background on municipal governance, and information and questions to ask candidates on nearly 20 different issues from land use planning to wildlife damage, drainage and natural gas service. Farmers should get out in front of this now. As fall approaches, more candidates will be gearing up for the October election. There’s really only one way food production messages will get on their agenda, and that’s through the active involvement of farmers.

Non-partisan | Online | Independent

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Feedback on neonicotinoids I have been advised the following statement was published in OFVGA's August issue of The Grower: "Although science is not clear on the link [with bee deaths], groups such as Sierra Club have been lobbying for a ban on their use." I would ask you give us an opportunity to explain our position in any future publication. All our education programs are based on science and when it comes to neonicotinoid pesticides the science is quite clear. Only the pesticide industry suggests it is not. The PMRA itself has acknowledged that neonicotinoids kill bees. Bees, however, are only the canary in the coal mine providing us with an early warning. This class of pesticides also kills or harms all insects that come into contact with them. There is also peer-reviewed science linking them with impacts on birds and amphibians. We do not take these issues lightly. We believe strongly in promoting and supporting Canadian agriculture as do our members and supporters. We have endeavoured to ensure our public statements remain respectful of the agricultural community. We realize the use of this class of pesticides has become widespread and the industry is heavily promoting them to the agricultural community. However, the evidence of harm is significant and growing. We hope to work with the agricultural community to find mutually acceptable solutions. In the meantime we urge OFVGA to look closely at the independent science. John Bennett Sierra Club Canada Foundation Ottawa, ON

iPolitics delivers original content on Canadian politics as-it-happens. Don’t miss our daily coverage of Canadian agricultural news.

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PAGE 12 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

Research project examines drip irrigation on vegetable production KIRSTEN GRANT Simcoe, Ontario - Subsurface drip irrigation is widely recognized as a highly efficient irrigation method. However, during irrigation or heavy rains, water replaces air pockets in the soil and oxygen levels in the spaces around the root hairs can temporarily drop. Low oxygen levels can negatively impact the soil microbial community, and affect plant growth. By adding air along with water to the soil, root respiration and microbial activity is increased. The addition of air, therefore, may have significant benefits to the growing conditions for some cash crops grown in Ontario. A University of Guelph research team led by Rene Van Acker is comparing the benefits of air injection subsurface drip irrigation system to conventional subsurface drip irrigation on vegetable production at the Simcoe Research Station. Also involved in this project are John O’Sullivan, Robert Grohs and Peter White of the University of Guelph, and Rebecca Shortt, water quantity engineer for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The potential benefits of aerated drip irrigation are being tested by comparing the yield and quality of vegetables grown under three treatments. These include non-irrigated crops, subsurface drip irrigation, and subsurface drip irrigation with aeration. Air is drawn into the drip irrigation system using a Venturi valve. This is a relatively inexpensive technology to add to an existing subsurface drip irrigation system. The aerator is a simple Venturi valve in the pipe that allows air to be drawn into the drip line mixing with the water as it heads underground. The system has no ongoing costs once the aerator is added to the drip system. The aeration system is

The orange Venturi located between the pressure gauges draws air from the atmosphere to enrich the subsurface drip irrigation water with oxygen.

Significant increases in yield and quality have been achieved for tomatoes (above) and other crops by increasing oxygen, via aerated irrigation water, to the crop root system.

being tested on field tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and sweet corn. Previous trials have shown increased yields between 13 and 18 per cent in other fresh market fruits and vegetables. This project is one of 28 under the Water Adaptation Management and Quality Initiative (WAMQI). WAMQI supports projects that showcase innovative technologies and solutions for agricultural water conservation/efficiency and the efficient use of nutrients related to water quality. WAMQI is administered by Farm & Food Care with funding provided under Growing Forward 2.

For more information on any of the 28 WAMQI projects visit: www.farmfoodcare.org and click on the Environment button or contact Farm & Food Care’s environmental program manager Bruce Kelly at bruce@farmfoodcare.org.

GREAT LAKES

DEC. 9-11,

2014

Kirsten Grant is a summer student at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Farm & Food Care.

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SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 13 THE GROWER

RETAIL NAVIGATOR

Engaged staff and unique offering set Longo’s apart

PETER CHAPMAN It has been interesting to follow the growth of Longo’s stores in the face of increased competition within the grocery channel. This retailer has been able to grow to 26 stores in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from Burlington to Aurora to Pickering. Longo’s differentiate with their staff and their listing base to survive in the face of some big competition. When I visit Longo’s stores

there are two things that impress me: the engagement of the staff and the unique listings they maintain. These are two important attributes for a relatively small retailer competing with the likes of Loblaw, Sobeys, Walmart, Costco and Metro. In June, I was in the Longo’s store in Milton and an employee in the meat department was eager to take the time to explain the virtues of their local program and point out these products on the shelf. It is refreshing to talk to an employee who is knowledgeable and more importantly engaged. This is consistent with my experience in other Longo’s stores. This level of engagement sets Longo’s apart. One of the biggest challenges for the bigger chains is getting employees to engage with the customer. You can sell when you are engaged. If you have the opportunity to visit a Longo’s store spend some time looking at different categories. I have to applaud them for

COMING EVENTS 2014 Sept 6 - 7

Stratford Garlic Festival, Stratford, ON

Sept 9 – 11 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock, ON Sept 10

Ontario Berry Growers’ Association Twilight Tour, 4 pm, Josmar Acres, Lynden, ON (RSVP: 613-2584389 or info@ontarioberries.com)

Sept 13 - 14 Niagara Garlic Festival, Great Mountain Centre, Stone Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Sept 16 – 20 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo, Simcoe County, Ivy, ON Sept 17

Grape Growers of Ontario 31st Annual Celebrity Luncheon, Club Roma, St. Catharines, ON

Sept 19 - 20 British Columbia Lavender Workshop, University of BC, Okanagan, Kelowna, BC Sept 21

Toronto Garlic Festival, Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto, ON

Sept 29-30

Grocery Innovations 2014, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON

Oct 3

Cornell University Small Fruit Open House, Ithaca, NY

Oct 4

Holland Marsh Soupfest, Ansnorveldt Park, Ansnorveldt, ON

Oct 7 – 13

Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show, Simcoe, ON

Oct 8 - 9

Canadian Greenhouse Conference, Scotiabank Conference Centre, Niagara Falls, ON

Oct 20-24 Nov 2 – 5

North American Plant Protection Organization Annual Meeting, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association Tour (members only), Simcoe County and Muskoka Region, Ontario

Nov 7 – 16 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, ON Nov 12

Paper & Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council “Paper Facts and Fiction” seminar, Brampton, ON

Nov 15 – 22 International Fruit Tree Association Study Tour, Northern Italy

finding some unique items. They cannot compete with the big guys on price 52 weeks of the year. They just do not have the buying power or the economies of scale. However, they can compete by offering unique items and they should be able to get new items to market quickly, given their size. Store execution is critical in the competitive, over-stored market of today. These stores execute well in fresh with emphasis on local product. They do deliver local to Ontario consumers across the store. Longo’s started as a fruit and vegetable market in 1956 and they continue to use produce as a cornerstone of the offering. Produce is first in the flow and they claim family members still buy at the terminal six days a week. It is also important to recognize that they have continued to evolve for the consumer. They operate Grocery Gateway, which offers shoppers in the GTA an online option for grocery shopping. Longo’s also have a personalized rewards program called Thank You Rewards. Dollars purchased result in points that can be redeemed against future transactions. Personalized offers are created for members based on shopping habits. At the Store 2014 conference in June, Ken Kuschei who is Longo’s director of consumer insights shared some results from their mobile app. They have been successful at getting their Thank You Rewards members to spend up to 11.4 per cent more when using the mobile shopping list. You can find more information about Longo’s and Grocery Gateway on their websites: • www.longos.com • www.grocerygateway.com I will continue to watch as Longo’s carve out their niche. As they grow they will have to work harder to maintain the two unique attributes they have in the marketplace. The following are my suggestions for suppliers who want to sell product to Longo’s: 1. All of the stores are located

within the Greater Toronto Area so suppliers who operate in this market who are perceived to be local will have an advantage. 2. Longo’s rely on the Ontario Food Terminal for a significant amount of produce. If this is your department, you will have to determine which is the best opportunity to get your product to Longo’s. 3. If you have a story to tell about your product and some attributes that make it unique, Longo’s could be a great opportunity. They are very good at supporting these types of items and they do a good job telling the story in store. Make sure you provide them with the information to tell the story. 4. With 26 stores the volume they require for regular movement and ads is obviously much smaller than the big chains. This can be a more realistic amount of product for smaller producers or processors. 5. You will need to understand the rewards program and participate.

6. Longo’s produce the Experience Magazine. This could be an opportunity to provide recipes and other product use information. Make sure you check out the offering either in store or on the website. 7. You can find the details about Longo’s Corporate Social Responsibility program on their website. They put a lot of emphasis on giving back so you need to know where you fit as a supplier. 8. With its approach of keeping categories slightly different than the competition, Longo’s could be opportunities for new or unique items. Given the smaller size of stores they probably do not have room for several line extensions. Peter Chapman is a retail consultant, professional speaker and the author of A la cart-A suppliers’ guide to retailers’ priorities. Peter is based in Halifax NS, where he is the principal at GPS Business Solutions. Peter works with producers and processors to help them navigate through the retail environment with the ultimate goal to get more of their items in the shopping cart. pchapman@gpsbusiness.ca.

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PAGE 14 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

FOCUS: NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Research safety and reliability in equipment purchases

At Springridge Farm, an agri-tourism attraction near Milton, Ontario, Tom Hughes says the safety and reliability of Kubota tractors has been proven for 30 years. Photos by Glenn Lowson.

KAREN DAVIDSON A 30th anniversary with your tractor brand says a lot about the relationship. That’s not dating, that’s a marriage. “Since 1984, Kubota has been the workhorse for snow removal, field cultivating, subsoiling and pulling farm wagons,” says Tom Hughes, Springridge Farm. “It’s a reliable and safe piece of equipment for pulling our customers.” He’s referring to their hilly location on the Niagara escarpment. It’s an agri-tourism attraction for thousands in the Greater Toronto Area west of Milton, Ontario best known for its strawberries. All tractors on the farm are four-wheel drive with a loader as a safety guard in addition to a parking brake. Despite adhering to a maintenance schedule, there

are inevitable breakdowns. Hughes attests to timely repair, with parts arriving usually between 24 and 48 hours. The entire equipment line originates with Kubota including two diesel-run lawn mowers, smaller yard tractors for unloading trucks and a larger M-series for field work. “The Japanese tractor company continues to evolve,” says Hughes. “Their lineup has air-conditioned cabs with improvements to the clutch, steering and lighting. They also have great tire options. Depending on the use, you can get an industrial tire or a medium or large tire.” Key features are: • Xenon exterior lights which are brighter for evening or night spraying • Good sight lines from the cab for safety plus heated glass on

three sides • Extensive line of implement options Freezer/cooler addition The farm equipment relationship is an old one, but the criteria for searching out new suppliers is just as stringent. Springridge Farm has built a new cooler and freezer from Penn Refrigeration to replace a rented tractor trailer reefer. “At Springridge we make our own pastry in the quieter seasons and freeze it,” Hughes explains. “So a safe and reliable freezer is essential.” After years of research, looking at other farm markets and talking with Penn Refrigeration at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, the Springridge Farm team decided to build an

industrial-size, in-house cooler and freezer. It’s 28 feet by 36 feet in a driveshed with 11-foot ceilings. “It’s like a refrigerated patio,” says Hughes. “The design is brilliant in that the cooler air feeds into the freezer air. There are two independent cooling units, so that if one breaks down, there is a back-up.” Deciding where to locate the cooler/freezer was one of the biggest decisions in the process. Consulting with staff was crucial in understanding the traffic flow from kitchen to freezer. Hughes is happy that they went with a footing design with a closed-loop, glycol floor-heat system that’s powered with a residential-style water heater. One of the biggest concerns was whether frost might penetrate the floor. A heated floor deals with the concern of the floor lifting. Another key design element was eight-inch, engineered structural panels to keep the cold in. They are white and bright, making it easy to see inventory. They can be wiped down if there’s a spill, another advantage in meeting food safety standards. The eight-inch thick walls have more R value -- building insulation -- than four-inch walls, meaning it takes less energy to

keep the space at temperature. Just completed in April with a new power service, this storage facility is expected to pay for itself in five years. “It’s the reassurance of no breakdowns with other people’s equipment,” says Hughes. “It’s not so much the cost of the freezer but protecting your crop.” Hughes mentions another benefit: the power of pallet pricing. While they freeze their own farm’s strawberries and raspberries, they can now buy fruit such as cherries in season, knowing that they can be frozen for jam-making in the winter season and pies all year. At Springridge Farm, every new piece of equipment or line of inventory is discussed by the management team. That means not just the Hughes family but various managers. “Those who are working in the trenches can offer a different practical perspective,” says Hughes. “When we were designing the shelving for our freezer, we asked about height and configuration. We ask what would work best and give our team a couple days to come back with suggestions. When we are considering new equipment, lots of our best ideas come from staff.”

NOTICE of MEETING is hereby given that the 156th Annual Members and Directors’ Meeting of the

Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association will be held in

Niagara Falls, Ontario at The Crowne Plaza Hotel January 13 & 14, 2015 Election of Directors of the Association will take place as well as dealing with resolutions and any other business that may arise.

SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 15 THE GROWER

FOCUS: NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

For hort growers at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show The 2014 edition of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) will be held September 9 to 11, showcasing the latest agricultural technology near Woodstock, Ontario. The Horticulture Pavilion, sponsored by The Grower and Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, is located at the heart of the show grounds on 2nd and 3rd lanes. It’s a hub for horticultural services, media and products. The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable (OFVC) convention joins as an exhibitor. The COFS and OFVC organizing teams are working together to promote their events to farmers, says Stefanie Nagelschmitz, farm show team lead and communications. “The OFVC will have an exhibit in the Horticulture Pavilion with committee members ready to answer questions about the 2015 speaker line-up.”

More biomass equipment demonstrations are scheduled. AGCO, along with several partners such as the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, will host new corn stalk baling demos each day at 2:30 pm in the southwest demo field. These will be followed by Vermeer Biomass Equipment Demos at 3 pm located in the large-scale miscanthus and switchgrass plots. Back for the first time in 10 years, the Skid Steer Ride’N’Drive will let farmers get behind the controls of multiple skid steer brands in one place. Located near the Ducks Unlimited Farm Pond, this venue will be scattered with obstacles for testing how skid steers turn, load, dump and switch their attachments. Participating brands include Bobcat, JCB, John Deere, Kubota, New Holland and Vermeer. Pop by anytime

between 10 am and 3 pm each day. Farm Credit Canada presents new farm management computing software. FM PRO Mobile is used with Field Manager Pro or 360, letting you choose where and when you manage your field data. AgExpert Mobile, used with AgExpert Analyst, lets you record income and expense transactions as they happen. A new sprayer educational demo sponsored by BASF Canada is themed, “One Rinse, Two Rinse, Best Rinse?” As the name implies, this seminar focuses on the best approaches to quickly and effectively clean out sprayers between uses. OMAFRA’s application technology specialist Jason Deveau (pictured above) will lead these demos at noon and 3 pm daily. For more information, go to www.outdoorfarmshow.com.

CALL ABE FIRST FOR BETTER PRICES, MORE CHOICES, FAST, AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. BUY A DIESEL ENGINE PUMP UNIT FROM THE DIESEL MECHANIC.

NEW IRRIGATION PUMP UNITS ON TRAILER • Cummin 4 cyl & 6 cyl • John Deere, 4 cyl & 6 cyl • Iveco/Cummins, 4 cyl & 6 cyl • Kubota & Deutz etc, etc. Rovatti Pumps Berkeley Pumps, etc. And many more new or used up to 550 HP. We build them all big or small. Also couplers, hoses, clamps, for suction, camlock, ringlock, bauer etc.

A. KOOLMEES R.R. 1, Otterville, ON N0J 1R0 (519) 879-6878 Fax: (519) 879-6319

PAGE 16 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

FOCUS: NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Harvester separates stones from potatoes more efficiently The Spudnik Three-Row AirSep harvester made its debut at the Ontario Potato Day in late August, attracting growers from several provinces and the U.S. to see how this machine might benefit their operations. With just nine machines manufactured in North America, six are sold in Canada this year. HJV Equipment had one on display at its Alliston, Ontario headquarters. It’s already sold to a local customer for fall harvest. The Idaho-built Spudnik AirSep harvester has been developed in the last five years in a quest to separate stones and clods from potatoes and to

minimize bruising. Until now, stones and potatoes were elevated and then cross-channeled to a side elevator before being separated. The new technology consists of a fan which blows air into a chamber, holding the potatoes in suspension. The heavier stones fall below into a conveyor and then into a stone box. “The concept of air separation is simple,” explains Dan Mann, vice-president of sales, root crop equipment for HJV Equipment. “This system separates the stones and clods from the potatoes early before there is a change in direction of product flow. This allows for a reduction in

bruised product.” With this harvester, growers may consider planting potatoes on land that was marginal potato land or on heavier soils. In areas

of sandstone, the issue of separating stones is much more challenging because they are lighter and often of the same weight as potatoes. Tests in

Prince Edward Island were extremely positive in dealing with this problem, says Mann.

Light up your sprayer for nozzle efficiency and safety Is that an airplane or a sprayer? If you view the YouTube video called ATI Agritronics Inc. Spray Nozzle Lights, then you’ll understand instantly how much sense these lights make. LED lights on sprayers have been quickly adopted by western Canadian farmers because of how they light up individual nozzles. For those who have to spray under poorly lit conditions, these are an excellent tool for troubleshooting a clogged nozzle. “Not only can you see if a tip is plugged, but you can see changes to the spray pattern,” says Jason Deveau, OMAFRA application technology specialist. “This is terrific feedback for applicators who, until now, could only see if they were on or off.” Applicators are reminded that temperature inversions

which can lead to long-distance transport of a spray cloud, are common on clear, calm nights. These conditions should be avoided when spraying. http://sprayers101.ca/spray-drift/surface-inversions/ Agritronics, a Saskatoon-based company, also makes flashing red lights for transporting equipment at night. “Having the lights on a string allows for much better flexibility and gives other road users a much better idea of the dimension of the equipment,” says Tom Wolf, a spray technology researcher, in Saskatchewan. In Ontario, Northern Equipment Solutions has the distribution agreement for this equipment. While cash crop farmers have been early adopters, Paul Smith says that these lights are also well suited to horticultural uses.

SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 17 THE GROWER

FOCUS: NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Precision corner arm enables further reach in square or rectangular fields KAREN DAVIDSON Don Chapman has not regretted buying a precision corner arm for his center pivot irrigation system. The carrot and celery grower near Queensville, Ontario says that he gains five to 15 per cent more coverage in a field, by watering the corners. With a total length of 287 feet, this big arm has an end gun that covers an extra 100 feet. “The biggest advantage is that it allows you to irrigate a square or rectangular field more efficiently,” says Chapman. It’s the GPS guidance system that makes the difference. A RTKGPS receiver is mounted on top to steer the arm. The field must be computermapped first, setting an outer perimeter to keep the rig within its bounds. It’s up to the grower to decide from a panel on the center pivot how much water to use and where it should be distributed. “It’s been proven over time that if we don’t water at the critical time, crops suffer immensely,” says Paul Van den Borre, specialty ag equipment sales rep for HJV Equipment. “There’s more science-based information all the time on irrigation. The rewards are there if you understand your specific crop’s needs.”

This particular Valley model has a Nelson R3000 rotator sprinkler. A 32-ounce black weight keeps the nozzle in place, preventing wind from playing havoc with the spray pattern. In this example, the yellow 42-size orifice determines the volume of water. The green rotator is responsible for a 60-foot diameter footprint of water. Water is directed over a big footprint without pounding the crop. “Remember that different irrigation systems have their spots,” says Van den Borre. “Big reels, pivots, trickle all have a

role in different situations, crops and soils.” With this particular center pivot system, labour is reduced with no need to lay pipes. However, computer supervision is required to monitor what’s going on. No equipment should be left in the way of this moving rig. Several precision corner arms are now in use in Ontario. Van den Borre expects the next generation of technology will come with variable rate irrigation. Photos by Glenn Lowson.

Kubota’s M Series Narrow Trractors are anything but narrow on features; 48" overall width, ROPS models in 60 to 85 Hp or Factory Cab in 70 to 85 Hp Kubota diesel, Hydraulic Shuttle, Category I & II 3 pt hitch with live independent PTO plus choose wheels or low compaction tracks. An ideal tractor for vineyards and orchards.

PAGE 18 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

FOCUS: NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Management levels intensify with high-density apple orchards KAREN DAVIDSON The Ontario Apple Tour, hosted by the Georgian Bay Growers’ Association on July 30, proved in spades that many acres have been converted to high-density orchards. What’s clear is that this intensive system requires proper management and equipment to take advantage of efficiencies. Nowhere is that more evident than in self-propelled platforms for a multitude of tasks: pruning, tying leaders, hand thinning and harvesting. The Orsi line of platforms are offered by Provide Agro, specialists in orchard equipment based in Beamsville, Ontario. “We’re getting good feedback from our clients on harvest efficiencies in high-density systems,” says Matt Peters, sales manager. “The platform can also be used to install trellis wire with a pneumatic staple gun.” In response to clients who don’t want to commit four workers on the full-size platform, the equipment company has manufactured its own two-person platform. Available at a lower cost this fall, the battery-operated equipment quickly shows the

Matt Peters demonstrating Orsi picking platforms for apples

T & K Ferri Orchards near Thornbury, Ontario

benefits of automation versus ladders. What will be new to orchardists is a Hollandmanufactured sprayer that’s specific to high-density orchards. “We’re just introducing this sprayer so that growers can achieve excellent coverage from top to bottom in these new walls of apples,” says Peters. The need for this specialized equipment was evident at the orchard of Tom Ferri.

machine has proved 50 per cent savings in pruning time and hand thinning time and 60 per cent savings in tying and wiring required to support trellis systems. One machine can cover 60 to 80 acres with various density plantings. The self-propelled platform will help achieve goals of renovating five to eight per cent of the conventional orchards every year. The Ardiel family is looking forward to fall harvesting when their pickers will place apples directly onto a conveyor belt. No bags or baskets will be required. Two additional pieces of

First-hand experience with self-propelled platform

John Ardiel and his two sons Greg and Liam purchased a selfpropelled platform last spring: Techno Fruit by Frumaco. This Spanish-manufactured machine has auto steer but also four individual platforms that can be raised or lowered with an electric toggle switch. This flexibility is ideal for different tasks in the orchard. “We’re really impressed with this machine,” says Ardiel. “How did we operate without it?” With one-third of their 200 acres in high-density apples, this

equipment are aiding the orchard transformation. An escavator is used to compact and install posts at a rate of 30 to 80 per hour depending on the soil. And trickle irrigation is being installed with the help of former liquid manure tanks converted to water reservoirs. A combination of collected rainwater and wellwater will be at their disposal. What caused this damage? The configuration of apple trees – conventional or highdensity – does not deter insects. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

ADVERTORIAL

P.E.I bale processor continues expanding across Canada and U.S. When Paul Fox of Double R Manufacturing first started developing a more flexible and portable bale processor for the livestock market, he had no idea it would find a following in Canada’s strawberry and vegetable fields, poultry farms and a need on land recovery operations. “I wasn’t aiming for these markets,” explained the company president, recalling the day a P.E.I. strawberry grower entered his shop, raving about how well the BeddingPro worked at spreading straw mulch in his berry fields. “I was scratching my head, trying to figure out what this guy was talking about.” The Crapaud, P.E.I. - based company for the bale processor, conveniently fits onto a rear or front-mounted three pointhitch. The bale processor has developed quite a following in Canada and the U.S. Claude McCardle of P.E.I. purchased his bale processor 12 years ago after contracting out his straw spreading to the operator of a large-scale bale processor. “Contracting out didn’t work very well,” recalled McCardle, who grows about eight acres of strawberries plus raspberries and low-bush blueberries at his farm called the Berry Patch. He went on a hunt for a straw spreader that could be powered by his 50 horsepower tractor, and he discovered the Double R model. “That’s the big advantage. I didn’t have a very big tractor and with those big bale busters you require at least a 100 horsepower tractor.” McCardle, whose farm is located just outside of Charlottetown described his bale processor’s coverage as perfect. “It basically unrolls the bale as it was originally

baled up and shreds it. And you can control both the speed of the bale as it rolls out and your forward speed.” He also is very pleased with the ease of operation of the bale processor. “I can do it myself, no other labour is required.” This is in stark contrast to the amount of labour McCardle used to require when he operated a small square bale processor. “You had to follow the machine and there were two guys sitting there looking at you all the time.” Ralph Stirling purchased the Double R machine for his family’s Wolfville, N.S. area operation last year, mulching straw onto the farm’s eight acres of strawberries. “Of all the bale processors I’ve tried, this one worked the best,” he said. “Most chop too fine or don’t have even coverage. Sure, it takes a little practice but this one worked great.” Fox has spread the word about his

product farther afield. Ten years ago he traveled to Ontario with his proto-type, providing a field test in a Guelph-area berry field. About 10 - 12 growers from as far away as Ottawa viewed the test, which lasted about two to three hours. By the end, “everyone was happy,” said Fox. “Every grower does something different; a different thickness, a different speed.” Over the course of the test, Fox made adjustments to his bale processor and easily accommodated the demands of the assembled growers. Fox explained that many growers are impressed with the coverage his bale processor provides. With one round bale equaling approximately the amount of straw found in 18 small square bales, many of the assembled growers explained they can get eight inches of coverage over 500 feet from 18 square bales. Using this bale processor, Fox achieved eighth-inch

coverage over 1,500 feet using one round bale. “It sheds and fluffs,” he said. “That’s what impresses them the most; the bale goes so much further.” Paul has taken the BeddingPro to shows in Ontario in Niagara Falls, Tillsonburg, Woodstock and the Canadian Plowing Match. It’s been ten years since building the first BeddingPro and sales are very good and the popularity is growing. We are proud to offer a wellbuilt and reliable Canadian product at a fraction of the cost of other bail processors. The BeddingPro is designed to fit on tractors with a minimum 40 horsepower engine, making it ideal for both large and smaller growers. It is relatively compact with a size of five-and-a-half square feet and has a base weight of 1.000 pounds. Fox explained the small size allows it to work in small spaces with little head room, such as under netting or ginseng shade. The machine was designed to keep the dust, often associated with bale processing to a minimum. Fox said the company has developed attachments such as V in and V out options, self-loading options and a bottom fan delivery attachment which will allow a 50’ broadcast or will spread both sides. A side delivery attachment is also available. These attachments will allow the shredder to be more versitile and meet all of the needs and requirements of livestock growers, poultry producers and for crops like strawberries, blueberries, ginseng and vegetables and land reclamation. For information, call Paul Fox at 1-888658-2088, email beddingpro@yahoo.com, or visit www.doublermanufacturing.com.

SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 19 THE GROWER

FOCUS: NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Management levels intensify with high-density apple orchards

John, Liam and Greg Ardiel have bought a selfpropelled platform for multiple orchard tasks.

Scarred tissue from European apple sawfly

MacroPlastic bins are arranged on a trolley for harvest at Global Fruit.

European apple sawfly is moving slowly westward through Ontario says Margaret Appleby, provincial apple specialist. Its spread has been monitored since the 1980s, but now it can be found as far west as Georgian Bay. In an OMAFRA factsheet, Appleby explains that this pest overwinters as a mature larva in a cocoon a few centimeters below the soil surface. The larvae pupates in the spring and adults emerge during the pink stage of apples. The female lays eggs just after the king flower opens. Eggs are deposited singly at the calyx end of the flower, often at the base of or between the stamens. After eight to 10 days, newly hatched larva burrow into the apple and feed on tissue just below the skin of the young fruitlet at the calyx end. This causes a distinctive scar. (See photo) As larva matures, it tunnels into the seed cavity. Monitoring can be done using 3D visual traps

consisting of non-UV white sticky boards that mimic blossoms. A line of traps is placed on the south side of trees during tight cluster and pink, and remain in the orchard until two weeks after petal fall. There are two times when European apple sawfly can be controlled with an insecticide. At pre-bloom, adult European apple sawfly are usually controlled by broad-spectrum insecticide applied at pink. Post-bloom, young newly hatched larvae of this pest are controlled by application of an insecticide. Current biological control research trials involving a parasitic wasp are underway. A bio-pesticide – Quassia – is being investigated for control of European apple sawfly.

fast harvest and turn-around to the storage facility. Five MacroPlastic bins are designated for fresh apples and then on the fender of the trailer, there are two small containers for juice apples. These are for any apples that are misshapen, too small or don’t have enough colour. Together these bins are mounted on a train and pulled by a small tractor into the orchard explains Gerbe Botden. The five-member picking team has a crew leader who supervises harvest on the spot, making sure the correct apples are going to the right bins. If the binyard reports any negative trends – not enough colour – then the message is quickly communicated to the crew to be more diligent in picking. Pickers wear gloves to protect the apples from bruising. Each apple is placed singly into the bin. In a salute to the company colours, all bins are green to differentiate from bins of neighbouring farms.

At harvest time, trains work well At Global Fruit, their high-density orchards demand

levelling The new orchard standard. 3-cylinder Kubota diesel. Auto levels both ways to 6° slope. Ultra sonic sensors for auto steer. Hydrostatic drive with speeds between 0 and 15km/h. The levelling is designed with flexibility in mind and can be optioned to accommodate many different row widths and tasks. It’s Built to Last.

The Bartlett Leave the ladder in the barn. This 2-man electric orchard platform will allow you to prune, thin, train, hang phermones, hang hail net, and pick without the use of inefficient ladders! Designed with High Density orchards in mind, this platform can be used in 9-15’ row widths with it’s easy to use width and height adjustment. Easy to operate, costs next to nothing to charge, affordable. The Future of Orchard Production NOW.

1.800.263.1287 905.563.8261 Beamsville, On

info@provideag.ca A Bartlett Company

www.provideag.ca EST. 1912

PAGE 20 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

CANADIAN GREENHOUSE CONFERENCE OCTOBER 8 & 9, 2014

Connect. Inspire. Grow. • VEGETABLE SEEDERS Planet Jr.

Gaspardo

Cole

• CASH CROP PLANTERS Les Shipp

Conventional – Pneumatic (Air)

This year’s annual conference at the Scotiabank Conference Centre, Niagara Falls, Ontario, promises a roster of global experts to shed light on how to grow better, more profitably. For vegetable growers, here’s the speakers’ agenda.

• FERTILIZER ATTACHMENTS (SideDressers)

• ROW CROP WEEDERS, ETC. • DISC HILLERS

Wednesday, October 8

• SPECIALIZED ROW CROP EQUIPMENT

Speakers

Topics

Les Shipp, AAFC Harrow

The latest buzz on bee vectoring of microbial agents

David Ben-Yakir, Israel

Optical manipulation of greenhouse pests

Cultivator Steels, Sweeps, Hoes, Furrowers, Hillers, Etc.

JOHN C. GRAHAM CO. LTD. DISTRIBUTORS

Irene Vanninen, Finland

Impact of specific light spectra in pests and predatory bio-agents

88 Erie Street North • P.O. Box 13 Leamington, Ontario • N8H 3W1

John van de Vegte, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

A vision of the future of automation in greenhouses

Tel:(519) 326-5051 Fax: (519) 326-0480

Les Shipp, AAFC Harrow

Early and mid-season thrips control using predatory mites on greenhouse crops

Xiuming Hao, AAFC Harrow

Lighting from HPS to LEDs

Graeme Smith, Australia

Greenhouse plant physiology

Thursday, October 9 Bernard Erven, Ohio State University

Hiring the right person vs filling the position

Michael Pautier, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

A novel resource to improve the quality and disease resistance of greenhouse vegetables

Interactive session

What are my options?

Mycostop Prestop Rhapsody Rootshield Botanigard

Tagroe Met 52 No Fly Agriphage OmniLytics Timorex Gold

Previous to the conference, October 7, OMAFRA greenhouse specialists Shalin Khosla and Graeme Murphy will be hosting a bus tour. Destinations are to be posted by September 1. For details on reserving a seat on the bus tour and for registering, visit www.canadiangreenhouseconference.com

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

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

Mesh Bagging and Weighing systems

Bag Closing Systems, Sales, Service, Parts

SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 21 THE GROWER

When are haskaps ready for harvest? EVAN ELFORD, NEW CROP DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, OMAFRA Harvest timing for blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L. ), a.k.a. ‘haskap,’ has become a commonly discussed issue as production increases across the province. When a number of new cultivars were introduced a few years ago, it was thought that the berries would ripen in late May under Ontario conditions, creating a niche opportunity for an early

season berry crop. Over the last four years we have learned that haskap are not ready for harvest in May and typically ripen between the middle of June and early July, depending on environmental conditions of the year. Understanding the optimal harvest time for these berries is an important factor when developing the market for this new crop. If haskaps are harvested too early, the bitter flavour could deter customers and negatively affect market development for the crop. However, if harvested at the right

time, the berry flavour is quite acceptable and may provide customers with a wider selection of fresh berries at farm markets. Fruit colour typically starts changing at the beginning of May and continues through the month of June. But don’t be fooled by purple fruit – fruit colour is not a good indicator of fruit ripeness in haskap! Harvest timing trials using various methods to understand optimal time for picking have been completed on other fruit species. A few of the parameters that have

Brix meter been studied in relation to fruit ripeness include: Total Soluble Solids (TSS) (of which sugar content is one component), pH and Titratable Acidity (a general measure of acidity). Unfortunately there are no replicated studies outlining these parameters for haskap. However, measurements of TSS using a

hand held refractometer, commonly known as a ‘Brix meter’ (Figure 1), have been performed on haskap fruit grown in Ontario during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Values obtained from these readings may provide a general indication of when the haskap fruit is ready for harvest.

Effective bindweed control is all about the timing AMANDA GREEN, WEED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM LEAD-HORTICULTURE Field and hedge bindweed are best controlled when they are flowering. (Fig. 1). Control by phloem mobile herbicides, glyphosate (eg. ROUNDUP or TOUCHDOWN TOTAL) or 2,4-D will be the most effective at the early flowering to full bloom stage. Field bindweed has a very extensive root system that can reach a soil depth of seven metres and after six months of germination can produce more than 260 metres of vertical roots and more than 45 metres of rhizomes. Because of this extensive root system and ability to re-establish, a systemic herbicide that will translocate through the phloem, with the sugars, to the roots will give the best control. When bindweed is flowering, root energy reserves will be at the lowest and sugars will be translocating from leaves photosynthesising, through the phloem, to the roots and rhizomes. At this stage glyphosate and 2,4-D will be translocated to the roots and rhizomes and be the most effective in killing bindweed. When applying glyphosate you can use a wick wiper, hand drip applicator or hand sprayer for spot application. With 2,4-D apply only on crops and their stage that are registered on the herbicide label. Control of bindweed will

Fig. 1 Field bindweed in flower

Fig 2. Regrowth of field bindweed after herbicide application

also be more effective if it is growing vigorously. Contact herbicides, such as paraquat (GRAMOXONE), diquat (REGLONE), glufosinate and bentazon (BASAGRAN), in

crops where these products are registered, will provide above ground control but you will more than likely get regrowth (Fig. 2).

8th North American Strawberry Symposium Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ventura, CA February 3-6, 2015 We invite you to the 8th North American Strawberry Symposium to be held Feb. 3-6, 2015 in Ventura, California, U.S. This meeting of strawberry scientists and producers from around the globe promises to be remarkable. California, where nearly 90 per cent of U.S. strawberries are grown, features a unique coastal environment with its western ocean exposure, moderate temperatures,

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

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

New Weed Management Program Lead Amanda Green will be filling in as Ontario’s Weed Management Program Lead for Kristen Obeid. She has a B.Sc. in Agriculture and is working towards completion of her M.Sc. with a research focus in weed science. She is particularly interested in weed management issues in horticulture such as herbicide resistance, User Requested Minor Use Label Expansion and herbicide evaluation for new crops in Ontario.

She is stationed at the Harrow Research Centre. Feel free to contact her with queries about weed management. Contact info - amanda.green@ontario.ca or 519-738-1232. Right: In matted-row strawberries, herbicide application around Labour Day is important to control field violet (shown right) and other winter annuals.

PAGE 22 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

BITS AND BITES

Funds for hort research Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will receive $1.1 million for further research on seasonal field production of oriental long eggplants and okra. Canada’s evolving demographics are ripe markets for these world crops. Some funds have also been earmarked to evaluate greenhouse technologies as well

as to develop sweet potato varieties adapted to colder climates. This investment is made through the federal Industry-led Research and Development stream of Agriculture and AgriFood Canada’s AgriInnovation Program, a five-year, up to $698million initiative under Growing Forward 2.

Right: Valerio Primomo, (R) vegetable breeder, and Sheila Attersley, research assistant, compare notes on sweet potato research plots at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland, Ontario. Photo by Denis Cahill.

New research chair in potato science The University of Lethbridge will be establishing a research chair in potato science thanks to a $1 million investment by a consortium of association and industry partners. Over five years, funds will come from the Potato

Growers of Alberta (PGA), McCain Foods, ConAgra Lamb Weston and Cavendish Farms. “Growers and processors identified a need to expand research in this critical field,” says Terence Hochstein,

PGA’s executive director. “There are only a handful of researchers dedicated to the discipline throughout western Canada, and we expect this new chair will greatly enhance and complement the current capacity that exists.”

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SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 23 THE GROWER

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PAGE 24 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

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SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 25 THE GROWER

MARKETPLACE

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PAGE 26 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

MINOR USE CRAIG’S COMMENTS

Policy fixes needed to make the law work as intended

CRAIG HUNTER OFVGA Notice to readers: This column may be considered inflammatory and if you read further, it is at your own risk! Now that I have that off my chest, let me explain. It seems that agriculture and its peripheral industries are considered guilty until they can prove themselves innocent when it comes to certain government officials. I have always had a few farmer inquiries made here over past years when a situation arises for them, but lately the problems are coming in more frequently. Let me use an example. A grower who has had a history of continual harassment by a neighbour about his pesticide use received a visit from Ministry of Environment (MOE) staff to investigate a ‘new’ complaint. His first reaction was to ask if they had reviewed his ‘file’ wherein the past allegations (and exonerations) would be self-explanatory. The answer was “no.” They insisted on visiting his spray shed since they were on site, but he (rightfully) refused them entry as they were not properly dressed with protective gear (unless shorts, tees, and sandals are OK in a spray shed). They still insisted. Against his better judgment he gave one of them his protective gear, and after entry and inspection he was charged with an offense! Yes, he did have a bag of an old pesticide inside under safe storage, but just waiting until the next waste pesticide collection when it could be safely disposed of as per ‘normal’ practice. There was also a small container of unregistered

product left over from an on-farm research trial that had not been collected by the researcher, and it too was destined for disposal. Would any clear-headed and reasonable person have charged him? Did they also charge the neighbour with harassment? (No!) Did the storage itself meet all codes? (Yes!) Did the staff get reprimanded for their actions? (What do you think?) In another situation, a grower had a pond on his property with no outlet drain. He directs rainwater from the roof of his greenhouse into the pond under his site water management plan. Notwithstanding this, he is required to get a permit to take (his own) water from the pond to irrigate the crop indoors! This is the height of lunacy when, if the glass was removed and the rain fell on the crop, no permit is required for the very same water. In a different scenario, if someone has a trout farm and they want to add water to their ponds or tanks, they do NOT need a permit because fish are considered livestock and exempt. If rain falls on their pond, they do not need to manage it. Yet, a greenhouse owner must get a permit when rain falls on the glass roof, even if they own and control the (artificial) pond into which the water is directed! In yet another case, a vegetable grower who only washes the dirt from the roots of fieldgrown vegetables (no processing whatsoever) prior to boxing it for shipment is required to get a permit if he runs that wash water back to a holding pond (no outlet) and then use it again (diluted) as irrigation water back onto his own crops. Someone in ‘authority’ decided that he was operating a ‘sewage works’ and that needs a permit. These examples are to show the lengths to which farmers are forced to go because of ‘generous’ interpretation of Law by ministry staff. The costs involved to try to be compliant are growing by leaps and bounds, with no assurance that one can even be compliant! This nonsense has got to end.

Photo by Glenn Lowson. When Acts and Regulations are passed in parliament (federal or provincial) they are the Law. When they get to the ministry staff to enforce however, it is they who create the policy, directive and guideline language to facilitate the actions deemed necessary to enforce the Law. This is where the intent of the Law gets blurred. Staff get well inculcated into the ‘this is how we do it approach’ from other staff. The policies get altered over time, as do the guidelines to make life easier (for the staff). The poor grower at the other end of the stick cannot just abide by the intent of the original Law that was passed, but must try to deal with the actions that result from policies which may be far from what was intended. In fact, the enforcers may have little or no understanding of the original intent of the law but only the directions coming down to them to ‘get the job done.’ They rarely understand what it is that agriculture is doing, but that seems to matter naught. When the policies or guidelines get really out of whack there is little if any chance that they will get changed because an ‘outsider’ wants that. However, when an insider (staff) wants change, it can and does happen! When staff are acting as directed, there is almost no chance for a

grower to get redress such as in the cases alluded to above. In court, the policies, directives and guidelines become de facto ‘the Law,’ not the actual Law that was passed by elected officials. The ‘protection’ of staff while doing what is deemed to be their job always outweighs the original intent!

It seems that agriculture and its peripheral industries are considered guilty until they can prove themselves innocent when it comes to cer tain government officials.

Just this week I heard of a grower who got legal advice to NOT pursue the ministry or the staff in court. It was deemed better to pay a not insignificant fine because it would be cheaper. Not only cheaper now, but for fear that they could become a ‘target’ down the road if they ever won their case today. It didn’t matter that he was ‘right’ in what he had done! What a sad state of affairs.

SENATOR 70WP ®

engageagro.com

1-866-613-3336

Back in the day, ministry staff seemed to have and use discretion better than what we see today. Reasonableness worked both ways when, with a good discussion and better understanding, the situation was resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. It now has devolved into confrontation and anger (lawyer versus lawyer) in too many cases. Good working relationships that could and did more and better things for the environment are being ruined because of the inflexible approach coming down from on high. (Not sure how high, but certainly mighty!) What agriculture needs is a high profile case in court to expose how draconian, and unreasonable the policies have become as opposed to what the Hansard records show was the intent when the Law was enacted. We need the understanding of a judiciary that can stay some of these orders and recommend change in policies back to reasonable approaches. From where I sit, it seems to be the only option: right now there is no balance or reasonableness left in the system. If these ideas have ‘contaminated’ anyone’s mind, I plead for understanding of the cause and the intent!

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SEPTEMBER 2014 –– PAGE 27 THE GROWER

MINOR USE

Phostrol fungicide label expanded for ginseng fungicide. Phostrol fungicide can be used for suppression of Phytophthora foliar and root rot at a rate of 5.6 L per hectare. Begin applications when conditions become conducive to disease development and continue on a seven day interval if disease conditions persist. Phostrol fungicide can be applied to a maximum of nine times and used up to the day of harvest. Phostrol fungicide should be used in an integrated pest management program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance. Do not contaminate aquatic habitats when cleaning or rinsing spray equipment or containers. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Phostrol fungicide label carefully. For a copy of the new minor use label contact Sean Westerveld, OMAFRA, Simcoe (519) 426-4323, the Ontario Ginseng Growers Association (519) 426-7046 or visit the PMRA label site www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cpsspc/pest/registrant-titulaire/tools-outils/label-etiq-eng.php

JIM CHAPUT, OMAFRA, MINOR USE COORDINATOR, GUELPH The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of an URMULE registration for Phostrol fungicide for suppression of Phytophthora foliar and root rot on ginseng in Canada. Phostrol fungicide was already labeled for management of diseases on some vegetables, ornamentals, berries, grapes, pome fruit and turf in Canada. This minor use project was submitted in 2013 as a result of minor use priorities established by growers and extension personnel in Canada. Management of Phytophthora on ginseng with effective, reduced risk products is a priority of producers and buyers alike. The minor use label expansion for Phostrol fungicide is a helpful step towards developing an improved pest management toolkit for ginseng in Canada. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using Phostrol

A quick history of the Minor Use Pesticides Program (MUPP) pesticides registered • 2011: First “A” Priority without solution product registered for use, enabling growers to control two fungal diseases in lowbush blueberry • 2012: New pesticide residues analysis lab, established at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre • 2013: More than 950 projects undertaken and to date, 521 submissions for registration have been presented to the PMRA, 380 registrations received for 1,238 new uses. Source: Excerpted from Innovation Express Magazine, AAFC Photo by Glenn Lowson More than 10 years ago, when Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced the establishment of the Minor Use Pesticides Program (MUPP), horticultural and special crops producers hoped for access to the newer and better crop protection that their U.S. competitors were already using. MUPP was modelled after the United States Department of Agriculture’s Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4). For the past 10 years, the partners have come together every year to agree on a total of 37 priorities that include the 10 most harmful insect pests, 10 plant diseases, 10 weeds, five regional priorities and two organic production priorities. Occasionally, when there is no obvious solution to a new problem, several products can be screened. The MUPP specialists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada use various trials to determine the effectiveness of pesticides against each prioritized pest. These field, greenhouse, and/or growth chamber trials, coordinated through Pest Management Centre headquarters in Ottawa, occur at seven research centres: Agassiz, British Columbia; Harrow, Ontario;

Kentville, Nova Scotia; SaintJean-sur-Richelieu, Québec; Scott, Saskatchewan; Summerland, British Columbia; and Vineland, Ontario. Researchers also measure pesticide residues in crops; for example, a pesticide will react differently when applied to apples and raspberries. To date, the MUPP has completed more than 950 projects and more than 1,200 new pesticide uses have been registered by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Important dates in the history of the MUPP • 2003: The first priority-setting workshop • 2004: First submission completed to register a minor use pesticide - for the control of Blossom Blight in coriander • 2005: First minor use pesticide registered - for the control of Pythium Root Rot in turf • 2008: The MUPP extended through the federal-provincialterritorial agricultural policy framework Growing Forward (2008–2013) • 2009: 250th submission completed to register a minor use pesticide • 2010: 500th new minor use of

Only rins sed containers can be recycled

Helps keep collec ction sites clean

Use all th he chemicals you purchase

Keeps collection sites safe for workers

Maintain you ur farm’s good reputattion

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

PAGE 28 –– SEPTEMBER 2014 THE GROWER

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