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Like any farmers’ market, we offer a harvest that will tempt many palates. Newsmakers. Grower profiles. Research updates. Minor use label registrations. Government policy news. It’s all here under one umbrella. The Grower is a trusted source of horticultural industry news for Canada’s producers of fruits and vegetables.
Up in the air. That’s the state of the Ontario government budget as everyone waits for looming cuts. Agriculture minister Ted McMeekin (centre) visits with Mac James, (L) Leamington potato grower and new chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. They are joined by Ray Duc, (R) Niagara-on-the-Lake grape grower and new vice-chair. Photo by Denis Cahill.


Look for breaking news to be posted as it happens. Count on analysis in the newspaper published 12 times per year. 

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The fruits of deregulation are spinning out of reach

 Of all the issues facing horticulture, the relationship with governments is proving to have ever greater importance. Ted McMeekin, Ontario’s new agriculture minister may have his facts right about agriculture being neck and neck with the auto industry as an economic driver, but the stone cold reality is that his … [read more]

OFA seeks moratorium on wind turbines

 Wind turbines, symbols of the greening of Ontario’s energy, have only served to polarize rural communities. That’s why the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the province’s umbrella farm organization, has called for a freeze on wind turbines until questions can be answered on pricing, health and nuisance issues. “We are … [read more]

National capital to host Canadian Horticultural Council AGM

 Circle your calendar for March 13 – 16. Plans are well underway for the 90th annual general meeting of the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) to be staged at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, … [read more]

What are your house rules for food safety?

 The Canadian produce industry can’t be complacent about food safety. In 2011, U.S. consumer confidence was pummelled after unprecedented recalls on everything from tomatoes and bagged salad to strawberries and cantaloupes. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak … [read more]

A spoonful of common sense puts chemicals into context

 “If you smell coffee, you are sniffing more than a thousand different chemicals,” says Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. “There’s benzene, styrene and numerous other compounds that are toxic … [read more]

Bartlett’s customize European equipment for Canadian markets

 As the great-grandson of the founder of N. M. Bartlett Inc., sales rep Sean Bartlett carries a lot of history on his shoulders. But these days, the century anniversary of the horticultural services company founded … [read more]

PROMOTION ACROSS CANADA

 Citing research that more than five million Canadians suffer the winter blues, the Ontario Apple Growers are currently running a promotional campaign that apples – local apples –can help keep the blues at bay. … [read more]

Chair’s report to the OFVGA AGM

 BRIAN GILROY The year 2011 is behind us now and “In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.” I am pleased to report that the OFVGA, with industry partners, has … [read more]

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